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thisisausername
Joined: 28 May 2011
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 Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 12:41 pm Post subject: EPIK orientation rules |
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I've been teaching for many years but this is my first year at a public school in Korea. It's my understanding that at EPIK orientations you have to share a dorm room with a stranger, do humiliating things like wear hanbok and that a curfew and alcohol ban are in place. Because of this, I'm not ever going to go. I am not a slave and I have self respect.
Contractually I agreed to participate in orientation without ever questioning what this would entail. Had it spelled out in the contract that I had to attend a prison style indoctrination week with a cellmate where I could learn how to use the squatting toilet while eating kimchi, I wouldn't have signed that contract.
It is unreasonable to make the teachers share a dorm.
It is unacceptable to give them a curfew.
My life in this country has been constant compromise but I'm drawing the line here. And perhaps I'll lose my job because everyone else is just going along with it. It disgusts me that people allow themselves to be subject to such disrespect. If NETs were to refuse these rules, the rules would change. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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There are those writers who are masters of hyperbole. You are not numbered with them. Nobody has to wear any hanbok, nobody has to eat kimchi, and nobody is going to observe your skills using a squat toilet. The curfew and alcohol bans are in place because of your predecessors. If you're concerned with sharing a hotel room (dorms in Korea are far different than what you're used to calling a dorm) with just one person, you'll be in for quite a surprise the first field trip you take with your public school.
Another thing: You're absolutely incorrect about those rules changing if the GETs (have to keep up with the jargon, of course) were to refuse them. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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It is unreasonable to make the teachers share a dorm.
It is unacceptable to give them a curfew.
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Professional footballers on 250 grand a week have to share hotel rooms and have a curfew. |
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Lucas
Joined: 11 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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It is unreasonable to make the teachers share a dorm.
It is unacceptable to give them a curfew.
Professional footballers on 250 grand a week have to share hotel rooms and have a curfew. |
They also have to shower together naked. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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| They also have to shower together naked. |
No, they all get in a big bath don't they? |
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thisisausername
Joined: 28 May 2011
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Lucas wrote: |
| Quote: |
It is unreasonable to make the teachers share a dorm.
It is unacceptable to give them a curfew.
Professional footballers on 250 grand a week have to share hotel rooms and have a curfew. |
They also have to shower together naked. |
As do the teachers who go to these things.
| Quote: |
| Professional footballers on 250 grand a week have to share hotel rooms and have a curfew. |
And spineless little groveling esl peasants are willing to do it for a mere 2.x mil KRW a month. Pathetic.
I think it must be bad upbringing. Parents never taught you how to respect yourselves. You've left people push you around your whole life. No understanding of the power of your own self determination. No actual self esteem. And clearly, with these sarcastic and unhelpful responses in this thread thus far, no respect for other people. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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And spineless little groveling esl peasants are willing to do it for a mere 2.x mil KRW a month. Pathetic.
I think it must be bad upbringing. Parents never taught you how to respect yourselves. You've left people push you around your whole life. No understanding of the power of your own self determination. No actual self esteem. And clearly, with these sarcastic and unhelpful responses in this thread thus far, no respect for other people. |
One of the first jobs I had in TEFL, I shared a hostel room with two other guys on an orientation course. Incidently, one of them, a guy in his fifties, tried it on with me during the night. Now, when I go somewhere I get put up in a hotel and have an evening meal allowance. Not a five star hotel, that's what my boss gets and he gets to travel by business class. His boss probably flies first class. Such is life on the rungs of the work ladder. |
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maximmm
Joined: 01 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 4:55 pm Post subject: Re: EPIK orientation rules |
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| thisisausername wrote: |
I've been teaching for many years but this is my first year at a public school in Korea. It's my understanding that at EPIK orientations you have to share a dorm room with a stranger, do humiliating things like wear hanbok and that a curfew and alcohol ban are in place. Because of this, I'm not ever going to go. I am not a slave and I have self respect.
Contractually I agreed to participate in orientation without ever questioning what this would entail. Had it spelled out in the contract that I had to attend a prison style indoctrination week with a cellmate where I could learn how to use the squatting toilet while eating kimchi, I wouldn't have signed that contract.
It is unreasonable to make the teachers share a dorm.
It is unacceptable to give them a curfew.
My life in this country has been constant compromise but I'm drawing the line here. And perhaps I'll lose my job because everyone else is just going along with it. It disgusts me that people allow themselves to be subject to such disrespect. If NETs were to refuse these rules, the rules would change. |
Keep in mind, it's 7 days long now, and you get to 'Learn' 12 hours a day - basically, you finish 'Studying' just prior to curfew kicking in.
Once upon a time it was 3 days long - reasonable hours. Then it became 5 days, 12 hours a day. Now it's 7 days long, 12 hours a day and curfew kicks in earlier than before.
Essentially, it's an experiment of some sort which will eventually provide an answer to the question 'how much can they get away with until people start bailing?'
