Tefl in South Korea

red_bairn · 09-09-2011 11:28AM

livinginkorea wrote: »

Here's the end of the Ambassador message that I get by email. If you haven't registered yet (or know other Irish people who haven't) then contact them as soon as you can. Not only is it good for security reasons (in case anything happens they can contact you or your family back in Ireland) but any social events are relayed to us, such as the Asian Gaelic Games in October in Suwon (where I live!). Spread the word to other Irish to be up to date with their details with the embassy.

....For more information on the story of the Irish here, check out our brief survey at the Embassy website under the heading ‘Relations between Ireland and South Korea’ (www.embassyofireland.or.kr ).
Finally, the number of Irish registered here is now 900, up from the 580 when I arrived two years ago. If you know of any new arrivals, please encourage them to register with the Embassy via our website.
Happy Chuseok,

Eamonn

Eamonn McKee
Ambassador

My paps told me to do so asap and I got those emails too.:)

Choccie Lover · 09-09-2011 11:31AM

red_bairn wrote: »

Have you got a phone on you?

Hey, actually, I don't have a phone at the moment, long story! But, I'll be in Itaewon tomorrow afternoon/ evening regardless. Have some "book shopping" to do (Note for newbies in Seoul: "What the Book" is a pretty good place to pick up cheap second-hand books). Anyway, I'll pop into The Wolfhound at some stage and see if I can recognise the Irish faces:)

livinginkorea · 09-09-2011 11:44AM

red_bairn wrote: »

My paps told me to do so asap and I got those emails too.:)

Your paps is a wise man!

squeakyduck · 09-09-2011 11:46AM

Choccie Lover wrote: »

Hey, actually, I don't have a phone at the moment, long story! But, I'll be in Itaewon tomorrow afternoon/ evening regardless. Have some "book shopping" to do (Note for newbies in Seoul: "What the Book" is a pretty good place to pick up cheap second-hand books). Anyway, I'll pop into The Wolfhound at some stage and see if I can recognise the Irish faces:)

I'm really excited about tomorrow night!

I can't wait to make new friends!

red_bairn · 09-09-2011 11:47AM

Choccie Lover wrote: »

Hey, actually, I don't have a phone at the moment, long story! But, I'll be in Itaewon tomorrow afternoon/ evening regardless. Have some "book shopping" to do (Note for newbies in Seoul: "What the Book" is a pretty good place to pick up cheap second-hand books). Anyway, I'll pop into The Wolfhound at some stage and see if I can recognise the Irish faces:)

Unfortunately I won't have my alias written all over me but you'll see some lanky, black haired fellow who may be talking to a bar stool - that'll be me!

Choccie Lover · 09-09-2011 12:02PM

red_bairn wrote: »

Unfortunately I won't have my alias written all over me but you'll see some lanky, black haired fellow who may be talking to a bar stool - that'll be me!

Grand. I have total faith in my "Irish Radar", so no worries.:)

Andy!! · 09-09-2011 09:12PM

Do you guys know of any good TEFL message boards? I'm stuck on one of my checkpoints (have failed it twice) and would like to ask a few people's opinion on it.

roosh · 09-09-2011 09:32PM

Hey guys,

got an email from my recruiter today saying that I was recommended for a position with EPIK, and should be starting in October. I'll be located in Gangwon, but not sure where just yet.

Has anyone any ideas what the region is like?

squeakyduck · 10-09-2011 01:36AM

Andy!! wrote: »

Do you guys know of any good TEFL message boards? I'm stuck on one of my checkpoints (have failed it twice) and would like to ask a few people's opinion on it.

what have you failed?

ekevosu · 10-09-2011 04:52AM

roosh wrote: »

Hey guys,

got an email from my recruiter today saying that I was recommended for a position with EPIK, and should be starting in October. I'll be located in Gangwon, but not sure where just yet.

Has anyone any ideas what the region is like?

I'm in gangwon-do. It's very very rural but it depends where you end up. There are a good few big cities there as well. It's one of the most scenic and beautiful parts of Korea, lots of mountains, national parks, beaches, ski resorts etc. I love it here but find out where in gangwon-do and I'll tell you. Gets very cold in winter, very cold.

If you get stuck in the wrong place it can be very isolating. At least 2 hours from Seoul if you're lucky. Who was your recruiter?

roosh · 10-09-2011 09:21AM

ekevosu wrote: »

I'm in gangwon-do. It's very very rural but it depends where you end up. There are a good few big cities there as well. It's one of the most scenic and beautiful parts of Korea, lots of mountains, national parks, beaches, ski resorts etc. I love it here but find out where in gangwon-do and I'll tell you. Gets very cold in winter, very cold.

If you get stuck in the wrong place it can be very isolating. At least 2 hours from Seoul if you're lucky. Who was your recruiter?

cheers ekev, the recruitment agency was reach to teach - found them very helpful.

