Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Chamchiman]

There are heaps of threads about EPIK here on Dave's, but I can't recall seeing a single thread or post about public school jobs in Gyeongsangbukdo. Whenever a poster chimes in about EPIK they seem to be in Gangwondo or in the far south. As a GEPIK public schooler interested in moving to Gyeongsangbukdo, I'm wondering:

Who's in a public school in Gyeongsangbukdo? (YuBumSuk perhaps?) Which city/county are you in?

Does EPIK have a Gyeongsangbukdo office, or does Gyeongsangbukdo have an EPIK office? (How is the administration structured?) Does anyone have any contact information?

It seems (from reading this board) that EPIK is spread through Gangwondo more than Gyeongsangbukdo, despite the population difference. Is that true, and if so, why?

Cheers.

[schwa]

Up till just over a year ago, Gangwondo followed the usual national epik pattern of one native teacher per district, which meant 16 teachers serving all the province's schools.

Some senior supervisors at provincial headquarters got it in their heads to fast-track the national ministry of education's plan to put a native english speaker in every school & evidently won the support of the provincial superintendent, along with the necessary budget.

Gangwon now has around 150 native teachers. Every middle school is served (some have 2 epik teachers) with considerable spillover into elementary schools. A fresh intake next month will add 40 highschool teachers -- the next frontier. The goal is to end up with just under 300 teachers by 2009.

A unique feature of Gangwon's program is a system of assistant coordinators, one foreigner & one Korean per region. They serve as go-to people for either native teachers or Korean co-teachers with questions or problems. They have the ear of the POE & issues usually get solved quickly.

Decent apartments are a priority. If they are obviously substandard, alternatives get found.

Seriously helpful orientations for new teachers are also a priority.

The contract is more generous than national epik's in order to entice applicants to a more rural province, but most who come here genuinely enjoy the area. Lots of people re-contracting. Lots of people applying too -- being accepted isnt a given.

Its a forward-looking program (& other provinces are starting to notice what goes on up here).

[Chamchiman]

That was an interesting read schwa. Thanks.

[jvalmer]

EPIK teachers are placed by the provincal education office, in Daegu. But, remember that Daegu is not part of the province. They have a new director that deals with the EPIK teachers given to him. The previous directors english was limited. The new guy's english is okay.

I personally don't work in a public school gyeongsangbukdo, but I have a friend does and has been there a couple of years. This year they had 56 people to place (might be a little off on the number). I think about 10 were rehired, but the rest were new hires. The last few years, they barely had enough teachers to place in every district. This year, they have 2 or even 3 teachers in some really remote and small areas. Based on the history, a large portion (~30%) of them will probably quit by February.

From what I hear, EPIK only places teachers in middle or high schools. Most likely a middle school. Although, they seem like to place 4 in the foreign language high school in gumi.

Some of thee larger cities in the the province are Gumi, Gyeongsan, Pohang and Andong. The rest are small and really small. Some are pretty remote and even many Korean teachers dread to be placed in places like Uljin, Yecheon and Bonghwa. It's very convinient being in a town that is along the gyeongbu rail line (gimcheon, gumi, gyeongsan). The main city in the area is Daegu, again Daegu is not under the same adminstration as gyeongsangbukdo.

Since, gyeongsangbukdo is mostly rural, the smaller the place the more likely you'll get a pretty big place. But, it depends on what kind of advanced notice the school got and their previous experience with teachers.

I recommend taking up most offers of going to places and school dinners. Even if you don't want to, I think it makes working with these people if you're more chummy with them.

[Boodleheimer]

pm me for uljin info...........

[sojourner1]

Gyeongsongbukdo has bass fishing! Andong reservoir is a bass lake! American large mouth bass were introduced in the 1970's and it's an anglers destination. I'm in Gangwondo, but not catching much fish. Just a few small mandarin fish. Fishing and outdoor environment is the main reason I came to the rural province although Gyeongsangbukdo is also quite natural and actually has more fishing enjoyment, but may not offer the vacation time Gangwondo does.

I'm not sure about the vacation allowance and how the EPIK program is managed down there. You just don't hear much about Gyeongsangbukdo. These other provinces will have to start offering 5 weeks vacation per year. I noticed one other province took it upon themselves to start offering 4 weeks recently. In Gangwondo, we have a teacher in each school now with a healthy intake. I'm exclusively elementary now that they filled the middle schools. I'm not even sure how many teachers are here now, but we need to have a dinner to meet all the newbies that just arrived. I've been expecting word on that, but nothing yet after the 1st 2 weeks of the new semester.

Someone mentioned to go to school dinners, but they really don't happen much. I've been here for 3 months and yet to go to one as they just don't exist, at least I haven't been invited. I want to do more things with people, but they are just women with small children and then a few men that I have nothing in common with. Don't expect to get too chummy with the Koreans, but do expect respect from them. They are mostly friendly people, but communication is a challenge. I think it's doable if you try and try you will if you want to be successful to come out smelling like a scaly bass if not a sunflower instead of a dreaded loud mouthed migook.

[niandralades]

Why not Uljin? I would like more info, please.

[afsjesse]

I'm working in Uljin County for EPIK and have no problems. This is an old thread, but no complaints on my part. I have some friends here that are EPIK teacher's too and they seem to enjoy their jobs. I work in Hupo, which is south of Uljin city.

