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217 native English speakers recruited for public schools

A government agency is recruiting 217 native English speakers to work as assistant teachers at public schools from March.

The National Institute for International Education Development, affiliated with the Education Ministry, operates the English Program In Korea to recruit, train and manage native speaking English teachers at schools.

In addition to pushing for more cooperation from 19 Korean embassies and consulates in the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, EPIK seeks to expand recruitment channels to universities in these countries.

It plans to sign partnerships with overseas college departments of education, Korean studies, teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) and other overseas educational institutes for a stable supply of quality teachers.

EPIK is already supplied with native speaking teachers under agreements with Bloomfield College and the Korean Community Development Services Center, both in New York state.

The EPIK has focused on offering more training opportunities to native-speaking teachers, after being transferred from the Korea National University of Education to the NIIED in July.

In late August, 229 newly hired assistant teachers went through a weeklong workshop at Korea University's Seochang campus in South Chungcheong Province. An intensive two-day training course was provided to 500 assistant teachers and Korean co-teachers already working here. Their employers -- 300 principals, deputy principals and administrative staff -- also received training on professional management of native-speaking teachers.

"It was an excellent conference. There was good information and I feel more confident about teaching future lessons," wrote a native English teacher in a survey after completing the 2007 EPIK In-service Training held in Daejeon in November.

"This conference also motivated me to be a better teacher and make more effort to co-teach. I wish this conference was earlier in my contract, even though I intend to renew."

Once the 229 native speakers hired in September are reunited this month for a follow-up course, EPIK will have completed the training of a total of 1,000 people this year.

It's one thing to hire quality teachers and another to keep them. EPIK runs a council office which receives an average of 300 complaints a month to help them adapt to life in Korea. It also plans to organize an EPIK alumni or community to give the teachers a chance to contribute to the Korean society.

On top of its aim to improve the quality of English education in Korea, EPIK in the long run plans to make more foreigners favorable to Korea.

Recent news that pedophile suspect Christopher Paul Neil had worked in Korea has shocked the nation and has led the Justice Ministry to come up with tightened rules for English teachers.

In order to sift out unqualified teachers with fake diplomas and a history of drug use, the government believes the EPIK's role should be expanded.

The 3,809 native speakers currently working at public educational institutes have relatively verified qualifications and qualities as teachers, but there is no systematic tool to examine or even count those who work at local hagwon (private institutes).

The Justice Ministry said it will require all applicants for E-2 visas to pass an interview by Korean consuls abroad, and submit criminal background checks, medical checks like the public school teachers hired under EPIK do.

NIIED president Rhee Soo-taek who took office in October has worked as a diplomat for 30 years in the United States, Canada and the United Nations. Rhee's social network abroad and expertise are expected to help the EPIK bolster ties with diplomatic missions and expand the program on a state level next year.

By Kim So-hyun

([email protected])

[chris_J2]

Thanks, JAWINSEOUL.

[Yesterday]

New IMMIGRATION LAW guidelines can be downloaded here -

(need HWP (Hansoft 한글) to open the document...)

http://www.immigration.go.kr/indeximmeng.html - click INFORMATION - then NEWS RELEASE


New Changes
on the E2 Teaching Visa Holders in Korea

December 10th, 2007

Residence Policy Division,
Korea Immigration Service


1. Background of the Changed Program

1) Serious social outcry the unqualified E2 teaching visa holders
- Some E2 teaching visa holders in Korea were caught for fraudulent diplomas, drugs, sexual offenses, etc.
- News media coverage about those unqualified E2 teaching visa holders.
For example, Mr. Christopher Paul Neil, the serial child sex offender, was reported by KBS on Oct.17th, 2007 and the report came out about the holders of fraudulent diplomas, drug using, etc. on September 5th, 2007.

2) In order to protect children and young students from those criminal offenders and fraudulent diploma holders, a strong need to counter these problems.


2. The Classification of E2 Teaching Visa Holders in Korea

TotalUSACanadaUKNZS.AfricaAustraliaIrelandOthers17,2736,7245,0051,6157496856743521,469


3. Details of the Changes to be Introduced

<1> Criminal Background Report
a) Submission of Criminal Background Report
- Those E2 teaching visa holders, who are already in Korea, need to submit their criminal background report when applying for the extension of their residence in Korea.
- Those who are newly applying for E2 teaching visa need to submit their criminal background report to the Immigration Office in Korea.

b) Method of Submitting criminal background report.
- By contacting the federal government or state government agency or the respective embassy of the E2 visa holders(or applicants).
- By submitting Apostille confirmed documents
- If one is from those countries which did not join the Apostille Agreement, he may have his documents certified by the Korean Embassy in his country.

<2>Health Certificate
a) Submission of Health Certificate
- Those E2 teaching visa holders, who are already in Korea, need to submit their health certificate when applying for the extension of their residence in Korea.
- Those who are newly applying for E2 teaching visa need to submit their health certificate when applying for alien registration to the Immigration Office in Korea.

b) Method of Submitting Health Certificate
- By going to National or privately-run hospitals and/or public health centers.
- The following items must be included in the health certificate
- TBPE diagnosis or cannabinoid test about drug use
- HIV test

4. Interview in Korea Embassy or Consulate.
- Those who are newly applying for E2 visa teaching need to be interview at their nearest korean embassy or consulate in their country.

Press Release

Re: Mandatory Requirements of Criminal Background Check and Health Certificate

In order to prevent illegalities of E2 teaching visa holders such as unlicensed teaching, drug use, etc, the Ministry of Justice made it mandatory for all the E2 teaching visa holders to submit criminal background check and health certificate starting from December 15, 2007.

As a bid to strengthen the qualifications of E2 teaching visa holders, the Ministry of Justice also made it mandatory in principle for all the applicants of E2 teaching visa to have an interview at the Embassy of Korea.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice announced that it would strengthen the management of immigration policy on those E2 teaching visa holders by cracking down on the unlicensed teachers of fraudulent documents(forgery), drug use, sexual offense, etc.

Ahead of the implementation of this program on Dec. 15th, 2007,
the Ministry of Justice held the town hall meeting with 10 consular officers of seven embassies including those of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, South Africa. the Ministry of Justice gave explanation of the program and details and asked for the smooth implementation and facilitation by the embassies in Korea.

Participating consular officers expressed their support for the need of criminal background report and health certificate. But they expressed the concerns about the issuance of the criminal background checks due to the limited resources, backlogs, or the long time requirements for verification.
- It varies from country to country from 40 days to 60 days to have one's criminal background check issued. In the case of the United States and some other countries, one can have his/her criminal background check issued out of the website and get them notarized (consular certification) in the embassies.

Despite the difficulty of implementation and lack of resources, the consular officers participated in the town hall meeting, showed their strong support and willingness of cooperation for the earlier implementation of the program. They also agreed to the need of closer cooperation channel and discussions with Korea Immigration Service.
For any inquiries, please contact International Cooperation Division
(Tel 02-500-9197).