Tefl in South Korea

kraggy · 28-09-2011 6:20am

SpatialPlanning wrote: »

Hahaha! That's what I was originally hoping. Unfortunately mine didn't work out so well. This is actually a pretty good story!

I was here about 3 weeks before I got my medical done. The Office of Education phoned my school and said that I couldn't teach until I got the results (I've never heard of this happening since then and this was after I had been teaching for 3 weeks!). I went to a small local clinic and got all the tests done. I was told to stay at home for the 3-4 days it took for the results to come through. At this stage I still had no phone or bank account..

3 days later I was in bed about 9am when I got a knock at my door. It my co-teacher. He told me that there had been a problem with my results and I had to go with him right away to the hospital. He said he couldn't say what was wrong but it was serious and we needed to see a doctor ASAP. We hopped into a cab and went to a much bigger university hospital.

Once there we waited for an hour or so and went in to the doc. They sat me down and started talking in Korean for about 30mins. Not a word said to me. Finally the doc turns to me and says "How do you feel". I said I was fine. He said that there had been a problem with my blood test. My first result returned a positive for HIV :eek:. This was re-tested and the second result was negative. I had no idea what this meant and the doctor didn't really enlighten me. He just asked me if I knew I had HIV before coming to Korea!! Then he said that it could be a mistake so I would have to get a second test done right away in a specialist blood clinic.

We went there straight away and I had a few more blood samples taken. This cost me 700,000won, which the school paid initially but then deducted from my flight allowance. I was told the results would take 2 weeks and I couldn't teach during this time. My co-teacher just told me to wait at home and the time would be taken from my sick days. I still had no phone so he told me to call the school every day at lunch time to see if the results has come back.

.....

About 2 weeks later, at 9am again, I got another knock at the door. Co-teacher again. He told me the results were back and we had to go and see the doctor again. That's all he said. He wouldn't say what the results actually were. We hopped into a cab, again, and waited in the hospital for an hour, again. Went into the doctors office and they talked in Korean for about 30 mins again!! Then the doctor turned to me and said.... "how do you feel now?" I said fine, but a little anxious. He said "well, it turns out that the first clinic made a big mistake with your test results and you don't actually have HIV. How do you feel now?". I didn't really know what to say so I just blurted "well, that's great. Thanks very much".

Interesting first couple of weeks to say the least!! Out of everyone I've met over here I only know 2 people (myself being 1) who had problems with their health checks. Both turned out to be fine in the end.

Tl; dr
- Told I have HIV
- 700,000 test
- 2 weeks off school waiting for results
- Told I don't actually have HIV... Oops

Went back to the same little clinic for my latest health check and everything was fine! They must think I'm some sort of miracle man!!! :pac:

Jesus H.!

I presume you were reimbursed the 700k and holiday leave?

SpatialPlanning · 28-09-2011 6:52am

kraggy wrote: »

Jesus H.!

I presume you were reimbursed the 700k and holiday leave?

I wasn't reimbursed the money and I've only taken 1 sick day since then so I have no idea how many I have left. No big deal there, I only have 3 weeks until my new contract starts.

red_bairn · 28-09-2011 7:37am

SpatialPlanning wrote: »

I wasn't reimbursed the money and I've only taken 1 sick day since then so I have no idea how many I have left. No big deal there, I only have 3 weeks until my new contract starts.

That's a lot of money to part with...maybe try to see if you can get 50 - 60% back. Even though I had to have surgery on my hand and we did the insurance afterwards, I got lots of my money back.

squeakyduck · 28-09-2011 2:32pm

bloods
urine,
salmonella test *shudders*
sight
hearing

They told me that I had hypoglycemia and problems with my kidneys. They want me to come back in for more tests....but I really couldn't be bothered, I would have been told those things when I had tests run in Ireland. I don't have any symptoms. But I should really sort out my shots soon though.

roosh · 28-09-2011 11:26pm

thanks guys.

anyone know how long it usually takes to get the visa sorted? I got my provisional contract a couple of days ago and must contact the consulate yet - I was waiting to hear from my recruiter about flights and anything else; got an email today about dates so must get on the case about the visa now.

I'm not due out there til the 21st of October, so that should hopefully be time enough ya?

