Tefl in South Korea

medici wrote: »

(i) they mentioned in the confirmation email (about the time of the call tomorrow) that they'll be asking me questions about the info on their website. I'm wondering though, will they ask anything about my TEFL certificate or classroom "scenarios"?

I've had interviews where the interviewers ask me how I enjoyed my tefl and ask me about the teaching exp that I had with the course. What I liked/disliked what I would like to work on. I'm not always asked about my TEFL course. They will quickly go through your education, well they did with me!

Sometimes in interviews I was given a scenario such a disruptive class and how you would deal with it/ how to teach a certain subject such as "I like/I do not like" to very very beginner students. Be prepared! I wasn't always but its good to have silly questions like that prepared.

medici wrote: »

(ii) I'm interested primarily in getting a hagwon position. If I specify this tomorrow, would that come across as me being "inflexible" - in that I'm not interested in any public-school positions that might be available?

If you specify what you want you might be able to get a job quicker. I started looking in April for EPIK places but alot of the hagwons offer good deals. There will be a lot more hagwon places, a few public school places pop up but majority of them would be taken by EPIK.

medici wrote: »

(iii) Finally (!) - have seen Footprints mentioned once or twice in this thread but cannot seem to find any solid opinions on what they're like to deal with. Would really appreciate hearing about people's experiences with them...

I haven't used them myself. I worked with a guy called Patrick in ATC. My friend who is now in Korea about 6 months worked with footprints. He got a public school job with EPIK in Feb time. I've heard some good things about them!

Best of luck!

I've been using Footprints and have found them pretty good so far. Leaving Sunday!

kraggy wrote: »

Cassi, where can you get dell laptops in Korea for 250? Or did you mean Ireland?

I went looking for a laptop here in Seoul a few weeks ago and was shocked at the prices. Gonna stick with my old laptop for the time being.

But for the record, in Techno Mart they can put and English Os on the laptops in an hour. But the prices are ridiculous.

I haven't seen Dell anywhere in Korea but thats not to say there not there somewhere. It was in Ireland on the dell website. I've never seen a price that matches on laptops in Korea, though Virmilitaris says if you haggle you can do better, still a bit dubious about this though if you're just looking for a standard netbook or laptop for browsing!

A friend needed a basic laptop and couldn't get anything in Korea even with a korean shopping with him. He ended up buying on online and having a friend bring it over when they came to visit.

virmilitaris wrote: »

Haggle. The displayed price is not the real price.

Not if you haggle.

Just start saying 'discount?' or 'service' and that usually does it for me. I think in a lot of cases, especially in electronic stores they expect it and so have prices marked a little higher.

dapto1 wrote: »

Just about to leave for Korea now. See ye on the other side!

Ah Good Luck - Ive been here just over a week now and the first week was really tough but everybody has been so friendly and welcoming!!

The mosquitoes are licking their lips and tying their napkins. Fresh Irish blood! Yum!:eek:

Has anyone applied for positions with EPIK? I'm just wondering how long it took between the time they received all the [hard copies of the] paper work (post-phone interview) and the time they got back with an offer of a position (or assignement of a position)?

Elba101 wrote: »

Hey all,

I really want to go to Seoul but I've been told to be flexable on my destination if I want to go by the end of Sept (which I really do). Where else would people recommend to go in South Korea?

What about Seoul really made you want to go there? If we know whats you're looking for or what you would like in a destination e.g shopping, activities etc, then its easier to recommend places.

you can definately start your search for Seoul but you may indeed need to be flexible if your determined on going in sept.

Elba101 wrote: »

Thanks Cassi. I'm looking for a city with lots to do really! A place with other westerners and a good nightlife.

Seoul and Busan would be your 2 best bets there!

anyone at all applied for a position with EPIK??

seamie89 wrote: »

heyy...
i just completed four years in colege, after my 3rd year i recieved an ordinary degree. my graduation for fourth year isnt until mid november. I'm jst wondering do i need to get both my ordinary and honours degree apostilled?? or should i go ahead and just get my ordinary one done...or would it be better to wait amd get my honours degree and get that apostilled?

The ordinary degree is enough to get you a job and a visa.

roosh wrote: »

anyone at all applied for a position with EPIK??

loads have people have written about their experiences with applying to EPIK, you can either hope they comment again, or scroll back and start reading. Don't go too far back though, people were talking about it 1-2 months ago.

Just click on a page an search for EPIK, it'll save you a lot of hassle.

cloneslad wrote: »

loads have people have written about their experiences with applying to EPIK, you can either hope they comment again, or scroll back and start reading. Don't go too far back though, people were talking about it 1-2 months ago.

Just click on a page an search for EPIK, it'll save you a lot of hassle.

I was kind of hoping for the former, bcos I have a very specific question, as I am pretty much at the final stage of the EPIK application process, but I'll do the search anyway

cheers lad

cloneslad wrote: »

Get your stuff together and apply for positions at the same time. You have loads of time to get stuff together if you aren't looking to go until the next EPIK batch in Feb.

I do envy all the new people going out to Korea for the first time, straight after college. When I applied the (april 2006) there was an abundance of jobs in Ireland, and I turned loads down so I could go to Korea. The second time I went out (feb 2010) I had a masters degree and nobody would hire me.

Now that I've got a job in my field I can't see myself ever going back there to work, it's nice to not have to emmigrate, but it's a sad kind of niceness.

you could always go back out for a wee holiday..and maybe forget to come home

seamie89 wrote: »

from reading through loads of different threads on this...i think i know what documents i need etc!im sure il have a few posts up here once i hit any difficultys actually do you know how long the garda vetting certificate lasts for?..would it go out of date after a few months...?

I wouldn't say so, but I wouldn't swear either. I'd say once it's apostilled it should be fine. I wouldn't get it 6 months in advance or anything, but if you were to apply for it now, by the time you get it and get it apostilled, there'd only be a month or so between that and the opening of the application process, so it should be fine.