Tefl in South Korea

roosh wrote: »

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.

The Garda check is good for 6 months from the date displayed on it.

If anyone has any EPIK questions, that are specific or haven't been answered in the recent past, then post them here and I'm sure someone will know the answer.

It might even be a good idea to copy and paste the whole process on the latest page every 4-6 weeks to save some of the questions.

Just collected my visa....flying out tomorrow at noon!

SpatialPlanning wrote: »

Private schools, just like public schools, can be good or bad. Every situation is different. At least you can find out about your private school in advance if you do your research. Talk to current/past teachers.

Thanks!

Flangela wrote: »

Hi peeps!

Just wanna say thanks for all the useful info posted on this thread ... its really help further my decision to go to Korea.
I'm currently getting all my document together, just sent off my garda form and degree scroll off to be apostilled and I'm looking into applying for jobs.

I was wondering has anyone had any trouble applying for the EPIK spring term 2011 jobs. I made an application on there home page but im not sure whether its going through for these specific jobs. haven' t received any confirmation emails or anythin.. if anyone else has applied could ye let me know if its going through for ya???


Thanks. Hope that makes sense!

do you mean Spring 2012, or Autumn 2011? bcos Spring 2011 has passed.

If it's Autumn 2012 then the application process has closed; if it's Spring 2012 then the application process hasn't opened yet

squeakyduck wrote: »

Just arrived this morning. My apt is HUGE and I still have to unpack. I'm going out to dinner with the school tonight! There is talk of soju! :O

Nice, sounds like you're sorted!

Take it easy on the soju, it gives a wild hangover:D

Hi, I'm really hoping to head out to Seoul ASAP on the second round of SMOE offers. Could anyone tell me if anyone has ever gotten any offers to teach in a public school in Seoul through the second round of the SMOE programme, pls? Thanks.

col89 wrote: »

I've accepted a position in Geoje yesterday and I officially fly out on the 14th, just after my graduation dates, can't wait!

Congrats Col! Very quick!

So when is the next boards meet? I'd love to put a face to some of the posters on here!

Thanks guys!

It's a position in Jangseungpo, and the school will be GnB. I know that the school has been a bit hit-and-miss in some areas, but I trust in the one in Jangseungpo, and the teacher that I was in touch with was happy about everything with the school (not to mention the fact that she was lovely as a person - I added her on Facebook!), so I believe I have made the right choice after months of dilly-dallying between choices of schools and whatnot!

I have heard that the area is very nature-esque, which is fine with me, but I have to find out more details as to what city or area would be the best option for travelling to so I could meet up with other native English-speakers, etc.

cassi wrote: »

Jangseungpo is very close to Okpo, it was alot of resturants and bars etc geared to westerners, cause theres alot of westerners there with the shipyards. Most teachers came over to Gohyeon to go out which is about 20mins from Okpo. My suggestion is as soon as you get there start looking into getting a bike or scooter esp if you're gonna live in Jangseungpo. You're very close to the beaches also and yep its very picturesque.

Great, I'm really excited to start working over there! The only thing is I don't drive but I assume that there will be regular public transport like buses and/or trains (hopefully)?

cloneslad wrote: »

yes, there are lots of buses, they start at about 6am or so and finish at about 11. the bus costs around 80cent to go anywhere on the island.

I wouldn't worry about getting a license, just get yourself a 50-100cc scooter, you don't need one for it.

Two people have now told you that janseung po is picturesque, and it is, but it's also a nothing town. There's nothing in it, but you are close to opko (about 5 mins on the bus).

There is a bus station in janseung po, but most of the buses that leave the island go from gohyeon, so you will most likely have to take a local bus to gohyeon to get a more regular service to seoul / busan.

Definitely get yourself a scooter, you're going to need one, because there aren't many teachers living where you will be living, and there will certainly be none of them socialising out there.

Oh and there are no trains on the island

Thanks for the recommendation! Around how much would a 50-100cc scooter be? I'll look into getting one, hopefully they won't be very expensive!

By the way, how much cash would people recommend bringing over to keep you going before you get your first official salary on the next month?

col89 wrote: »

Thanks for the recommendation! Around how much would a 50-100cc scooter be? I'll look into getting one, hopefully they won't be very expensive!

By the way, how much cash would people recommend bringing over to keep you going before you get your first official salary on the next month?

You will pick up a decent scooter for about 400k or so from one of the teachers leaving. You'll see them advertised every now and again on the geoje teachers forum, but most people will just sell theirs on to someone they know on the island.

When we were there we got one for 50k (about €30 at the time) it was a 50cc and came with a lock and helmet. It wasn't the safest bike in the world and it got used for about 4 months to go to and from the beach. It then got a flat tyre and I was too lazy to bring it around to get it fixed. I also lived in the centre of gohyeon so it wasn't really needed.

as for money, as squeeky said, €700 should be fine, in fact €500 will most likely do you. there aren't a great deal of things to spend your money on when you live on Geoje, most of the fun things are free and you just have to factor in the cost of food and alcohol to create fun night time activities.

Hello, I'm an the EPIK orientation at the moment.
It's quite a busy schedule!
Anyone else from boards at either of the orientations?

hyperbaby wrote: »

Hello, I'm an the EPIK orientation at the moment.
It's quite a busy schedule!
Anyone else from boards at either of the orientations?

I'm at the one in Seoul.




So I've had my first proper experience of Korean bureaucracy. So I was supposed to be on 2.1m a month due to TEFL cert + one year experience. But today the EPIK coordinator told me that because my proof of teaching experience letter didn't specifically mention that my experience was in a public school/university/IT that it isn't valid. The letter was from the company that employed me in Ireland. We were contracted to work in an IT. The EPIK coordinator told me that the contract is already drawn up and that I won't be eligible for the 2+ pay scale because of this. I'm actually pretty furious about this. My recruiter (Footprints) got this letter weeks ago and told me it was fine. One of the reasons I chose Korea is so I can save for going back to college next year, and this stupid little technicality could cost me nearly 800 euro over the year. I've emailed Footprints anyway but the EPIK coordinator seemed quite adamant that there's nothing that can be done. Anyone have any ideas?

squeakyduck wrote: »

My brother is planning on visiting me with his wife for a week in October for the pan Asian gaelic games. He's coming over from Cambodia with her. He's wondering would he need a special visa or anything to come over or is he issued with something like an automatic 90day visa?

http://south-korea.visahq.com/requirements/Ireland/resident-Cambodia/

"South Korea tourist visa is not required
for citizens of Ireland for a stay up to 90 days"