Tefl in South Korea

hyperbaby · 10-11-2011 8:32am

cloneslad wrote: »

i would suggest skype too. even if your family don't have it, it works out much cheaper to call them on it. about 2cent a minute to a landline or you can pay about €4 for unlimited calls to Ireland per month.

I also got a 'skype in' number for about €25 a year. It meant my family without the capability to use skype or internet could call my skype phone number and they'd only be charged for making a local call.

My mother needs to get a landline, the cost of calls is killing me.

Okay, can you explain to me how that skype number thing works?

dapto1 · 10-11-2011 2:52pm

Anyone else going to Two Gallants in Hongdae on Saturday?

roosh · 10-11-2011 2:59pm

hyperbaby wrote: »

My mother needs to get a landline, the cost of calls is killing me.

Okay, can you explain to me how that skype number thing works?

not 100% sure what the story with it is, but from what I understand it would be you that get's the landline number, so that when people call you it's as though they are calling an irish landline, but you would receive it through skype.

so basically, they ring an "irish" landline number and you answer on your computer or smartphone.

cloneslad · 10-11-2011 3:04pm

roosh wrote: »

not 100% sure what the story with it is, but from what I understand it would be you that get's the landline number, so that when people call you it's as though they are calling an irish landline, but you would receive it through skype.

so basically, they ring an "irish" landline number and you answer on your computer or smartphone.

That's pretty much it.

squeakyduck · 11-11-2011 3:48am

Happy Pepero day

kraggy · 11-11-2011 4:31am

dapto1 wrote: »

Anyone else going to Two Gallants in Hongdae on Saturday?

No, but how did you hear about it?

Never know about these things.

JebusCripes · 11-11-2011 5:59am

If I mail my documents into the DFA to get appostilled do I need to include a stamped self addressed envelope?

DFA site says :
"Documents sent by post must include the following:
A brief covering letter stating your name, return address, telephone number, you must state what country the document(s) are for use in, and you must include the appropriate fee."

Most recruiting sites say to include a self addressed envelope....., its just that I'm having somebody else do this for me and i don't want to give them extra hassle...

squeakyduck · 11-11-2011 6:51am

kraggy wrote: »

No, but how did you hear about it?

Never know about these things.

I heard they were playing in Busan there the other day. Supposed to be very good.

JFitzgerald · 13-11-2011 3:43am

This probably sounds incredibly lame but I've been teaching here for two weeks and I don't know my students names. i asked my 'co-teacher' (i'm using that word loosely as i teach all of his classes by myself and he doesn't do anything at all) about ways to get their names but i couldn't get a straight answer from him. Does everyone know the names of all their students? Did they get them to display their names on their desks or something? Also, I haven't had time to learn Korean yet as I'm still hugely busy with the minutiae of settling in etc so i haven't had time to find a korean class, sign up to it, go to it and start learning to read korean names. any suggestions? thanks.

red_bairn · 13-11-2011 3:50am

JFitzgerald wrote: »

This probably sounds incredibly lame but I've been teaching here for two weeks and I don't know my students names. i asked my 'co-teacher' (i'm using that word loosely as i teach all of his classes by myself and he doesn't do anything at all) about ways to get their names but i couldn't get a straight answer from him. Does everyone know the names of all their students? Did they get them to display their names on their desks or something? Also, I haven't had time to learn Korean yet as I'm still hugely busy with the minutiae of settling in etc so i haven't had time to find a korean class, sign up to it, go to it and start learning to read korean names. any suggestions? thanks.

I know a teacher in a public school who knows her kids by numbers

I'm in a hagwon and know many of the students by Korean or English names. It's difficult though. It takes time to remember them all. Some of the students leave and you get new ones. :rolleyes:

roosh · 13-11-2011 1:21pm

JFitzgerald wrote: »

This probably sounds incredibly lame but I've been teaching here for two weeks and I don't know my students names. i asked my 'co-teacher' (i'm using that word loosely as i teach all of his classes by myself and he doesn't do anything at all) about ways to get their names but i couldn't get a straight answer from him. Does everyone know the names of all their students? Did they get them to display their names on their desks or something? Also, I haven't had time to learn Korean yet as I'm still hugely busy with the minutiae of settling in etc so i haven't had time to find a korean class, sign up to it, go to it and start learning to read korean names. any suggestions? thanks.

