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maegaggles
Joined: 22 Apr 2009
Location: IL, USA
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 Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 5:27 pm Post subject: I'm applying to EPIK for August! Any tips? :) |
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Hi all!
I'm new to the board so I thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Maeghan, I'm 22 and an American applying to teach English in South Korea in August 2009. I decided to go through EPIK because it seemed slightly more dependable than the hagwons after scrolling through message boards.
I still need to get all my documentation together as I don't graduate for another 2 weeks, but I have submitted the application with the help of a recruiter.
He has been fairly helpful, except I'd like to get some more input from you guys. I also wanted to introduce myself in the event that I actually get the job.  Right now I am at the stage where I need to get my transcripts, passport, background check and diploma together.
Does anyone have any tips?
Thanks!
Maeghan |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm not sure about now but in the past the Korean Embassy in your prospective country does all the paperwork and interviewing for Epik jobs |
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maegaggles
Joined: 22 Apr 2009
Location: IL, USA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, that has been my understanding as well, but from what I understood they won't interview you until they have proof that you will have a bachelor's degree by the time you arrive in South Korea to teach.
I think the recruiter that has been helping me fill out the application mentioned that my interview would be at the Korean counsulate near me but that they probably won't call me to schedule for another 2 weeks after my application's submission.
I suppose I just wanted to know if anyone else has taught in SK through EPIK and if they have any tips on getting the job. |
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chachee99
Joined: 20 Oct 2004
Location: Seoul Korea
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| Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:48 am Post subject: |
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| Tip: make sure you know exactly where you school is located. You don't want to be stranded in the boonies if that is not your cup of tea. |
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the oak llama
Joined: 05 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:32 am Post subject: |
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I don't know if your case is different, but I was under the impression that EPIK applicants do not need to go for an in person interview at their Korean consulate. .
I applied early for EPIK to teach in August. I used a recruiter.
Once you submit your application and the documents necessary to get your interview, you will have a phone interview with EPIK rather than having to go to your nearest consulate.
Hopefully you will be able to get your diploma and transcripts shortly after graduating. Nothing you can do about those except wait.
I would suggest that you get started on the documents that will take a while to get, like your passport and criminal background check.
You will need to get an apostille on a photocopy of your diploma and on your notarized criminal background check.
So- get a background check done through state or local police, a random online background check won't be accepted. HAVE THE BACKGROUND CHECK NOTARIZED.
Once you get your diploma, take it to a notary, have them photocopy it and notarize that "true copy".
Send the notarized background check and the notarized photocopy of the diploma to the Department of State for IL for an apostille.
The background check can take a while, the passport can take a while, and the apostille can take a while. So I would recommend you get started on what you can .
And yes also do some research as to where you might like to be placed, the larger cities Busan, Daegu start to fill up pretty early on.
good luck |
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Robot_Teacher
Joined: 18 Feb 2009
Location: Robotting Around the World
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| Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:47 am Post subject: |
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| chachee99 wrote: |
| Tip: make sure you know exactly where you school is located. You don't want to be stranded in the boonies if that is not your cup of tea. |
I understand if going directly through the EPIK office in Seoul, any province and town is fair game on your placement for your 1st year. If going through a recruiter such as Korean Horizons as I did, you can narrow it down to province, but you still can be stuck out in the boonies after being told you'd be in a city of 250,000 such as Gangnueng as in my case. Last minute changes are a common every day occurrence in Korea.
