Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thope]

First off; yes I realize the internship programs are a last ditch attempt to get more warm bodies into Korean classrooms for next to zero pay. However at this point "getting my degree" just isn't feasible ( 2 credits left and 7k in payments on the previous semester to go), and next-to-zero is more than I'm making now in the fantastic land of Chicago taxes. That and I can't wait to experience "the Sparkling" for myself.

Anyway! I was wondering if anyone had heard any 2009 updates about the GEPIK internship program, or anything similar. I know the TaLK program just reopened submissions, but am not so down with the whole "possible homestay" situation. I was told, via a recruiter, that the intern program was "closed" about a month ago, but haven't been able to ninja out any other info. The GEPIK website is useless, and search engines of all types have turned up nothing. Did GEPIK die or just get closed for winter submissions?

Am I stuck with TaLK?

[yeremy]

I suppose it depends on how you look at it.

None of the TALK teachers I know live in a homestay. All of the ones I know have their own apartments and one has a two bedroom apartment albeit in a small rural town. The cons to the TALK program is that it is only for six months to a year max and the Korean won is pretty weak compared to the USD right now, but we're all hoping it will improve sooner rather than later. You would get paid 1.5 million KRW for only 15 hours of teaching and if you were placed in a fairly large rural city, you would have a fair amount of transportation, entertainment and housing options, I think.

I don't know how easy or difficult the TALK program is to get into now. I do know that the last EPIK intake had 3 to 4 applicants for every position.

I would try the TALK program. What do you have to lose?