It's probably been posted in here alreadty but talk to me in Korean is supposed to be a useful website for learning Korean.

roosh · 13-11-2011 1:45pm

Hey guys,

I got my ARC card last week, so I'm going to get on the case about a phone. Does anyone have any advice on how to go about this; or what kind of phone is good value for money; or whether it is better to go bill- or pre-pay.

I would like to get an iPhone, but almost solely for the "sleep cycle alarm clock" app - does anyone know if that app is available on android also, or is it just the iPhone; anyone any idea how much an iPhone would cost a month?

cheers

Elba101 · 13-11-2011 5:01pm

I know this is a long shot, but I lost a blue Fuji camera last weekend either around Bupyeong station or in a taxi from Bupyeong to Siheung. Raging becasue I lost all my photos from the last year :mad:

If by any chance someone found it please let me know.

Thanks!

SpatialPlanning · 14-11-2011 12:49am

JFitzgerald wrote: »

This probably sounds incredibly lame but I've been teaching here for two weeks and I don't know my students names. i asked my 'co-teacher' (i'm using that word loosely as i teach all of his classes by myself and he doesn't do anything at all) about ways to get their names but i couldn't get a straight answer from him. Does everyone know the names of all their students? Did they get them to display their names on their desks or something? Also, I haven't had time to learn Korean yet as I'm still hugely busy with the minutiae of settling in etc so i haven't had time to find a korean class, sign up to it, go to it and start learning to read korean names. any suggestions? thanks.

What helped me was writing each student's name beside my own short description of them. When you're in class try to use their name as much as possible, even if you have to stop and look at what you've written down. Having them display their names on their desks also works.

roosh · 14-11-2011 1:04am

I'm looking to get some presents for the staff here at school; I want to get a bottle of Irish whiskey each for my CT, VP and principal. Does anyone know if there is anywhere these could be ordered online and delivered to Korea; or would the best way to go about it be to get the family to send them over?

EDIT: also, should I get them all the same size bottle, or should I get a bigger one for one/some of them; just wondering if there is any custom where it is expected that the principal should get the bigger bottle, or the co-teacher perhaps?

the_antagonist · 14-11-2011 3:48am

roosh wrote: »

I'm looking to get some presents for the staff here at school; I want to get a bottle of Irish whiskey each for my CT, VP and principal.

Why would you spend all that cash ? It's completely unnecessary.

Buy them each a cheap bottle of wine in E-mart over here when you arrive.

roosh · 14-11-2011 5:10am

the_antagonist wrote: »

Why would you spend all that cash ? It's completely unnecessary.

Buy them each a cheap bottle of wine in E-mart over here when you arrive.

3 bottles of whiskey wouldn't be that expensive, it'd be the means of delivery which would cost the money; which is why I was wondering if there was a way to do it online.

I wanted to get something from home, and the lads are all drinkers, so I thought it would be a good way to "grease the wheels" so to speak

FCUM · 14-11-2011 10:41am

Though i'd posted this the other day but for some reason it didnt post.

Did anyone have to do a video to go along with their application? A recruiter has told us to do this as its becoming more common. Actually makes sense really. Anyone got any tips re: format and how long it should be and maybe what they look for?

petethebrick · 15-11-2011 2:36pm

You can find Jameson here fairly easily if you look around

orchidsrpretty · 15-11-2011 5:18pm

Hi I am finally getting around to looking into what I need for the application. I'm sure this have been asked before but...... Where do I get the clearance from the garda from? and what exactly is it called? I went into my local garda station yesterday and he said that I have to write a letter to the garda vetting unit in Thurles? Am I asking for a garda clearance certificate, the same as the one you need to work with children etc or is it something else? Thanks alot if someone can clear this up for me:)

cloneslad · 15-11-2011 5:32pm

orchidsrpretty wrote: »

Hi I am finally getting around to looking into what I need for the application. I'm sure this have been asked before but...... Where do I get the clearance from the garda from? and what exactly is it called? I went into my local garda station yesterday and he said that I have to write a letter to the garda vetting unit in Thurles? Am I asking for a garda clearance certificate, the same as the one you need to work with children etc or is it something else? Thanks alot if someone can clear this up for me:)

You don't need the one from Thurles. The one you need is free.

