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macaronique
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
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 Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad-ish wrote: |
i think runners are not uncommon here. about 2 months after i arrived, the person at the school beside me ran (his co-teacher went over on monday when he didn't come to school and found his place empty), and my favourite student was telling me how her sister is jealous because she doesn't have a native english teacher (i asked about her sister's FT and found out he/she also up and left). and this is only at public schools.
also whenever i go on vacation, my co-teachers will ask a ton of questions, which doesn't usually bother me, but this winter vacation i was actually asked to write a report and state how much money i would be spending. i refused, but the point is is i believe they were sizing up my assets wondering if i had enough to take off. |
lol
that is hillarious |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:31 am Post subject: |
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| macaronique wrote: |
| nomad-ish wrote: |
i think runners are not uncommon here. about 2 months after i arrived, the person at the school beside me ran (his co-teacher went over on monday when he didn't come to school and found his place empty), and my favourite student was telling me how her sister is jealous because she doesn't have a native english teacher (i asked about her sister's FT and found out he/she also up and left). and this is only at public schools.
also whenever i go on vacation, my co-teachers will ask a ton of questions, which doesn't usually bother me, but this winter vacation i was actually asked to write a report and state how much money i would be spending. i refused, but the point is is i believe they were sizing up my assets wondering if i had enough to take off. |
lol
that is hillarious |
I know of both hogwan and public school teachers that pull runners. This doesn't only happen in one system. The work environment at schools vary due to the individuals in charge and not whether it is public or private. |
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mgafunnell
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:38 am Post subject: |
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maybe you should exert a little authority with your boss. remember, you can find an esl gig in any country where english is not the first langauge and korea is not the best place to work. just pack your things and leave. i did and have no regrets. life is too short to waste time on a fall down f--- in the a-- like your boss. time to be a bit more like this guy...  |
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nomad-ish
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Location: On the bottom of the food chain
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:07 am Post subject: |
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| sojusucks wrote: |
| macaronique wrote: |
| nomad-ish wrote: |
i think runners are not uncommon here. about 2 months after i arrived, the person at the school beside me ran (his co-teacher went over on monday when he didn't come to school and found his place empty), and my favourite student was telling me how her sister is jealous because she doesn't have a native english teacher (i asked about her sister's FT and found out he/she also up and left). and this is only at public schools.
also whenever i go on vacation, my co-teachers will ask a ton of questions, which doesn't usually bother me, but this winter vacation i was actually asked to write a report and state how much money i would be spending. i refused, but the point is is i believe they were sizing up my assets wondering if i had enough to take off. |
lol
that is hillarious |
I know of both hogwan and public school teachers that pull runners. This doesn't only happen in one system. The work environment at schools vary due to the individuals in charge and not whether it is public or private. |
i didn't mean to imply it did. i was only describing the 2 PS runners i've heard of since september. i didn't even go into hagwon runners, and trust me, my friend did an absolutely spectacular one!  |
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johnny_larue
Joined: 09 May 2008
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:45 am Post subject: Re: Wow... GEPIK sucks |
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| Bucheonguy wrote: |
Ok, anyone who's read my other posts can pretty much figure out I'm having a rough time here. My school keeps me locked up like I'm in a prison, they hide me away when we have school assessments, they won't give me references, they've threatened me with not writing release letters... the list goes on and on. I've been having a miserable time. My students really like me and so do a few of my coworkers. I'm a good teacher but I can't get any help from ANYONE! Every time I call those morons at GEPIK all they say is deal with it on your own or it's up to the schools principal. I will never, ever work in the GEPIK program again!
How do other people feel about it? |
You are literally locked up? How does that work?
And I work for the Incheon Office of Education and it has been really good relatively speaking. |
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Soju808
Joined: 25 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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For GEPIK and any school imo, it all depends on your school, who your P, VP, and Co-Teacher's are. They set the standards for you. Some schools will give you no problems at all, while others will give you hell.
As for Dain Bae. My school was making me work 25 hours without overtime I pay. I went directly to GEPIK about that, and they forced my school to change their policy. So Dain Bae has been helpful to me. |
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kcweaver
Joined: 29 Dec 2008
Location: Paju City
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:55 pm Post subject: I am pleased with my GEPIK experience |
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After one long nasty month with a big national hagwon, I landed my present job at a middle school in October. My experience has been great so far.
I have a brand new apartment. The principal is super cool. She has given me her full support. (She is a former English teacher.) I get to plan my courses without any interference. My co-teacher and all my Korean colleagues are helpful and kind. I can say that they are my friends.
My students are wonderful and I really care for them.
My experience here has inspired me to get my masters in linguistics and a postgraduate diploma in TESOL (Trinity College London) because I want to be the best I can be.
