Tefl in South Korea

hyperbaby · 23-08-2011 12:15PM

dapto1 wrote: »

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?

That's bull****, I hope you get it sorted.
You should give out stink to Footprints!

hyperbaby · 23-08-2011 12:16PM

Asian gaelic games?
Say what?

SpatialPlanning · 23-08-2011 01:08PM

hyperbaby wrote: »

Asian gaelic games?
Say what?

http://www.2011asiangaelicgames.com/index.html

There are 24 clubs (and over 600 players) from all over Asia and the Middle East competing in this years games. It is being held in Suwon, just outside Seoul. South Korea now has 3 Gaelic Football clubs - Seoul Gaels, Daegu Fianna and Laochra Busan. Both Busan and Daegu are new clubs.

Check out our club on Facebook - BusanGAA!

squeakyduck · 23-08-2011 01:59PM

My brother is coming to Korea to see this!

Can't wait. The other Irish foreign teachers in my school play for the Seoul Gaels!

squeakyduck · 23-08-2011 02:39PM

Does anyone know of anyone who has any spare tickets to the Deagu athletics this weekend? Everything is sold out!

hyperbaby · 24-08-2011 01:23PM

SpatialPlanning wrote: »

http://www.2011asiangaelicgames.com/index.html

There are 24 clubs (and over 600 players) from all over Asia and the Middle East competing in this years games. It is being held in Suwon, just outside Seoul. South Korea now has 3 Gaelic Football clubs - Seoul Gaels, Daegu Fianna and Laochra Busan. Both Busan and Daegu are new clubs.

Check out our club on Facebook - BusanGAA!

That sounds great!
You never know I might head to it!

There is a World Music Festival on in Gwangju this weekend! Great start to my Gwangju adventure

roosh · 24-08-2011 06:15PM

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?

hey hyperbaby, how's the orientation going?

I'm currently on a waiting list to see if anyone drops out of the EPIK programme (I was late in applying). What are your first impressions like?

also, do you know what the dress code for EPIK teachers is?

hyperbaby · 26-08-2011 11:56AM

Hi there,
the orientation finished today so now we have left the EPIK wonderland.
It was a strange one. Very busy schedule but very like a baby \sitting service too. Not sure how I feel about it!

Regarding dress code, are you male or female?

roosh · 26-08-2011 12:21PM

hyperbaby wrote: »

Hi there,
the orientation finished today so now we have left the EPIK wonderland.
It was a strange one. Very busy schedule but very like a baby \sitting service too. Not sure how I feel about it!

Regarding dress code, are you male or female?

male (last time I checked

)

what was the craic with the orientation, what did it entail?

catweasel10 · 26-08-2011 02:40PM

Hey guys,

I'm heading to Korea next week and wanted to bring a small gift for the director. Does anyone have any idea what would be suitable? Cheers!

26-08-2011 02:49PM

WOW, there are so many posts on this, I'm going to be here all evening.

I want to teach in South Korea for a year or more after I finish my degree. I will finish college in May 2012 and I graduate in September 2012.

From what I've researched the Public School EPIK programmes start in February and August each year.

I'm still looking into other teaching opportunities in Korea. I met someone on holidays from the US and she was teaching Art there.

One small query, I know you can get accepted before you graduate but is there anyway you can fly home for your graduation? I really don't want to miss my graduation!

ARGINITE · 26-08-2011 02:52PM

Deleted User wrote: »

One small query, I know you can get accepted before you graduate but is there anyway you can fly home for your graduation? I really don't want to miss my graduation!

Not really as it would be very expensive and getting time of could be difficult or near impossible if working in a private school.

roosh · 26-08-2011 03:47PM

actually, does anyone know how the holidays work with EPIK?

seamie89 · 26-08-2011 07:00PM

On the application form for applying for a visa part 8 asks for classification of your passport...hmm anyone know what this is? thanks

catweasel10 · 26-08-2011 07:37PM

seamie89 wrote: »

On the application form for applying for a visa part 8 asks for classification of your passport...hmm anyone know what this is? thanks

I circled OR for this, as I have an ordinary passport. I think DP is Diplomatic Passport but I'm not too sure what OF stands for.

seamie89 · 26-08-2011 07:38PM

catweasel10 wrote: »

I circled OR for this, as I have an ordinary passport. I think DP is Diplomatic Passport but I'm not too sure what OF stands for.

oh right...thanks a mil for that

hyperbaby · 28-08-2011 09:21AM

roosh wrote: »

male (last time I checked )

what was the craic with the orientation, what did it entail?