Just go in to your local station (or the closest one with a superintendent) tell them you need a letter stating you have no criminal convictions. Tell them you need it for a visa, not for working with kids. Also mention it's for South Korea, if you want.

Sometimes you might not get to speak to whoever you need, so bring in a letter, with you name, address (addresses for the past 5-6 years), date of birth, PPS number, passport number, telephone number etc. Also include why you need it on the letter.

They should send it out to you in about a week. Call them after 2, if you haven't received anything from them.

orchidsrpretty · 15-11-2011 7:15pm

cloneslad wrote: »

You don't need the one from Thurles. The one you need is free.

Just go in to your local station (or the closest one with a superintendent) tell them you need a letter stating you have no criminal convictions. Tell them you need it for a visa, not for working with kids. Also mention it's for South Korea, if you want.

Sometimes you might not get to speak to whoever you need, so bring in a letter, with you name, address (addresses for the past 5-6 years), date of birth, PPS number, passport number, telephone number etc. Also include why you need it on the letter.

They should send it out to you in about a week. Call them after 2, if you haven't received anything from them.

Great thanks alot.

PrincessPeach · 15-11-2011 8:35pm

Hi guys!
I got my copy of my CBC notarised yesterday, but I saw on a different site today that the original CBC is the one that needs to be apostilled. So what I'd like to know is which one do I need to send to the dept of foreign affairs to be apostilled-the notarised copy or the original? Or does it matter?

cloneslad · 15-11-2011 10:55pm

PrincessPeach wrote: »

Hi guys!
I got my copy of my CBC notarised yesterday, but I saw on a different site today that the original CBC is the one that needs to be apostilled. So what I'd like to know is which one do I need to send to the dept of foreign affairs to be apostilled-the notarised copy or the original? Or does it matter?

original

PrincessPeach · 15-11-2011 11:19pm

Thanks Cloneslad!

FCUM · 16-11-2011 1:37am

FCUM wrote: »

Though i'd posted this the other day but for some reason it didnt post.

Did anyone have to do a video to go along with their application? A recruiter has told us to do this as its becoming more common. Actually makes sense really. Anyone got any tips re: format and how long it should be and maybe what they look for?

Bump

roosh · 16-11-2011 2:04am

FCUM wrote: »

Bump

Didn't have to do one for EPIK

cloneslad · 16-11-2011 3:17am

You're probably better off getting feedback from the guys over on Daves ESL. It's a much bigger audience, and I don't recall anyone here ever mentioning that they did one. I do remember people talking about them on daves, when I used to frequent that site.

PrincessPeach · 16-11-2011 5:07pm

Regarding transcripts, I got a few copies from my university. I asked them to stamp and sign it on the seal, and I was told that they do that anyway, but when I got my copies, they were all in one envelope with no seal or stamp. The envelope does have the college crest on it and the transcripts themselves have embossed seals. Will this suffice or should I ring again and get the envelope properly sealed? I have my EPIK interview in the morning and I have pretty much all my doc sorted apart from apostilling. Having to get transcripts again could be a real fly in the ointment

cloneslad · 16-11-2011 5:36pm

PrincessPeach wrote: »

Regarding transcripts, I got a few copies from my university. I asked them to stamp and sign it on the seal, and I was told that they do that anyway, but when I got my copies, they were all in one envelope with no seal or stamp. The envelope does have the college crest on it and the transcripts themselves have embossed seals. Will this suffice or should I ring again and get the envelope properly sealed? I have my EPIK interview in the morning and I have pretty much all my doc sorted apart from apostilling. Having to get transcripts again could be a real fly in the ointment

Make a few copies of each year. Put a set of yearly transcripts into a few envelopes (year 1-2-3-4 into a single envelope) bring it to the college, get them to stamp the seal. It doesn't have to be an embossed stamp, just the normal one from the admissions office will do.

Get 3-4 of them done. Also keep a set, just in case you need to use them in the future, as it'll save you time and money having to get more.

PrincessPeach · 16-11-2011 10:11pm

cloneslad wrote: »

Make a few copies of each year. Put a set of yearly transcripts into a few envelopes (year 1-2-3-4 into a single envelope) bring it to the college, get them to stamp the seal. It doesn't have to be an embossed stamp, just the normal one from the admissions office will do.