EDIT: also, the pick-up for the orientation week at ICN airport is at 2pm, I am presuming that if I get a flight that lands at 12 noon I should easily be able to make my way to anywhere in the airport in two hours, including baggage reclaim - the bus doesn't leave til 3pm I think

cloneslad · 28-09-2011 11:55pm

roosh wrote: »

thanks guys.

anyone know how long it usually takes to get the visa sorted? I got my provisional contract a couple of days ago and must contact the consulate yet - I was waiting to hear from my recruiter about flights and anything else; got an email today about dates so must get on the case about the visa now.

I'm not due out there til the 21st of October, so that should hopefully be time enough ya?

yes, takes about 5 days.

EDIT: also, the pick-up for the orientation week at ICN airport is at 2pm, I am presuming that if I get a flight that lands at 12 noon I should easily be able to make my way to anywhere in the airport in two hours, including baggage reclaim - the bus doesn't leave til 3pm I think

once off the plane, you could get the train to immigration, get through immigration, collect your baggage, change your money and find your way to the correct bus at the exit in about an hour.

roosh · 29-09-2011 12:03am

cloneslad wrote: »

yes, takes about 5 days.

once off the plane, you could get the train to immigration, get through immigration, collect your baggage, change your money and find your way to the correct bus at the exit in about an hour.

cheers lad.

kraggy · 29-09-2011 1:06am

SpatialPlanning wrote: »

I wasn't reimbursed the money and I've only taken 1 sick day since then so I have no idea how many I have left. No big deal there, I only have 3 weeks until my new contract starts.

Get that money back. You're entitled to it!

Not your fault. Get the money back definitely It's yours. Contact EPIK if you need to. They have no right to take that money off you.

As for the days off, I read initially that they took it out of your annual leave. But they actually took it out of your sick leave. They shouldn't. It wasn't your fault.

Get the money back anyway.

PrincessPeach · 29-09-2011 9:21pm

Hi guys!I'm hoping to do tefl in South Korea. I'm planning on going with the EPIK programme.Just wondering when it says that they'll cover the cost of flights, does that include travel insurance or do you apply seperately for travel insurance and pay for that yourself?

cassi · 29-09-2011 10:32pm

PrincessPeach wrote: »

Hi guys!I'm hoping to do tefl in South Korea. I'm planning on going with the EPIK programme.Just wondering when it says that they'll cover the cost of flights, does that include travel insurance or do you apply seperately for travel insurance and pay for that yourself?

Nope, they pay for flights only. Medically you will be covered in Korea as its mandatory to pay into a health insurance scheme there. If you want travel insurance you need to get it yourself.

kraggy · 30-09-2011 2:22am

The medical cover here doesn't cover you for everything. Just the basics.

net86 · 30-09-2011 4:36am

Fellow Irish in Seoul - need your help asap!!

A few of us from Geoje are going up to Seoul this week to Hongdae area tomorrow until Monday. Slight problem in the fact that they didnt book a place for me to stay. Have tried a few places and they are all booked out.

Basically asking if you know of any places that might be available cause dont really wana go all that way and be stuck without anywhere to stay. Or whether you think it would be okay to try and sort it out once i get there?? thanks guys

red_bairn · 30-09-2011 5:51am

net86 wrote: »

Fellow Irish in Seoul - need your help asap!!

A few of us from Geoje are going up to Seoul this week to Hongdae area tomorrow until Monday. Slight problem in the fact that they didnt book a place for me to stay. Have tried a few places and they are all booked out.

Basically asking if you know of any places that might be available cause dont really wana go all that way and be stuck without anywhere to stay. Or whether you think it would be okay to try and sort it out once i get there?? thanks guys

There are motels all over the place. I'm sure you can find one within a short taxi ride from Hongdae, if you can't find one in that particular area.

SpatialPlanning · 30-09-2011 7:03am

net86 wrote: »

Fellow Irish in Seoul - need your help asap!!

A few of us from Geoje are going up to Seoul this week to Hongdae area tomorrow until Monday. Slight problem in the fact that they didnt book a place for me to stay. Have tried a few places and they are all booked out.

Basically asking if you know of any places that might be available cause dont really wana go all that way and be stuck without anywhere to stay. Or whether you think it would be okay to try and sort it out once i get there?? thanks guys

Sinchon is 1 stop from Hongdae. The Busan GAA team stayed in a hostel there about 3 weeks ago called Guesthouse Alpha. It's on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/BusanGAA/#!/alpha.guesthouse1
It's a nice small place and he usually has spare beds. The owner is a nice guy too. I think the cost is around 18k per night..

