Korean Job Discussion Forums

[RSwanson26]

Hello,
I am looking at teaching in Korea next year, and I was really interested in public school programs like EPIK or GEPIK. I was looking into the letters of recommendation requirements, and some places say that these programs don't accept reference letters from online certification programs. Is this true? I've been out of college for a while, don't have teaching experience, and I'm wondering if I would be better off getting some private school teaching experience beforehand and using that as a reference later on when I apply to EPIK/GEPIK the next year. Any thoughts?

[Sked]

if you know a professor at university who can write you one and your boss at ANY job you've had, that'll work.

my references were: my dissertation tutor at uni, and my boss at a surf shop i was working at part-time. no problems at all.

[grant gerstners]

I am currently in an Epik position. The last time I took a university class was 1993.

I used a letter of recommendation from a retired minister, and this was accepted. Just specify that the letterhead should include all degrees and denominational affiliations.

Also, my only prior experience was tutoring small immigrant groups (adults) with a volunteer literacy organization, where I occasionally interacted with a retired university professor. She wrote a letter of recommendation for me.

Consider also soliciting a letter of recommendation from old classmates or family friends who are now in academic positions. Two of my former classmates agreed to provide letters, but by then I had what I needed.

[Wiltern]

Also....I think the letters of recommendation have to be dated within the last 2 years.

[Satchel Paige]

[Wiltern]

[sojusucks]

[SCAshley]

For my two letters of recommendation (for my GEPIK position), my school requested one professional reference letter (from a former employer or professor) and one character reference (they said this could be a friend or even a neighbor!). Neither were on official "letterheads" just typed and signed word documents. Maybe it depends on if the school gets you through the GEPIK program headquarters (more strict) or through a recruiter (more lenient). Good luck to you-I agree with sojusucks, it seems to be more of a formality than anything. If you're under 30, female (being attractive = extra bonus points), North American and caucasian, you shouldn't have any problems with anything else regarding your application forms, haha