Get 3-4 of them done. Also keep a set, just in case you need to use them in the future, as it'll save you time and money having to get more.

Thanks again for the info!

JFitzgerald · 21-11-2011 10:50am

Anyone know where i can buy a cotton mattress cover for a double bed? One of those ones that's elasticated and fits around the mattress. not a flat sheet. i saw some in emart but they're too expensive. i live in seoul.

livinginkorea · 21-11-2011 6:30pm

JFitzgerald wrote: »

Anyone know where i can buy a cotton mattress cover for a double bed? One of those ones that's elasticated and fits around the mattress. not a flat sheet. i saw some in emart but they're too expensive. i live in seoul.

Have any Korean friend who can order online for you? Probably a lot cheaper too.

warofthebutton · 22-11-2011 8:07pm

I have a fairly urgent question I'm hoping someone can help me out with....
I'm based currently in Ireland and I just got accepted for a school in Suwon who need a teacher ASAP. I'm due to fly out next week and I don't have a Korean work visa, instead the plan by the school is to pay for a trip for me to go to Japan and get it there.
My issue is that I have been asking around and apparently I need evidence of a return flight to Ireland or I might face issues with immigration, does anyone have experience of heading over to teach on short notice without having the work visa first? Does the applicant need to have a return flight booked before they leave Ireland or can they book return flights once they arrive in Korea and before they head to Japan for the work visa?
I would be very grateful for any help

cloneslad · 23-11-2011 3:47am

warofthebutton wrote: »

I have a fairly urgent question I'm hoping someone can help me out with....
I'm based currently in Ireland and I just got accepted for a school in Suwon who need a teacher ASAP. I'm due to fly out next week and I don't have a Korean work visa, instead the plan by the school is to pay for a trip for me to go to Japan and get it there.
My issue is that I have been asking around and apparently I need evidence of a return flight to Ireland or I might face issues with immigration, does anyone have experience of heading over to teach on short notice without having the work visa first? Does the applicant need to have a return flight booked before they leave Ireland or can they book return flights once they arrive in Korea and before they head to Japan for the work visa?
I would be very grateful for any help

If you don't have evidence of onward travel, then you're supposed to have a return ticket.

Some airlines may not let you on the plane as it will be their expense to fly you back, but you can usually sign a waiver to say you would sort out your own return.

Some people I know have pre-booked a trip on the beatle ferry from Busan (korea) to Fukuoka (Japan). Making sure that it's a few weeks after you enter korea, but not more than 90days. These tickets do not have to be paid for when you book them, and can be cancelled up until a few weeks before hand, with no charge to you. Of course I would never suggest you doing such a thing, as that would be dishonest and illegal, and boards would not allow it.

What you're doing is illegal and if found working you will face deportation. If you haven't previously had a Korean visa, you may not be allowed to obtain your visa in Japan either, as 1st visas for private institutions require an interview in your home country. (depending on who you are dealing with in immigration)

I would advise you, strongly, to go the legal route to getting a job.

warofthebutton · 23-11-2011 4:50pm

thanks very much, I genuinely had no idea this was illegal! I think I'll book a return flight just to be on the safe side

cloneslad · 23-11-2011 7:41pm

warofthebutton wrote: »

thanks very much, I genuinely had no idea this was illegal! I think I'll book a return flight just to be on the safe side

That'll still be illegal as the other method, as you plan to go there and work without the required visa.

Do_Lers · 24-11-2011 6:15am

Anyone going anywhere interesting for Winter break?

SpatialPlanning · 24-11-2011 8:21am

Do_Lers wrote: »

Anyone going anywhere interesting for Winter break?

Home for a bit in January but working for most of it. Anyone else back to work on December 26th??

squeakyduck · 25-11-2011 3:44am

SpatialPlanning wrote: »

Home for a bit in January but working for most of it. Anyone else back to work on December 26th??

Cambodia from the 17th till the 25th December....counting down the days until my skin sees sun again. The cold snap is really hitting home now!

hyperbaby · 25-11-2011 3:35pm

Am I the only sap that has to do winter camps?

cloneslad · 25-11-2011 3:59pm

squeakyduck wrote: »

Cambodia from the 17th till the 25th December....counting down the days until my skin sees sun again. The cold snap is really hitting home now!

I'd rather the cold snap to having to go to Cambodia again.

