Korean Job Discussion Forums

Incognito · Joined: 20 Dec 2004 Location: Teacher centered hell!!!

Hello Everyone,

I have just been offered a high school teaching position at Osan Girl's High School through the GEPIK program. This will be my first teaching position (adventure) in Korea and I would like some feedback on the pros and cons of such a position. It pays 2.2 million won per month with all of the usual perks. Thanks in advance!

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

What are your qualifications?

I only ask to compare pay with levels they are giving out. My bosses were lying to us and trying to make a stink about how hard it was to raise our pay to 2.1 or 2.2.

I work for a high school too.

Incognito · Joined: 20 Dec 2004 Location: Teacher centered hell!!!

Gollum:

Eleven years teaching experience. Some corporate experience. B.S. in Education. Blah, blah, blah...

BTW...your avatar is hilarious.

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

Thanks,

I recognized you were getting top-level pay (I think, according to GEPIK). But I think Grotto gets some more cash for being out in the styx??? You should ask him. Maybe you can get that?

Maybe it's 100,000 a month more. Check into that!

If it's my school, you should be getting the top-level pay, which is 2.2, plus if it were Grotto's case, another 100,000 for living in a country area (if that's where you'll be).

Not sure your rules are the same, but something to look into!

Also, make sure they pay for your ticket to Japan for a Visa, if you need one! My school wouldn't pay that, but we got them to.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Are you sure its Gepik you are working with and not EPIK?

Yeah I get an extra 100,000 a month for living and working out in the boonies.

With your qualifications I suggest you contact GEPIK for there is an opening at an elementary school in Osan. Your pay would be 2,300,000 with an extra 100,000 for teaching in a rural area.

GEPIK is elementary school

EPIK is high school and middle school

Am I wrong>?

Incognito · Joined: 20 Dec 2004 Location: Teacher centered hell!!!

Grotto:

I asked my recruiter the same question and she assures me that it is GEPIK. As for your high school position, do you like it...compared to a hagwon (assuming you have taught at a hagwon)?

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Well I teach at an elementary school

After two years of working in hogwans it is like night and day.

Better pay, fewer classes, better curriculum at the public school. Housing is better too.

Downside: longer hours but less work, government beaurocratic stupidity that occasionally raises its ugly head.

I vastly prefer the public school but they havent ever dealt with foreigners before so there are alot of communication frustrations.

But I doubt I will ever return to a hogwan again.

xtchr · Joined: 23 Nov 2004

Grotto: EPIK can be elementary and/or middle school and/or high school. And you get a monthly rural allowance of 100 000 won for being in the sticks.

Incognito · Joined: 20 Dec 2004 Location: Teacher centered hell!!!

Thanks everyone for the replies so far. I really didn't expect them to come so quickly!

Grotto: You say you work in Osan...right? If so, what can you tell me about that part of Korea?

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

The main problem you may have coming straight into a public shcool is that they are a lot more traditional than hogwons. You may be the first non-korean to work for them so the cultural and language barriers between both staff and students are huge.

Also in answer to your question osan is about an hour or so south of seoul. There is a miltiary presence there so it's not like you are gong to BFE.

Though with your experience and qualifications I would try and get into an international school though the hiring round for those has finsihed up (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

Just as a general aside has GEPIK expanded? It says on the website that they do elementary schools only.

peppermint · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 8:49 pm Post subject:

Advice:
Ask to speak with your co-teachers before signing anything, just to make sure that they both exist, and speak English.

- Devlop a hobby that you can do from your desk. Koreans put a lot of value in face time, and aside from "office hours", there'll probably still be a day when you won't have classes but will still need to show up.

Class sizes are big, but discipline seems pretty tight after elementary school- at least til the students finish writing the SATs. . .

The military aren't really in Osan, but short bus ride away in a town called Songtan. Close enought to get into trouble on the weekends, far away enough to not be a huge temptation the rest of the time.

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

What does GEPIK mean as opposed to EPIK anyway?

Does G mean Gyonngi or something?

No L · Joined: 17 May 2004

EPIK/GEPIK don't mean much. It's all depends on the individual position. Some are great, some aren't. In public schools, this can depend a lot on your co-workers and co-teachers. If you're new to Korea and the other teachers aren't open to having a foreign teacher, you can feel very alienated. Many schools are very welcoming though. Some co-teachers can be resentful of you, while others are very supportive and helpful.

Given that you have lots of experience, and seem to be doing some research on Korea, I think you are in a good position to have a great experience.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

GEPIK
Gyeonggi-do English Program In Korea and to the best of my knowledge they only do elementary schools. I think there is some kind of communication goof-up somewhere.

I dont work in Osan but it is located about 25 minutes south of Suwon or an hours South of Seoul. It is on the train lines as well. As mentioned before it is about 15 minutes from Songtan a great place to shop or see some foriegn faces and hear some English.