Email - alphaseoul@gmail.com
Phone number - tel#: 011-3814966 ask for younghee or 02-3620970

Even if you don't stay at this 1 there are loads of other motels and hostels in the same area so you shouldn't have a problem finding 1.

Galway1987 · 30-09-2011 7:45am

To the Irish in Seoul now. I recently got a mobile phone but texts are not being received back home in Galway... any ideas?? Also, the family are unable to ring my phone. Maybe I've the code wrong. Cheers in advance.

red_bairn · 30-09-2011 8:44am

SpatialPlanning wrote: »

Sinchon is 1 stop from Hongdae. The Busan GAA team stayed in a hostel there about 3 weeks ago called Guesthouse Alpha. It's on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/BusanGAA/#!/alpha.guesthouse1
It's a nice small place and he usually has spare beds. The owner is a nice guy too. I think the cost is around 18k per night..

Email - alphaseoul@gmail.com
Phone number - tel#: 011-3814966 ask for younghee or 02-3620970

Even if you don't stay at this 1 there are loads of other motels and hostels in the same area so you shouldn't have a problem finding 1.

Good price!

cloneslad · 30-09-2011 3:27pm

Galway1987 wrote: »

To the Irish in Seoul now. I recently got a mobile phone but texts are not being received back home in Galway... any ideas?? Also, the family are unable to ring my phone. Maybe I've the code wrong. Cheers in advance.

I'm not sure if texts work, I know when I had to ring of a mobile to Ireland (almost five years ago) it required me to call a number to get an outside of korea line (think it was 005 or something, though I can't for the life of me remember) then I had to use 00353. So I don't know if texts will work.

As for receiving, I think the code for korea is 0082, then drop the first 0 of your number.

You could always just text them from skype or from your 02,vodafone, meteor webstexts.

roosh · 30-09-2011 3:43pm

does anyone know if the Lycamobile sim cards work (or work well) in Korea?

red_bairn · 30-09-2011 5:12pm

cloneslad wrote: »

I'm not sure if texts work, I know when I had to ring of a mobile to Ireland (almost five years ago) it required me to call a number to get an outside of korea line (think it was 005 or something, though I can't for the life of me remember) then I had to use 00353. So I don't know if texts will work.

As for receiving, I think the code for korea is 0082, then drop the first 0 of your number.

You could always just text them from skype or from your 02,vodafone, meteor webstexts.

I haven't been able to receive text messages. The number you add is 001 + (mobile number or house number without the "0" at the beginning). It will be an extra charge by KT, and they aren't cheap.

cassi · 30-09-2011 5:35pm

I haven't been able to receive text messages. The number you add is 001 + (mobile number or house number without the "0" at the beginning). It will be an extra charge by KT, and they aren't cheap.

There're a few numbers that can be used to make calls internationally 001 is KT, 002 is LG, 005 is good for land line where the carrier is KT and your phone is connected through broadband. Its all a matter of finding which is cheaper for you. From a mobile its not cheap, you could get an international calling card and they can be good value. I dont think generally texts to abroad work, you might be able to join a plan that allows it but im not sure.

does anyone know if the Lycamobile sim cards work (or work well) in Korea?

Im pretty sure it won't work. Korea has a closed network for mobiles, I think 3g might work but other foreign sims don't.

roosh · 30-09-2011 6:51pm

does anyone know of any reasonably priced hotels around ICN airport? I'm trying to find flights that will get me to ICN for a specific time, but it looks like it might just be easier to stay in a hotel for a night.

roosh · 30-09-2011 7:34pm

a few of questions here, related to the actual teaching side of things.

1) Has anyone here done the CELTA and also taught with EPIK? just wondering if there were any differences in how the techniques would be applied; do class sizes change the approach?

2) Anyone taught with EPIK have any insight into the use of pairwork in class; would class sizes inhibit this, or is it not an issue?

3) General question on giving homework; how in the name of god do you know what to give as homework??

the_antagonist · 01-10-2011 4:30am

Galway1987 wrote: »

To the Irish in Seoul now. I recently got a mobile phone but texts are not being received back home in Galway... any ideas?? Also, the family are unable to ring my phone. Maybe I've the code wrong. Cheers in advance.

Texts don't work.

Say your korean number is like so; 010 1234 1234 then your family should be calling 0082 10 1234 1234.

