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teachingld2004
Joined: 29 Mar 2004
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 Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 3:31 am Post subject: EPIK jobs |
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I's so sure this has been talked about, but the search feature here is giving me everything but.
I have been looking for a job that will start September 1, and I am sick of hogwons. I have the qualifications to be almost at the top pay scale at EPIK.
I'm going to fill out the application, and mail it Thursday.
Can some one who has an EPIK position write in and talk about their experience(s) please.
Thanks. |
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antoniothegreat
Joined: 28 Aug 2005
Location: Yangpyeong
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| Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:41 am Post subject: |
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| i am not in EPIK, but I never hear anyone saying "wow, I love EPIK, it is great!" seems to be lots of frustration from that program. |
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passport220
Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Location: Gyeongsangbuk-do province
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| Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:02 am Post subject: |
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I am also interested in the program. However, I am a new teacher. I just finished my TESOL training. I like the idea of avoiding the shenanigans that seem to go on at the hogwons. I could live with spending extra hours at the school in exchange for a light teaching schedule, and reliable payment of salaries and benefits.
I am concerned by the lack of "wow, I love EPIK, it is great!" comments. It seems it just depends on the individual school as to how your are treated. Anyone want to say �wow�? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:20 am Post subject: |
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| passport220 wrote: |
I am also interested in the program. However, I am a new teacher. I just finished my TESOL training. I like the idea of avoiding the shenanigans that seem to go on at the hogwons. I could live with spending extra hours at the school in exchange for a light teaching schedule, and reliable payment of salaries and benefits.
I am concerned by the lack of "wow, I love EPIK, it is great!" comments. It seems it just depends on the individual school as to how your are treated. Anyone want to say �wow�? |
I can say without equivocation that even a bad EPIK/GEPIK job is better than working in a hakwon.
No worries about pay, pension, medical. The class hours are way less. YA, there is some frustration but it still beats the hell out of the crap you get in most hakwons.
AND.... If you get a good placement then you will be a very happy camper for your time here. |
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ShadowEdge
Joined: 23 Jun 2006
Location: Prisons under Pyongyang
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| Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| How difficult is it to get accepted into the EPIK or GEPIK programmes? Is it realistic for a first time teacher, fresh out of college (with no experience) to expect to get hired for a public school position, or would I need to do at least one year at a hagwon first? |
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MorgolKing
Joined: 18 May 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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| I have to agree with ttompatz. I lucked out and got placed in a really good public school through prgram similar to EPIK, but even if the school you get placed in isn't one of the better ones you can at the very least depend on the benefits listed in the EPIK contract...and that trumps almost every hagwon job. |
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xtchr
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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Be aware though that you might not get placed in only one school. You are hired by the Provincial Office of Education, and they can send you anywhere they like.
I go to 38 schools, which is 37 too many, and I never have any cancellations/sports days/exam days because they just change the schools around for that day. So week after week I do the maximum teaching hours as per my contract.
And when school is not in session, and all the Korean teachers are on vacation for a month at least, I MUST sit in the local Office of Education from 9am-6pm, until my whopping 7 days vacation comes around. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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| xtchr wrote: |
Be aware though that you might not get placed in only one school. You are hired by the Provincial Office of Education, and they can send you anywhere they like.
I go to 38 schools, which is 37 too many, and I never have any cancellations/sports days/exam days because they just change the schools around for that day. So week after week I do the maximum teaching hours as per my contract.
And when school is not in session, and all the Korean teachers are on vacation for a month at least, I MUST sit in the local Office of Education from 9am-6pm, until my whopping 7 days vacation comes around. |
yep, that is why people should continue fighting. 38 schools? There is just no need for that (and how can you ever feel any sort of bond to any of the students or even the schools). That is crazy on a new scale. |
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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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| xtchr wrote: |
Be aware though that you might not get placed in only one school. You are hired by the Provincial Office of Education, and they can send you anywhere they like.
I go to 38 schools, which is 37 too many, and I never have any cancellations/sports days/exam days because they just change the schools around for that day. So week after week I do the maximum teaching hours as per my contract.