They mentioned the ski resorts and stuff alright, as a selling point. I normally don't mind the cold too much, so hopefully I'll be able to stick it! Is it possible to get winter clothes out there, or should I bring them myself from home?

I'll try and suss out where in gangwon-do, and let you know - cheers. Would you know many of the EPIK teachers in that region, or is it just too big to get to know everyone?

Andy!! · 10-09-2011 12:23PM

squeakyduck wrote: »

what have you failed?

Checkpoint 3: Teaching the Language (doesn't sound like a great one to fail does it :P) It's part of the main 80 hour section; right at the end of the half-way point. I was being asked what grammatical structure was being taught, and I answered 'The past simple and Present continuous are being taught.' in both attempts; thinking I was going wrong in a different way in the assignment. But now I am pretty sure they were looking for me to say 'used to' was being taught; but I'd like to run it past some who've done the i-to-i course; scared I'll fail the third attempt!

By the way this thread is great guys, thanks all for taking the time! You're making all the newbies lives easier.

ekevosu · 10-09-2011 12:43PM

roosh wrote: »

cheers ekev, the recruitment agency was reach to teach - found them very helpful.

They mentioned the ski resorts and stuff alright, as a selling point. I normally don't mind the cold too much, so hopefully I'll be able to stick it! Is it possible to get winter clothes out there, or should I bring them myself from home?

I'll try and suss out where in gangwon-do, and let you know - cheers. Would you know many of the EPIK teachers in that region, or is it just too big to get to know everyone?

In my county (pyeongchang) where they olympics will be held in 2018 there are about 12 foreign teachers and a few more talk teachers so I would know them all as we've done camp together and occasionally meet up for dinner etc but I wouldn't know everyone in gangwon-do as it's too big. I can get you a name or email though hopefully once you know the area or school.

Minus 26 or so here at one stage. You can buy clothes over here but maybe no harm to bring some. Hot in the summer but not as hot as Seoul and the air is ten times cleaner. I didn't need an air con here but in Seoul I would have died without it.

hyperbaby · 10-09-2011 04:30PM

red_bairn wrote: »

Was there only once, but would be nice to hit up the town again.

Ye guys should come to visit some weekend!!

*nevermind I see where ye are based now.

I bet there is more than 900 Irish people living in South Korea.

hyperbaby · 10-09-2011 05:13PM

Global Gathering sounds class...

roosh · 10-09-2011 07:13PM

kraggy wrote: »

More than likely.

Tickets are only 88,000 if you buy them before 16th September. 110,000 after that I think.

Not sure what the line-up is yet though.

just on the global gathering website and it gives the date - that it's on - as september the 1st. There was one in August as well, does that mean there's one on october, or when is it on?

squeakyduck · 10-09-2011 11:43PM

Andy!! wrote: »

Checkpoint 3: Teaching the Language (doesn't sound like a great one to fail does it :P) It's part of the main 80 hour section; right at the end of the half-way point. I was being asked what grammatical structure was being taught, and I answered 'The past simple and Present continuous are being taught.' in both attempts; thinking I was going wrong in a different way in the assignment. But now I am pretty sure they were looking for me to say 'used to' was being taught; but I'd like to run it past some who've done the i-to-i course; scared I'll fail the third attempt!

In my celt course that was my worst assignment. I asked one of the teachers in my school to look over it and correct it for me, so I got through. I would ask people who have done the course though!

red_bairn · 11-09-2011 04:27AM

roosh wrote: »

just on the global gathering website and it gives the date - that it's on - as september the 1st. There was one in August as well, does that mean there's one on october, or when is it on?

The price increases each month. The cheapest time to get the ticket is in Aug @ 77,000.

It is in Oct.

Chalad · 11-09-2011 12:20PM

hyperbaby wrote: »

I bet there is more than 900 Irish people living in South Korea.

Definitely. I think it's 900 that are "legally" living here.

I've been here for four years and living in Asia for almost 8 years.

squeakyduck · 11-09-2011 12:41PM

My god I'm still suffering severely after last night. Twas an absolute blast!

roosh · 11-09-2011 01:36PM

red_bairn wrote: »

The price increases each month. The cheapest time to get the ticket is in Aug @ 77,000. It is in Oct.

when in October is it? and where abouts is it on? I only scanned the website sorry

kraggy · 11-09-2011 02:24PM

900 is the number of people who have registered with the embassy here.

There's way more than that.

900 actually called to embassy to tell them that the are here.

Couldnt make it last night. Was in Itaewon but couldn't make it to the Wolfhound. How many from here turned up, how was it?

red_bairn · 12-09-2011 03:56AM

roosh wrote: »

when in October is it? and where abouts is it on? I only scanned the website sorry

[Performance date & Venue]

2011. 10. 8 Saturday @ Nan-ji Han River park

squeakyduck wrote: »

My god I'm still suffering severely after last night. Twas an absolute blast!

kraggy wrote: »

900 is the number of people who have registered with the embassy here.