Do you have a smart phone ? get skype or better yet, viber or kakao talk for it.

the_antagonist · 01-10-2011 4:32am

red_bairn wrote: »

I haven't been able to receive text messages. The number you add is 001 + (mobile number or house number without the "0" at the beginning). It will be an extra charge by KT, and they aren't cheap.

00700 + 353 + Your number.

00700 is slightly cheaper than 001.

ekevosu · 01-10-2011 11:28am

the_antagonist wrote: »

Texts don't work.

Say your korean number is like so; 010 1234 1234 then your family should be calling 0082 10 1234 1234.

Do you have a smart phone ? get skype or better yet, viber or kakao talk for it.

I can send texts feom my mobile here and receive texts from my fathers 087 mobile. I thinks he's with o2.

I can't receive them from my mothers 086 meteor mobile however. So texts do work, possibly just to do with the operators?

FCUM · 03-10-2011 11:23am

FCUM wrote: »

After looking into this a bit more me and my girlfriend have decided that we will be better off going down the hagwon route in order to be placed close together. Did even find a recruiter that said it would help couples etc.

So now the decision is where do we want to go. Anyone have any general advice on this, is there anywhere people hated/really loved. Obviously it is at the end of the day down to personal preference but if anyone has any reccomendations on places to avoid and places that are great id appreciate it.

Also the other thing is what ages to teach, from previous experience i found very young children quite hard to teach and control and with older ones it was easier. What are the age groups available, does it go all the way to secondary school too? Also is it better to have a set age group you want so you can narrow your search a bit or be completely open to it?

Regards criminal background check, i know EPIK wanted ones which were no more than 6 months old, so im reluctant to get them just yet (is also a pain because i need one from britain too as i was born there). Anyone know the story with private schools? Is it the same, i also want to make sure i dont leave it too late if getting the british one is hassle.

One question about airfare, do all hagwons cover it or does it depend. Also is it paid upfront generally or in installments.

Any other general advice on the application process? I know its early and nearly a year away but i would like to get clued up on it now rather than leaving it too late

hmm after emailing a recruiter just to get a bit of advice they said that for couples they usually go down the public route. This is all getting confusing and contradictory. He seems to think we would be ok and wouldnt be too far apart.

roosh · 03-10-2011 12:03pm

Just looking at booking flights now and the two most viable options appear to be with Etihad and Cathay airlines; Etihad is looking about €150 mor expensive.

If there is little difference in the amount of weight each airline allows you to carry, then I would be inclined to go with Cathay. I'm just wondering has anyone had any experience with either, or both?

cloneslad · 03-10-2011 12:23pm

roosh wrote: »

Just looking at booking flights now and the two most viable options appear to be with Etihad and Cathay airlines; Etihad is looking about €150 mor expensive.

If there is little difference in the amount of weight each airline allows you to carry, then I would be inclined to go with Cathay. I'm just wondering has anyone had any experience with either, or both?

I flew Ethihad from India to Ireland (well technically I didn't get on an Etihad plane until Abu Dhabi as they used a code share) They were good to fly with, I think it may have been a 23kg allowance but possibly only 20kg, I only had about 8-9kg at the time so I didn't really pay attention.

The plane itself was very comfortable, good entertainment, nice food, polite staff.

cloneslad · 03-10-2011 12:25pm

FCUM wrote: »

hmm after emailing a recruiter just to get a bit of advice they said that for couples they usually go down the public route. This is all getting confusing and contradictory. He seems to think we would be ok and wouldnt be too far apart.

I would have thought it would be easier to go the hagwon route for couples, that way you could work at the same school and live in the same apartment.

Though I do know a couple in the public system on Geoje, they both live in the same apartment and aren't working too far from eachother (then again, nobody on Geoje works all that far from eachother)

red_bairn · 03-10-2011 12:30pm

cloneslad wrote: »

I flew Ethihad from India to Ireland (well technically I didn't get on an Etihad plane until Abu Dhabi as they used a code share) They were good to fly with, I think it may have been a 23kg allowance but possibly only 20kg, I only had about 8-9kg at the time so I didn't really pay attention.

The plane itself was very comfortable, good entertainment, nice food, polite staff.

As he said, they are a nice crew and the treatment is great. If you go with them and get upgraded, like I did recently when returning from my vacation in Ireland, you'll get treated to even more delights.

I think I had over 23kg and they didn't complain (when first coming over to Korea).

Tefl in South Korea

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