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natydee
Joined: 01 May 2015
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 Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 1:00 pm Post subject: Epik and Teaching in Korea as of 2015 |
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Hello,
A lot of the posts I am finding on this forums that answer questions I have were written in the early 2000's, so I'm not sure how relevant they may actually be. Here are few of my concerns and questions while researching possibly teaching English in South Korea.
-What is it like teaching for Epik as of 2015
-Epik vs. Hagwons?
-Is an online TEFL certificate okay?
Any other advice is appreciated! |
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tob55
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 2:28 pm Post subject: Re: Epik and Teaching in Korea as of 2015 |
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| natydee wrote: |
Hello,
A lot of the posts I am finding on this forums that answer questions I have were written in the early 2000's, so I'm not sure how relevant they may actually be. Here are few of my concerns and questions while researching possibly teaching English in South Korea.
-What is it like teaching for Epik as of 2015
-Epik vs. Hagwons?
-Is an online TEFL certificate okay?
Any other advice is appreciated! |
I do not work with EPIC, but have several friends who do.
EPIK is good or bad depending on where you are assigned your position. they do require some in-class training when you work for their program. 2015 is the same pretty much across the board as far as government sponsored hiring agencies. The public vs. hagwon discussion will always be up for debate, and really it is a 'to each their own' type of decision you have to make. Public schools allow more holidays and free time, but some hagwons allow some pretty good benefits as well.
The online certificate alone will not fly in South Korea these days. The powers that be want to see that you have completed a minimum of 20 face-to-face hours in a classroom while receiving your TESOL training (with some observed teaching).
That's all I can offer for information and advice, plenty of other people probably have much more to say. Good luck on your decision.  |
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nbm
Joined: 08 May 2015
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| Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 2:21 am Post subject: |
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Hi~ I have lurked on forums and read so many articles and I agree with you that the information is outdated.
I have collected some of the false information floating online and have replaced it with modern facts.
I wrote the article here:
http://www.neonbutmore.com/?p=63
Hope it is useful~ |
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hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
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| Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 7:11 am Post subject: |
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| nbm wrote: |
Hi~ I have lurked on forums and read so many articles and I agree with you that the information is outdated.
I have collected some of the false information floating online and have replaced it with modern facts.
I wrote the article here:
http://www.neonbutmore.com/?p=63
Hope it is useful~ |
man the crap that passes as "expert information" on blogs like this one is amazing. Lets first start with your ethnicity being Gyopo makes a huge difference is jobs. Second the "glamor jobs" you talk about in Gangnam Daechi-dong etc would only hire Gyopos so the typical job seeker wouldn't find it useful anyhow. I could go on to other things.
whats next pushing a "book" on what you allegedly "know" please... |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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| hogwonguy1979 wrote: |
man the crap that passes as "expert information" on blogs like this one is amazing. Lets first start with your ethnicity being Gyopo makes a huge difference is jobs. Second the "glamor jobs" you talk about in Gangnam Daechi-dong etc would only hire Gyopos so the typical job seeker wouldn't find it useful anyhow. I could go on to other things.
whats next pushing a "book" on what you allegedly "know" please... |
Third: the glaring S&G errors that would embarrass any reputable reporter/author. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: Epik and Teaching in Korea as of 2015 |
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| natydee wrote: |
Hello,
A lot of the posts I am finding on this forums that answer questions I have were written in the early 2000's, so I'm not sure how relevant they may actually be. Here are few of my concerns and questions while researching possibly teaching English in South Korea.
-What is it like teaching for Epik as of 2015
-Epik vs. Hagwons?
-Is an online TEFL certificate okay?
Any other advice is appreciated! |
1) it is the same as it has always been. There are some great schools, there are some OK school, there are some mediocre schools and there are some crap schools.
Where a school stands will change from year to year since government schools rotate 20% of their staff out and replace them every year. You might start off with a great co-teacher and/or principal who is then replaced in the rotation with someone who sees no value in what you do (or vice versa).
2) There is no comparison.
880 teaching hours per year vs 1440 (usually for the same money).
4-6 weeks annual vacation vs 10 days.
NPS and medical vs nothing.
ad continuum...
3) No. https://www.epik.go.kr/contents.do?contentsNo=56&menuNo=286
TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificates are now mandatory for all applicants who do not have a Bachelor's or Master's in Education OR a teaching license OR graduated with a major in Education (Physical Education, Math Education etc.)
For EPIK you need either:
a) teaching qualification or
b) 100+ hour TEFL certification with a minimum of 20 "in class" hours.
