Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bellman]

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone out there is working for EPIK (or the public schools) in Chuncheon. I'm thinking about getting a position with them, and I have a question.

What do you do during the public school's winter and summer breaks? Do you have to come and sit in empty classrooms or teach camps? And/or have you arranged more time off than the official vacation time? What are my chances of striking a gentleman's aggreement on being able to leave the country during a large portion of the winter and summer break?

Maybe someone could PM me their ten cents worth on this. I've seen in other threads that it might not be a good idea to have details of vacation time dealings available for public viewing

[schwa]

You wont get the full school vacation to do as you wish. In practice, the contracted vacation usually works out to 3 weeks in february (14 working days plus weekends) & if you sign on again 2 more weeks in august (including a free return plane ticket home or to a vacation spot).

Our activities when school's out arent systematized. You'd be expected to work some sort of "camp" which might just be half-days in a regular classroom or might actually entail some overnights in a rural setting. I'm working presently in a teacher training center. Some of these assignments come with extra pay.

Otherwise how you spend spare school vacation time is determined by your local supervisor. Some might insist on your doing face-time at your desk. Freedom to come & go isnt something you can demand but is often granted if youre liked & valued, or just by good luck. However, outside your official vacation time, you'd likely be expected to be in the vicinity & contactable.

Thats what I know. Theres been general contentment with the program here for several years.

Big changes afoot this september as they add some 70 new recruits to our provincial contingent which in the past has numbered 16. I'm hopeful the powers-that-be wont bugger things up.

I'm also hopeful there wont be too many misfits or loose cannons among the newcomers. (OP, thats not aimed at you!)