The boonies is not all bad as it's very green scenery with fresh air, it's just inconvenient not having adequate transportation infrastructure like late night buses home as they stop at 7PM to and from my town. Last bus to Seoul is 4:30PM so I have to wait until 7AM Saturday morning to go, but it saves renting a room for Friday night. It's a full bus so arriving early is key to getting on it. No airport limos and it takes 1 day in advance of a flight and 1 day after a flight to go to and from your home according my research in preparation for when I do go on trips. I guess I could try to get off work early for the last bus to Seoul at 4:30PM, then make my out to Incheon for a next morning flight such as if I were flying someplace this Friday for our long weekend, but getting home by Tuesday night would be hard if not impossible so I'd make it to a larger town 1.5 hour away, take the bus home Wednesday morning and go straight to work as I'd be getting to my boonie town at 08:40. It's not easy getting flights like it is at home, because your time off is when Koreans are off and there's not enough to go around so you have to try to plan early and buy flights earlier than you have to at home. Travel agents all told me NO last Friday and today for availability of any flight, including Jeju island, for our 5 day holiday next weekend. Also, in the boonies you have to spend a day off such as Saturday to go shopping as you won't have a big box store nearby such as Emart and small grocers don't sell things you want outside of basics like water, potatoes, onions, and garlic so this calls for long Saturday bus trips.
The lack of English speaking and locals distancing themselves from you on account of their lacking confidence due to not understanding foreigners nor English leaves you on your own and alone if in the boonies. The kids are great though as you'll be, "hello'd," to death and well respected if you put a lot into your classes in teaching them English in a manner they find fun through using various activities. They're kids that don't have many resources for fun and learning, but are a joy and probably are happier than city kids in my opinion. I don't know about city kids and afraid to find out, but I've been reading what many of you veterans and those in the city say so I have insight of that rotten sullen spoiled nightmare. City kids are under many more pressures than our country kids for sure. |
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maegaggles
Joined: 22 Apr 2009
Location: IL, USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:51 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the info on the apostille!! that part was kind of confusing!
Yeah I didn't want to be placed in the boonies and my recruiter has advised me to get everything in ASAP because the cities fill up fast.
On the application to EPIK you can list your top 3 preferred locations so i put 1)Busan 2)Daegu 3)Ulsan, my recruiter told me that if i dont get a position in my top 2 preferred positions that Ulsan is hiring a lot of people this year so I will probably get that one for sure. |
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DorkothyParker
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: Jeju
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| Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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Egads!
I hope you get one of your top 2 choices, Mae. I want Ulsan!  |
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losing_touch
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Location: Ulsan - I think!
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| Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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| For what it's worth, I really like it down here in Ulsan! We even have cheesesteaks now! They are delicious! |
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dporter
Joined: 26 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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I just had a telephone interview with EPIK. It lasted about 30 minutes. There was no mention of an in-person interview.
btw. I got a job offer and am working on my paperwork. I guess they finalize the position/location after they receive all my documents.
Last edited by dporter on Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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boatofcar
Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Location: Sheffield, UK
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Robot_Teacher wrote: |
| chachee99 wrote: |
| Tip: make sure you know exactly where you school is located. You don't want to be stranded in the boonies if that is not your cup of tea. |
I understand if going directly through the EPIK office in Seoul, any province and town is fair game on your placement for your 1st year. If going through a recruiter such as Korean Horizons as I did, you can narrow it down to province, but you still can be stuck out in the boonies after being told you'd be in a city of 250,000 such as Gangnueng as in my case. Last minute changes are a common every day occurrence in Korea.
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That's BS from your recruiter. You don't get any "special privileges" from going through one when you go through EPIK. I told the EPIK person I interviewed with I wanted to be near Busan or Seoul in a city of at least a million people, and that's what I got. It doesn't hurt to be specific when you're talking to these people. |
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boatofcar
Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Location: Sheffield, UK
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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| losing_touch wrote: |
| For what it's worth, I really like it down here in Ulsan! We even have cheesesteaks now! They are delicious! |
Woah! What? What?!??!? Where? |
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losing_touch
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Location: Ulsan - I think!
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boatofcar
Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Location: Sheffield, UK
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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Man, that's hella far away from me! Is the bus stop that the page links you to close to there? |
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losing_touch
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Location: Ulsan - I think!
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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| boatofcar wrote: |
Man, that's hella far away from me! Is the bus stop that the page links you to close to there? |
It is damn far from me too! A friend with a motorcycle goes out there sometimes. I ask for delivery! There are buses out there, but I am not sure which ones. My buddy has a picture of the bus stop right by it though. I will find out. |
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