For teaching i think slacks, tie and a shirt are your best bet. Depends on the school but for first impression this is the way to go. After the first week or two it might be okay to wear casual things but it depends on the school.

The orientation was intense. get brought from the airport by bus then brought to the orientation site and there you are sharing a room with someone. It is a busy scedule. Full with lectures on everything from Classroom management to visual aids to korean history. then korean lessons in the evening and of course some sneaky drinks but not in the dorms only in the bars or outside the convenience store. Also went on a field trip and had an opening and closing ceremony/dinner. Busy week and a half.

dapto1 · 28-08-2011 12:10PM

Starting in my boys middle school in Incheon tomorrow. I'm far more nervous than I thought I would be!

squeakyduck · 29-08-2011 02:17AM

dapto1 wrote: »

Starting in my boys middle school in Incheon tomorrow. I'm far more nervous than I thought I would be!

I hope your first day goes well Dapto! It's my first day teaching too. I'm not starting until 2.30 but I'm nervous that I'll do something wrong! I'd say once the first week is over it should be grand!

col89 · 29-08-2011 10:38AM

The school that I'm going to be working at will be receiving my documents tomorrow, as my recruiter just told me that she received them today and will forward them on tomorrow.

I've been told that my next step will be for the school to obtain a visa number for myself, and then I will have to travel to the Korean Consulate/Embassy in Dublin. Does anyone know where exactly this is located?

And, also, can anyone tell me whether it is just the visa number I need for the interview with the Korean Consulate, or would I need any other documents/verification regarding my identity? Would I need to ring them up first and book an appointment, as well, or would it be acceptable to just go up at the specific times/days they do the visa applicants?

squeakyduck · 30-08-2011 12:42AM

col89 wrote: »

The school that I'm going to be working at will be receiving my documents tomorrow, as my recruiter just told me that she received them today and will forward them on tomorrow.

Congrats Col. Where will you be based?

col89 wrote: »

I've been told that my next step will be for the school to obtain a visa number for myself, and then I will have to travel to the Korean Consulate/Embassy in Dublin. Does anyone know where exactly this is located?And, also, can anyone tell me whether it is just the visa number I need for the interview with the Korean Consulate, or would I need any other documents/verification regarding my identity?

Yeah, you recieve your visa number and then you can go to the Korean embassy. The address is Clyde road in Ballsbridge. It's one of the roads behind the American embassy. If you are getting the bus get off in Ballsbridge and walk to the American embassy and it's one of the roads verging off to the left.

I brought my passport and they asked me to fill out my details on some documents and my passport was taken from me for 5 working days. They took a €40 fee from me. I think that's all I brought (I only did this like 3 weeks ago and I'm having a hard time remembering already!)

col89 · 30-08-2011 10:17AM

squeakyduck wrote: »

Congrats Col. Where will you be based?

Yeah, you recieve your visa number and then you can go to the Korean embassy. The address is Clyde road in Ballsbridge. It's one of the roads behind the American embassy. If you are getting the bus get off in Ballsbridge and walk to the American embassy and it's one of the roads verging off to the left.

I brought my passport and they asked me to fill out my details on some documents and my passport was taken from me for 5 working days. They took a €40 fee from me. I think that's all I brought (I only did this like 3 weeks ago and I'm having a hard time remembering already!)

Thanks squeakyduck, I'll be based in Jangseungpo, Geoje Island, so I'm also checking out what would be in or near the area, but from what I've heard from the teacher I'm in touch with it sounds good.

Cheers for the information and the heads up on the Korean Embassy. The school is wanting me to fly out on the 14th but I might not make it for then if the embassy wants to take my passport for five working days, as the school in Korea would have only received all of my documents today and would be preparing for my visa number, which I was told would take about 7 days first. It sounds tight, even just typing it out!

I've heard that Jangseungpo is very scenic but not great on the night-life. Does anyone have some first hand experience on the place, if they ever visited it or lived there? I have these fantasies of curling up beside a nice book on a beautiful beach on the odd weekend, just chilling out from the kids. :P

squeakyduck · 30-08-2011 10:21AM

When I was getting my visa, I rang the embassy, the girl told me all that I needed so I would do that just in case, I don't think I needed anything else.

It does sound tight but it could be done!