There's way more than that.

900 actually called to embassy to tell them that the are here.

Couldnt make it last night. Was in Itaewon but couldn't make it to the Wolfhound. How many from here turned up, how was it?

Squeaky here was dancing on a bar top in this new club...*tut tut tut*

There was another Boardsie who Squeaky can name because I've forgotten it but the rest were other people from different forums invited by Squeaky.

Choccie Lover · 12-09-2011 06:13AM

Sorry I missed Saturday night, was in Itaewon earlier in the evening, but my timing didn't suit. Sounds like it was a fun night:D

col89 · 12-09-2011 10:57PM

Okay, I'm moving over on either Friday or Saturday!

I'll know for sure on Wednesday after the Korean holidays, and the director will know about the itinerary at that stage.

I don't know much about flights but do those that are travelling to South Korea allowed to bring as much/little luggage as they wish? I mean, are there usually regulations for packing and moving? It might sound like such a stupid question to ask, but I really don't want to pack too much just in case I have to pay a load of money to get the case on the plane! And, I'm still a newbie with travelling, because I've only ever been to the UK once.

If anyone can answer this question for me, I would appreciate it!

cloneslad · 13-09-2011 12:54AM

col89 wrote: »

Okay, I'm moving over on either Friday or Saturday! I'll know for sure on Wednesday after the Korean holidays, and the director will know about the itinerary at that stage.

I don't know much about flights but do those that are travelling to South Korea allowed to bring as much/little luggage as they wish? I mean, are there usually regulations for packing and moving? It might sound like such a stupid question to ask, but I really don't want to pack too much just in case I have to pay a load of money to get the case on the plane! And, I'm still a newbie with travelling, because I've only ever been to the UK once. If anyone can answer this question for me, I would appreciate it!

Most will give you 20-23kgs check in, depending on the airline. You'll also be allowed 10kg carry on suitcase and a laptop bag. I flew with emirates before and they gave me 30kgs. But any other time I've flow to korea it's been 20kg with klm, 20kg with lufthansa, 20kg with air france, 23kg with B.A.

Also, you'll most likely have to code share to another european country, the flight out of dublin will possibly be with Aer Lingus, if you're doing a code share, then Aer Lingus will honour the carry on and check in limit of the connecting flight (if the entire flight is purchased on one ticket).

Oh, and congrats and have a great time.

red_bairn · 13-09-2011 03:38AM

cloneslad wrote: »

Most will give you 20-23kgs check in, depending on the airline. You'll also be allowed 10kg carry on suitcase and a laptop bag. I flew with emirates before and they gave me 30kgs. But any other time I've flow to korea it's been 20kg with klm, 20kg with lufthansa, 20kg with air france, 23kg with B.A.

Also, you'll most likely have to code share to another european country, the flight out of dublin will possibly be with Aer Lingus, if you're doing a code share, then Aer Lingus will honour the carry on and check in limit of the connecting flight (if the entire flight is purchased on one ticket).

Oh, and congrats and have a great time.

I got away with around 25kg for my check on luggage. It was Air France. I flew to Paris and then straight to Incheon.

catweasel10 · 13-09-2011 05:06AM

I had 23kg for check in luggage and 7kg carry on, excluding my laptop, with Etihad. My flight was Dublin to Abu Dhabi, then Abu Dhabi to Incheon.

kraggy · 13-09-2011 11:47AM

I've gone over and back with both Lufthansa and Etihad.

Lufthansa are harsh on a long haul flight. No room and crap entertainment selection. And the food is rank.

Etihad were great. And one of the cheapest usually too. They fly Dub to Abu Dabhi and then Abu Dabhi on to Seoul.

Both flights are around 6.5 hours. Lufthansa is 2 hours to Frankfurt and then a horrible 11 hours to Seoul. Don't go with them, seriously.

red_bairn · 13-09-2011 11:51AM

kraggy wrote: »

I've gone over and back with both Lufthansa and Etihad.

Lufthansa are harsh on a long haul flight. No room and crap entertainment selection. And the food is rank.

Etihad were great. And one of the cheapest usually too. They fly Dub to Abu Dabhi and then Abu Dabhi on to Seoul.

Both flights are around 6.5 hours. Lufthansa is 2 hours to Frankfurt and then a horrible 11 hours to Seoul. Don't go with them, seriously.

When I went to Ireland for my summer vacation :rolleyes: , I came back with Etihad. I had no sleep on the my first leg of the journey but from Abu Dhabi to Incheon, they gave me and many others Business Class.

Awesome food, comfort and other little comforts. Had a solid 3hours on that flight - and that's good for me!

Tefl in South Korea

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