I am not a typical GEPIK teacher. I have many years of teaching experience at the secondary school and university levels. I have a lot of education. I am twice as old as the typical GEPIK student just getting out of college. In a Confucian society like Korea, age and education puts a person like me high on the totem pole, so I suspect my situation gives me a little bit more respect in the eyes of co-teachers and students.
I had the opportunity to choose my school. I had a face-to-face interview with the Principal, the vice principal and the English Language faculty. I knew what I was getting into and I was excited about the prospect of working with the staff and students.
So, I must say, I feel for those who have had it bad. Like one of the earlier posters, it is the luck of the draw and it is made doubly worse when you have no idea what you are getting into.
Many GEPIK teachers have no experience or in-depth related educational qualifications. This matters in the eyes of many Koreans.
Also, attitude matters. If you come to teach just to pay off loans or relax from four hard years of college, this can be felt by the students and staff. They may feel that you are serious about the teaching the kids. If you show you care deeply for the students this will go a long way in getting the respect you need to get what you want. (My students know I love them because I go out of my way to make sure that they get the best from me and from themselves.)
My principal told me that she could feel that I really care for my students. This has led to her giving glowing praise to other schools and the local board. Love and care can go a long way!
There are many who come here with high expectations and feel let down. One can sit around and complain or can make the situation better by being proactive. |
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Rory_Calhoun27
Joined: 14 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: Wow... GEPIK sucks |
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| Bucheonguy wrote: |
Ok, anyone who's read my other posts can pretty much figure out I'm having a rough time here. My school keeps me locked up like I'm in a prison, they hide me away when we have school assessments, they won't give me references, they've threatened me with not writing release letters... the list goes on and on. I've been having a miserable time. My students really like me and so do a few of my coworkers. I'm a good teacher but I can't get any help from ANYONE! Every time I call those morons at GEPIK all they say is deal with it on your own or it's up to the schools principal. I will never, ever work in the GEPIK program again!
How do other people feel about it? |
I hear ya.... I had a CTFH (coteacher from Hell) who doesnt mind standing me up at the airport for four hours when i first come.... I first accepted the idea it may have been a recruiter's fault for not telling her the day I was coming, but now.... I'm not so sure....
I mean, it's BAD to slap your coworker a day after any argument, right? not for her..... and i have some independent proof of her apathy toward the job.... I mean, downloading movies and tv at school is frowned upon, correct?
any IT guy can tell she was downloading an ep. of "Grey's Anatomy" from her desk to an external HD.... funny- when I asked to be called "Dr McDreamy" from then on, she got even more hostile. why is that?  |
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maingman
Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Location: left Korea
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:07 pm Post subject: . |
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can anyone tell me the upper age limit for working with GEPIK!
thanks |
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maingman
Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Location: left Korea
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:07 pm Post subject: . |
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can anyone tell me the upper age limit for working with GEPIK!
thanks |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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re upper age limit.
I don't think there is anything mandated.. (though I'd guess if something were, it'd be say 65... perhaps 60)
I know at the orientation last year, there were several teachers there in their mid fifties maybe even pushing or at 60.
I suspect it depends on your school, generally speaking it will be more of a barrier the older you get. (after say, 50 for sure) |
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Otherside
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:00 pm Post subject: Re: . |
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| maingman wrote: |
can anyone tell me the upper age limit for working with GEPIK!
thanks |
I knew a teacher who worked for GEPIK last year. He was 69. |
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MacLean
Joined: 14 Feb 2011
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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Yup, Gepik will screw you over just as quickly as a hogwan will. At the end of the day, we're still working for Koreans. Sounds crass, but being bad employers is a cultural thing here. 
And as for Dain Bae - and the other Korean woman with an equally outrageous Australian accent - useless! |
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MacLean
Joined: 14 Feb 2011
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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Yup, Gepik will screw you over just as quickly as a hogwan will. At the end of the day, we're still working for Koreans. Sounds crass, but being bad employers is a cultural thing here.
And as for Dain Bae - and the other Korean woman with an equally outrageous Australian accent - useless! |
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Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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| macaronique wrote: |
| nomad-ish wrote: |
i think runners are not uncommon here. about 2 months after i arrived, the person at the school beside me ran (his co-teacher went over on monday when he didn't come to school and found his place empty), and my favourite student was telling me how her sister is jealous because she doesn't have a native english teacher (i asked about her sister's FT and found out he/she also up and left). and this is only at public schools.
also whenever i go on vacation, my co-teachers will ask a ton of questions, which doesn't usually bother me, but this winter vacation i was actually asked to write a report and state how much money i would be spending. i refused, but the point is is i believe they were sizing up my assets wondering if i had enough to take off. |
lol
that is hillarious |
my vacation budget:
airfare to bangkok 1 million
5 star hotel for 3 weeks 20 million
food and beverages 3 million
more beverages 3 million
tip for misc. services  10 million
more tip for misc. services 15 million
gift for teachers 10K won
Total budget: 52.01 million won |
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