Limit the amount of time you have to spend in Phnom Penh, it's a dump.

hyperbaby · 25-11-2011 4:59pm

Elaborate please?
Why is it such a dump?

cloneslad · 25-11-2011 7:52pm

hyperbaby wrote: »

Elaborate please?
Why is it such a dump?

Apart from the prison and the killing fields, Phnom Penh has nothing going for it. It's just a city...a poor one at that, full of dirt, annoying people, bad food and boredom.

You can visit the killing fields and prison in day. I stayed in a hotel next to the prison, so I just walked over to it, then after I was done, I toook a ride out to the killing fields, which you can view in about an hour or 2 (slightly longer if you stay and watch the video). For me, the killing fields were nice to visit, to truely understand just what went on, but the idea of taking loads of photos of people's skulls and bones wasn't very enticing, I couldn't understand why people would want to pose next to them.

Reading the horror stories from both of those places takes it out of you, mentally, and you need to unwind after it. Unfortunately the food in Phnom Penh is terrible, so you can't even go to a decent restaurant / street food place and relax.

The indoor market is okay though, you could spend a few hours in there, but as I was travelling on I didn't really buy much, only a couple of t-shirts that I paid about a dollar for. The cambodians are terrible at haggling, several times I would look at an item because I thought it was nice, they'd shout $25 or some silly price, I'd say no thank you and browse around, then I'd get $20, $15, $12, $10, $6, $4 shouted at me over the course of a minute as I pleasantly declined...I honestly thought If I hung around the area long enough, they would give me money to take it away.

Siem Reap is well worth a few days though, the tourist sites are nice, good pubs, nice restaurants, great, cheap street food and you could walk around for hours, while also declining Cannabis, coke, heroin, from the local friendly dealers.

I didn't go to the beach areas though, so they could be nice, I just wanted to get out of phnom Penh (I'd spent about 4 days there and wanted to get to vietnam asap, was delighted when I did, because Vietnam was awesome).

Anyway, just my 2 cents worth, you might love it...that's what travelling is all about.

dapto1 · 27-11-2011 1:24pm

hyperbaby wrote: »

Am I the only sap that has to do winter camps?

I don't know anyone here that doesn't have to do winter camps...

squeakyduck · 27-11-2011 1:55pm

hyperbaby wrote: »

Am I the only sap that has to do winter camps?

I'm doing a winter camp after Xmas. Starts on the 4th of January

cloneslad wrote: »

I'd rather the cold snap to having to go to Cambodia again.

Limit the amount of time you have to spend in Phnom Penh, it's a dump.

My brother is in Phnom Penh, we are going to Angor watt for a few days and chilling out in Phnom Penh for a few days too. It shouldn't be too bad at all.

I'm really excited about getting some sun!

roosh · 27-11-2011 2:07pm

Just another question on the apartment key money; does anyone know if this is done on the basis of a yearly contract, or is it more like a longer-term investment?

It sounds like it could be a lot of hassle and cost for the school to break a lease, but, if it was done on a yearly basis then at some point during the year the contract would come to an end, and it might be easier to orchestrate a move then.

roosh · 27-11-2011 3:24pm

Has anyone here done a Temple Stay; if so was there english speaking monks/guides there; and would you recommend any particular temple?

ekevosu · 27-11-2011 4:57pm

roosh wrote: »

Just another question on the apartment key money; does anyone know if this is done on the basis of a yearly contract, or is it more like a longer-term investment?

It sounds like it could be a lot of hassle and cost for the school to break a lease, but, if it was done on a yearly basis then at some point during the year the contract would come to an end, and it might be easier to orchestrate a move then.

Yeah it's a yearly thing or whatever you negotiate with the landlord. I have a 7 month contract with mine.

ekevosu · 27-11-2011 5:08pm

roosh wrote: »

Has anyone here done a Temple Stay; if so was there english speaking monks/guides there; and would you recommend any particular temple?

I did one by jiri San, can't remember the name right now but it was great. Beautiful place, very relaxing. Early mornings were tough but a great experience. There was no English guide there. They do them all over Korea. Jeolhansa (spelling?) in pyeongchang is beautiful. I think there is a website for tourists looking to do a temple stay. Try a google and it might come up. The bigger temples usually have monks that speak a bit of English.

Tefl in South Korea

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