Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Korussian]

Hey folks,

My school has received info about the next major GEPIK orientation. Of course, if you've been to one before, then this probably isn't for you.

Official Online Notice

Date:
Elementary
March 30, 2009 - April 02, 2009

Middle/High School
April 06, 2009 - April 09, 2009

*4 days & 3 nights (of awesome!)

Location: To be determined

Purpose: Cultural & teachingesque presentations

From what I understand (and please correct anything I've missed), about 180 people are expected at the elementary one, and about 150 at the middle/high school one.

Having been in GEPIK for 7 months, I'm looking forward to finding out what I should have known all this time, and applying it to my remaining 3-4ish months of regular classes.

My girlfriend, who arrived one week later than I did, went to the previous one, and made a bunch of wonderful friends.

I'm also looking forward to meeting Dain Bae, who really helped me out with a me vs. my school issue last week, and she handled it quickly too. Seriously.

If you have the opportunity, you should definitely attend this orientation, if for no other reason than to hang out with me, Dmitry.

[Misera]

My coteacher showed me the papers today too For those who have gone, are the living arrangements random? Or can you request a roommate or make the arrangements when you get there? I signed up for the one back in October, but they cut off all the people from my city (elementary, middle, and high schools) so they "promised" we'd be on the list for March, so I'm assuming I won't get cut again.

I reread that thread from last June / October and it seems like some of the lectures were ok and you guys had fun. I'm mixed on wanting to go.. I want to go and see if I can get anything out of it (and miss school..) but my new temp coteachers aren't fully accustomed to my students (and teaching English) yet and I'm wondering how much more I'm going to have to make up when I get back lol. Waiting for the more permanent temp coteacher to finally show up to school too >_>;.. Go and have fun but come back to more work, or don't go and don't get a break? which is betterrrrr~

[bogey666]

Dmitry, I strongly doubt you'll learn anything applicable at this point.

BUT, you never know. Lightning might strike.

Misera, GO.

It's good for a little bonding and human interaction experience if nothing else. Keep in mind many PS teachers, especially away from Seoul are somewhat socially isolated.

cool thing about GEPIK is that you will a wide crosssection of teachers, not just the young white ones. There will be older and there will be darker.

if you're not an introvert, you're bound to meet some interesting people.
it's a once in a year thing, do it (there might be another follow up seminar later in the year)

I, for one, actually appreciate the effort and work put in by GEPIK and Dain Bae for these events.

[wylies99]

[ekul]

Prepare to be bored for most of the day and then treated like a child when you decide to go down to a pub!

[Korussian]

[Misera]

Are you sure your school signed you up for the follow up workshop? I didn't get on the list for the October orientation but I was (along with a lot of other friends that weren't on the orientation list as well) on the workshop list.

bogey666- ok cool I'll look forward to it then!

[Nierlisse]

Well that kind of sucks; my husband and I have to go to different orientations. Though I guess that solves the problem of us potentially not rooming together...

[akiakiaki]

Any word on the assigned rooming?
Do they assign the rooms before you go or will it in the order in which you arrive?

[LydiaSarah]

Last orientation rooms were assigned by city. There were only three girls from Bucheon, so we were all together in a room. Yes, even though there were TONS of empty rooms in the dorm we stayed at, they housed us three to a tiny little space so that we'd "make friends".

On top of that, they only provided one key per room which was a royal PITA. I heard that by day two of the elementary workshop, they finally gave in and gave everyone their own key. Maybe if you hassle them enough early on you can work something out.

I have no idea if there were even married couples at the last orientation, so I can't say what they'd do there.

[akiakiaki]

Thanks... I wonder if it's possible to switch around with people?

[akiakiaki]

Elementary School Orientation Schedule

Monday:
9-12 registration
Lunch
2-3:30 opening ceremony
3:30-5 ice breaking and preparation for action plan
Dinner
7-9 preparation for action plan

Tuesday:
9-10 q&a session w/ Gepik
10-12 q&a w/ current gepik teachers
Lunch
2-4 "why don't they just get it?"
referring to students or coworkers, i dunno
4-5 the framework of english curriculum at the elementary level
Dinner
7- 9 korean etiquette class or contemp. korean movie (optional)

Wednesday:
9-10 using interactive activities
10-12 demo and tips for team teaching
Lunch
2-3:30 teaching method
3:30-5 my life as a gepik teacher
Dinner
7-9 korean music performance "Nanta" (compulsory)

Thursday:
9-11 group discussion/ action plans and debriefing
11-12 closing ceremony

[wylies99]

[wylies99]

[younga]

Hi, I'm off to Gunsan in Jeollabukdo - anyone know the orientation dates for EPIK, or if there are any there? Are they the same as GEPIK?