- some POEs (eg: Busan) require the "in class" component to be as high as 60 hours.
. |
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nbm
Joined: 08 May 2015
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| Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 1:19 am Post subject: |
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| hogwonguy1979 wrote: |
| nbm wrote: |
Hi~ I have lurked on forums and read so many articles and I agree with you that the information is outdated.
I have collected some of the false information floating online and have replaced it with modern facts.
I wrote the article here:
http://www.neonbutmore.com/?p=63
Hope it is useful~ |
man the crap that passes as "expert information" on blogs like this one is amazing. Lets first start with your ethnicity being Gyopo makes a huge difference is jobs. Second the "glamor jobs" you talk about in Gangnam Daechi-dong etc would only hire Gyopos so the typical job seeker wouldn't find it useful anyhow. I could go on to other things.
whats next pushing a "book" on what you allegedly "know" please... |
Hi, I never said that what I am saying is "Expert information", I am in no way an expert, which is why I wrote on my own personal blog. I am not trying to fool anyone, I was just writing some things that I have learnt. Haha, I am not writing a book, and I do not want to write a book, I am merely blogging which is quite common. I think you assume that I think that I am an all-seeing expert, I am not, which is why you seem so dissapointed. I never claimed in my blog that it would be applicable to everyone either.
As for the spelling and grammar, it is my mistake and I am improving. It's my first blog! I guess I appreciate all feedback because I actually want to get better. I am also not a reporter/ author.
"Who does she think she is?"
"I am just a blogger. I am merely sharing my personal experience" |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 1:39 am Post subject: |
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| nbm wrote: |
| I am merely blogging which is quite common. |
I like the images & capsules at the top of your page. Clever & funny.
But as others have commented, your experience bears minimal resemblance to that of ordinary jobseekers. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 2:36 am Post subject: |
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| nbm wrote: |
| Hi, I never said that what I am saying is "Expert information", I am in no way an expert, which is why I wrote on my own personal blog. |
Horse apples. In your first post in this thread, you maligned what others have said and stated that you posted accurate information in your article. Note that you called it an article, not a blog. |
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candy bar
Joined: 03 Dec 2012
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| Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 4:36 am Post subject: |
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| nbm wrote: |
Hi~ I have lurked on forums and read so many articles and I agree with you that the information is outdated.
I have collected some of the false information floating online and have replaced it with modern facts.
I wrote the article here:
http://www.neonbutmore.com/?p=63
Hope it is useful~ |
No, most of the information isn't outdated. Much of the old information is still useful.
You have a blog.  |
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Bongotruck
Joined: 19 Mar 2015
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 2:55 am Post subject: |
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| nbm, I mostly agree with your blog. However, even better than the blonde hair/blue eyed combination is the 2 *beep*/vagina combo. It will get an individual more jobs. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Sat May 16, 2015 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Epik and Teaching in Korea as of 2015 |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| natydee wrote: |
Hello,
A lot of the posts I am finding on this forums that answer questions I have were written in the early 2000's, so I'm not sure how relevant they may actually be. Here are few of my concerns and questions while researching possibly teaching English in South Korea.
-What is it like teaching for Epik as of 2015
-Epik vs. Hagwons?
-Is an online TEFL certificate okay?
Any other advice is appreciated! |
1) it is the same as it has always been. There are some great schools, there are some OK school, there are some mediocre schools and there are some crap schools.
Where a school stands will change from year to year since government schools rotate 20% of their staff out and replace them every year. You might start off with a great co-teacher and/or principal who is then replaced in the rotation with someone who sees no value in what you do (or vice versa).
2) There is no comparison.
880 teaching hours per year vs 1440 (usually for the same money).
4-6 weeks annual vacation vs 10 days.
NPS and medical vs nothing.
ad continuum...
3) No. https://www.epik.go.kr/contents.do?contentsNo=56&menuNo=286
TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificates are now mandatory for all applicants who do not have a Bachelor's or Master's in Education OR a teaching license OR graduated with a major in Education (Physical Education, Math Education etc.)
For EPIK you need either:
a) teaching qualification or
b) 100+ hour TEFL certification with a minimum of 20 "in class" hours.
- some POEs (eg: Busan) require the "in class" component to be as high as 60 hours.
. |
Shame those geniuses didn't actually make it possible for you to take a class room TESOL here in Korea. I contact the local universities asking them if they're offering a TESOL course and they never do. I keep asking in vain hoping they will. But they don't. Glad I'm grandfathered in. But if you're hakwon wanting to switch over, they sure do like to make it impossible don't they? |
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