The problem is, I'm not sure if there is a limit. TALK youngsters do this for 4 weeks and still they stay without bailing. |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 5:04 pm Post subject: Re: EPIK orientation rules |
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When I came in it was 12 days, Monday 'till the 2nd Friday (well, actually the first Mon/Tue were settle in days). With half-day on Saturday and no Sunday lectures. Lectures were from 9-ish until 5pm. And after that it was an absolute boozefest. Some of the behavior was pretty embarrassing, and they made an example out of some 50 year Australian guy. But he wasn't kicked out. Then half-way through (after the free Sunday) they made curfew at 1 am.
Maybe a good 25% quit before 6 months were up. And maybe 10% of the remaining people, who stuck it out 12 months, renewed. |
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thisisausername
Joined: 28 May 2011
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 5:10 pm Post subject: Re: EPIK orientation rules |
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| maximmm wrote: |
Keep in mind, it's 7 days long now, and you get to 'Learn' 12 hours a day - basically, you finish 'Studying' just prior to curfew kicking in. Once upon a time it was 3 days long - reasonable hours. Then it became 5 days, 12 hours a day. Now it's 7 days long, 12 hours a day and curfew kicks in earlier than before. Essentially, it's an experiment of some sort which will eventually provide an answer to the question 'how much can they get away with until people start bailing?' The problem is, I'm not sure if there is a limit. TALK youngsters do this for 4 weeks and still they stay without bailing. |
They've found my personal limit. It's quite a shame as I really enjoy my school. I get along with the co-teachers and my students are great. Everything has been going well. But I at very least will probably not be renewed for refusing to go to this orientation.
| jvalmer wrote: |
When I came in it was 12 days, Monday 'till the 2nd Friday (well, actually the first Mon/Tue were settle in days). With half-day on Saturday and no Sunday lectures. Lectures were from 9-ish until 5pm. And after that it was an absolute boozefest. Some of the behavior was pretty embarrassing, and they made an example out of some 50 year Australian guy. But he wasn't kicked out. Then half-way through (after the free Sunday) they made curfew at 1 am.
Maybe a good 25% quit before 6 months were up. And maybe 10% of the remaining people, who stuck it out 12 months, renewed. |
Please explain what you mean about making an example of him. They publicly humiliated him?
Obviously the hiring practices here are a problem. They intentionally keep hiring kids right out of college who no experience or qualifications so that they can pay them less.
Last edited by thisisausername on Mon Oct 07, 2013 5:32 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 5:24 pm Post subject: Re: EPIK orientation rules |
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| thisisausername wrote: |
| Please explain what you mean about making an example of him. They publicly humiliated him? |
He threw some furniture around at night and had a shoving match with a security guard. He had to read an apology letter to everyone the following morning. What he did was pretty minor to the other shenanigans, aside from the shoving match. Funny thing was that some of the younger Korean orientation teachers were right beside us when these things were going on. |
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Lucas
Joined: 11 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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Lucas wrote:
Quote:
It is unreasonable to make the teachers share a dorm.
It is unacceptable to give them a curfew.
Professional footballers on 250 grand a week have to share hotel rooms and have a curfew.
They also have to shower together naked.
As do the teachers who go to these things.
Quote:
Professional footballers on 250 grand a week have to share hotel rooms and have a curfew.
And spineless little groveling esl peasants are willing to do it for a mere 2.x mil KRW a month. Pathetic.
I think it must be bad upbringing. Parents never taught you how to respect yourselves. You've left people push you around your whole life. No understanding of the power of your own self determination. No actual self esteem. And clearly, with these sarcastic and unhelpful responses in this thread thus far, no respect for other people. |
I'm starting to think you had a bad experience sharing a room with a stranger?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handkerchief_code
^ For future ref! - If guessing you wore a red one? |
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thisisausername
Joined: 28 May 2011
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Lucas wrote: |
I'm starting to think you had a bad experience sharing a room with a stranger?
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Not I but another poster in the thread.
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
One of the first jobs I had in TEFL, I shared a hostel room with two other guys on an orientation course. Incidently, one of them, a guy in his fifties, tried it on with me during the night. Now, when I go somewhere I get put up in a hotel and have an evening meal allowance. Not a five star hotel, that's what my boss gets and he gets to travel by business class. His boss probably flies first class. Such is life on the rungs of the work ladder. |
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Lucas
Joined: 11 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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edwardcatflap wrote:
One of the first jobs I had in TEFL, I shared a hostel room with two other guys on an orientation course. Incidently, one of them, a guy in his fifties, tried it on with me during the night. Now, when I go somewhere I get put up in a hotel and have an evening meal allowance. Not a five star hotel, that's what my boss gets and he gets to travel by business class. His boss probably flies first class. Such is life on the rungs of the work ladder.
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Take it as a complement ed.
OP, I dont think you'll need to worry about that! |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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Take it as a complement ed.
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I did, and he wasn't a big enough size to have me worried. I just used it as an example of how forcing strangers to share rooms can sometimes lead to unpleasantness. |
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