It didn't take long for my visa number to arrive about a week and I got it on a Sunday and I went about my visa on the Wednesday, got the visa the next Wednesday and few out the Thursday. It can be a rushed affair.

SpatialPlanning · 30-08-2011 11:38PM

roosh wrote: »

hey hyperbaby, how's the orientation going?

I'm currently on a waiting list to see if anyone drops out of the EPIK programme (I was late in applying). What are your first impressions like?

also, do you know what the dress code for EPIK teachers is?

The dress code for EPIK varies from school to school. Generally speaking they aren't overly picky about what you wear. I teach in a tiny rural school on the edge of Busan so I can pretty much wear what I want. Some schools will expect you to wear a shirt and slacks but for the most part as long as you look semi-smart then they don't care. Wear a shirt for the first few days and you'll be able to suss it out.

SpatialPlanning · 30-08-2011 11:39PM

catweasel10 wrote: »

Hey guys,

I'm heading to Korea next week and wanted to bring a small gift for the director. Does anyone have any idea what would be suitable? Cheers!

Something Irish, like a bottle of Irish whiskey or Irish chocolates will go down well. It doesn't have to be anything too expensive.

SpatialPlanning · 30-08-2011 11:42PM

roosh wrote: »

actually, does anyone know how the holidays work with EPIK?

I get 18 holidays and can take 10 in Winter and 8 in Summer. The holidays usually fall around the mid-end of January and the mid-end of August.

cloneslad · 31-08-2011 12:48AM

col89 wrote: »

I've heard that Jangseungpo is very scenic but not great on the night-life. Does anyone have some first hand experience on the place, if they ever visited it or lived there? I have these fantasies of curling up beside a nice book on a beautiful beach on the odd weekend, just chilling out from the kids. :P

Ask anything you want, myself and Cassi first moved there at the start of 2007 and finally left, for good, in March this year.

there is an abundance of beaches on Geoje, it'll start getting cold in November, so you might have to wait until april/may to spend your time there with a book....unless you do it with a jacket and some gloves.

red_bairn · 31-08-2011 01:20AM

col89 wrote: »

Cheers for the information and the heads up on the Korean Embassy. The school is wanting me to fly out on the 14th but I might not make it for then if the embassy wants to take my passport for five working days, as the school in Korea would have only received all of my documents today and would be preparing for my visa number, which I was told would take about 7 days first. It sounds tight, even just typing it out!

I'm sure I got mine all done in 2 days, if my memory serves me correctly.

catweasel10 wrote: »

Hey guys,

I'm heading to Korea next week and wanted to bring a small gift for the director. Does anyone have any idea what would be suitable? Cheers!

Just came back 2weeks ago from Ireland and brought back some Cadburys (that I bought on Thomas St - really good price), Guinness toffees, Butlers chocolates, an Irish music CD and a book of all Irish party songs (or ballads).

Elba101 · 31-08-2011 08:21AM

Hey! I had an interview with a recruitment agency about 4 weeks ago. I just about had all my docs ready, including my CRC, so they said I should be gone by the end of Sept. Now, they said they don't have any jobs at the moment in my desired location, Seoul. I replied saying any big city would do, just let me know.

I'm ready to go and quit my job last week (it was the end of a 4 week notice period). Now I'm freaked?! Would it be mad cheeky to go with a different recruitment agency?

The one I'm with is Footprints, was recommended it by a friend who used it and have heard it on here a bit so I know it's good!

SpatialPlanning · 31-08-2011 09:50AM

Elba101 wrote: »

Hey! I had an interview with a recruitment agency about 4 weeks ago. I just about had all my docs ready, including my CRC, so they said I should be gone by the end of Sept. Now, they said they don't have any jobs at the moment in my desired location, Seoul. I replied saying any big city would do, just let me know.

I'm ready to go and quit my job last week (it was the end of a 4 week notice period). Now I'm freaked?! Would it be mad cheeky to go with a different recruitment agency?

The one I'm with is Footprints, was recommended it by a friend who used it and have heard it on here a bit so I know it's good!

Better yet, sign up with 20 recruiters! Their job is to get you the job that you want so you hold all the cards. They get paid when they place you in a school so it's in their interest to it quickly. Don't settle for something that you're not totally happy with.

When I started applying I used 1 recruiter. Got very few job offers. I then took someone's advice and signed up with 30+ and I'm still getting offers from some of them, over a year later. Once you have all of your documents ready you shouldn't have to wait very long to get a job.

Tefl in South Korea

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