I recommend it.

[aarontendo]

I work for the EPIK program in Gyongbuk. It's not a bad gig, good enough that it's kept me around for another year anyways. My high school students are pretty low level, they're nice enough and all but sometimes frustrating. Middle school students are a bit better learners.

Administration mostly leaves me alone, tho there are the "optional" camps. I've had to do two weeks at them both in winter and summer, you get some extra pay and it's not that bad, but eh it's still clown work wakka wakka wakka.

Working in the province can be a real crapshoot. You can end up way out in the backwoods of the province, or in thriving metropolises such as Pohong and Gumi. (Each boasting nearly 500,000 people each).

All in all, people are pretty nice though. Having worked in both public schools in Seoul and the province, I'll say that it seems you get to have a closer relationship with coteachers. That can be a good and bad thing, but so far I'd say it's been more positive.

Travel could be a pain. If you live in Gumi you're half an hour away to Daegu, bout two hours to Busan. If you live in a more remote part of the province...well you might be trekking it a bit to your nearest bus/train station!

[yeremy]

I'm working in two EPIK high schools in the province. I like it, but it was an adjustment from working in a GEPIK school in Gyonggi-do. People in the city I live and work in are known for being a bit standoffish at first until they get a feel for what kind of a person you are. Once you have broken through the initial barriers, if they like you, people here will stick with you. That's what I have heard from my wife who is Korean and works in business here.

I have six co-teachers at the two schools I work at. Their English ranges from good to great. Some of them like to co-teach and some of them don't. That's the way it seems to be here. I teach what I want and see fit but my co-teachers always back me up and help as necessary with translation and discipline.

I have been asked to teach at English camps during the semester breaks and to teach teacher training classes at local middle schools for elementary and middle school teachers. I've really enjoyed them.

If you switch to EPIK here, it will help if you have a car. Yeah, the train and bus service is good, but you will be much more independent if you have a car.

Bicycling is very good here, too. I went cycling with my wife to a small reservoir near Gumi and Gimcheon today. It was a postcard day. You won't believe me but motorists are more polite and considerate to cyclists than you would think. I cycle every day and motorists noticeably take more care to go around me than in Seoul or Gyonggido. Local cyclists have told my wife and I about a 100 km ride from Gumi to Sangju, which they said only has a couple of a hundred meter hill at about a 4% grade. I haven't ridden it, yet, but I am looking forward to it.

However, I have to tell you that bicycle thieves are a pain in the derriere here. The fellow I replaced had one of his bikes, the one he used to commute to school, stolen toward the end of his contract and one of the local bike store owners had some bikes or stuff stolen within the last thirty days. It's easy to meet other cyclists, foreign and Korean, if you are a bicyclist and want to join a group bike ride.

Food is spicier here than in other areas. I blame it on the local peppers. I'm somewhat of a spice wimp even though I've lived in Korea for close to ten years now. I admit it but I don't like starting fires in my mouth and throat which are hard to put out.

My advice to you is simply to apply. If you are hired, you'll be assigned to a school and most NET's in Gyoungbuk are sent to middle or high schools because the current government is putting the TALK scholars into the local elementary schools in an after school program. If you make it through your first year, you will probably be able to change schools and locations if you wish and there is an opening. One of the keys to getting hired is sending in a complete application with a real essay rather than a few paragraphs you wrote in five minutes.

When I applied to EPIK from GEPIK, I requested a specific place and got it but I originally asked to be placed in an elementary school but was placed in two high schools. If you want or have to work in an elementary school, then you should apply to Daegu. Daegu EPIK is an autonomous EPIK entity and they have elementary schools which NET's are assigned to. If you apply to Gyoungbuk EPIK at large chances are that you will end up in either a middle or a high school.

And if you are wondering what to teach after you have been hired, I suggest that you check out www.epikforum.org, I think that's the web address and look at the lesson plans there. Cheers.

[Boodleheimer]

[afsjesse]

Well, I would but I don't know those teachers and don't have their contact information. But I'm willing to hear any horror stories that may be surfacing Planet Korea these days.

[mogbert]

i worked in gumi for a couple of years and my pension and airfare was all dealt with prior to me leaving. my friend who also worked in gumi didn't have it as easy. it really depends on your school how you are treated.

[yeremy]

Frankly, one of the best things you can do, in addition to what people in Gyoungbuk are telling you on-line in this or similar forums, is to go and check the places you are thinking of going to yourself. I did that. A friend of mine is doing that. You should go and see for yourself before you leap.

Another poster mentioned Andong's reservoir for bass fishing. Andong is not a big city but it's OK, I think. It's big enough, the people are nice and there have been some job listings at the universities there, which seems to be a logical step after teaching at an EPIK or GEPIK high school, for example.

Andong is a less well-known historical Confucian site whereas Gyoungju is a well known Buddhist and Shilla historical site so you see a different side to Korea's rich cultural and historical heritage. For example, Andong has a Soju Museum, where I've heard you can get a small cup of the local soju, which might straighten your hair if you try it. I bought some for a friend of mine visiting from the States this summer and he straightened up like he'd touched an electric eel. He didn't want a re-fill. However, one of my former co-teachers told me that when he retires he wants to live in Andong, so that is an alternate view, too.

[poet13]

trying to get that epik forum link to work.