And when school is not in session, and all the Korean teachers are on vacation for a month at least, I MUST sit in the local Office of Education from 9am-6pm, until my whopping 7 days vacation comes around. |
Where in Korea are you working? I've never heard of this situation anywhere in Korea. I've heard of a teacher being split between 2 schools, but that's it. Sounds like your area has a foreign teacher shortage. I know that in Daegu, they'll hire as many westerners as they can get. That pretty much is the case for all of EPIK. So long as you have the right qualifications, you're pretty much good to go. |
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xtchr
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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I'm in Jeollabuk-do. Others I know in the same province go to 9 or 10 schools. And one lucky soul goes to SIXTY ONE  . I thought I had it bad, but I believe that tops my situation. |
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daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
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| Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:21 am Post subject: |
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Forest Bump!!
Thought I'd bump this post up as I am also interested in peoples views of EPIK.
Han has set me up with an interview in Busan but I am a bit cautious due to feedback on this board about EPIK in general, however, most negativity seems to be from 2003 - 2004!!
What is EPIK like in 2006? |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:53 am Post subject: |
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| If you have your BEd, are certified, and have even a bit of experience, try to get into the NET program in Hong Kong. Everything I've ever heard about EPIK is bad. Fine, the jobs are 'better than working at an institute, but, then again, what isn't! |
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MorgolKing
Joined: 18 May 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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| xtchr wrote: |
Be aware though that you might not get placed in only one school. You are hired by the Provincial Office of Education, and they can send you anywhere they like.
I go to 38 schools, which is 37 too many, and I never have any cancellations/sports days/exam days because they just change the schools around for that day. So week after week I do the maximum teaching hours as per my contract.
And when school is not in session, and all the Korean teachers are on vacation for a month at least, I MUST sit in the local Office of Education from 9am-6pm, until my whopping 7 days vacation comes around. |
Wow that really really blows.
How long do these bigwigs think their programs are going to run if they keep on like this? I guess they're just relying on getting FOB teachers who don't know any better. I was interviewing for SMOE and the recruiter told me they were looking for people with NO experience!! Because too many of the teachers left the program part way into the contract period. Maybe the motto should now be get a public school job outside of Seoul and GyeongGi (unless you get contracted directly with the school, not with some lame Board of Human Trafficking aka Board of Education)  |
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passport220
Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Location: Gyeongsangbuk-do province
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| Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:29 am Post subject: |
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| xtchr wrote: |
Be aware though that you might not get placed in only one school. You are hired by the Provincial Office of Education, and they can send you anywhere they like.
I go to 38 schools, which is 37 too many, and I never have any cancellations/sports days/exam days because they just change the schools around for that day. So week after week I do the maximum teaching hours as per my contract. |
This would be a definite negative.
| xtchr wrote: |
| And when school is not in session, and all the Korean teachers are on vacation for a month at least, I MUST sit in the local Office of Education from 9am-6pm, until my whopping 7 days vacation comes around. |
This does sound like a drag if you are comparing yourself to a local teacher. However if you compare it to a hokwon, would you not have to be at your hokwon during this time? However you would have to be teaching classes.
Take care |
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Summer Wine
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Location: Next to a River
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| Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:14 am Post subject: |
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This does sound like a drag if you are comparing yourself to a local teacher. However if you compare it to a hokwon, would you not have to be at your hokwon during this time? However you would have to be teaching classes.
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Personally I have been at a hogwan (pronounciation to my ears) for 5 years at least at different ones. I am no longer sure that the offers being made at public schools are better than a good hogwan. I started hard and its got better ever since, while the publics seem to offer worse conditions.
I don't need the arguments about which is better, it just depends on the school, people and expectations 90% of the time. Ok, maybe korean systems in public schools have suddenly decided to offer exactly what you thought you signed up for. Then I am wrong.
Though for a first timer to the Korean system, "Contactual agreements are conditional for the Korean signer unless they will lose face to thier superiors". Its all on trust and that will probably continue for a few years yet.  |
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