Author Topic: GOT "EPIK" PROBLEMS? ASK THE EPIK COORDINATOR (Read 3158 times)

Davey · « **on:** June 30, 2011, 05:54:18 pm »

Hi,

I found an EPIK Coordinator for your contract-related issues. His name is James Kim and here are his e-mail addresses :

epik2@mest.go.kr ; epikcdr@gmail.com

hardysmiles · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2011, 11:54:36 am »

Do you think he'd be alright getting PMed EPIK-related questions on his Facebook account?

Davey · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 2011, 01:36:11 pm »

Quote from: hardysmiles on July 18, 2011, 11:54:36 am

Do you think he'd be alright getting PMed EPIK-related questions on his Facebook account?

He actually made a Facebook account specifically for EPIKers. Alternatively, e-mail the coordinator using the e-mail addresses I provided. I would do the latter as I'm not sure if James is still the coordinator.

JamesKim · « **Reply #3 on:** August 16, 2011, 10:30:24 am »

Hello! Yes, the best way to contact me would be through my email address: epik2@mest.go.kr or epikcdr@gmail.com. Unfortunately, I am not able to check the EPIK facebook page as often as I do my emails, but I will be glad to answer whatever questions you might have. Cheers!

gerard101 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 19, 2011, 10:56:08 am »

Hello there! I was wondering if you could give me some info regarding the next EPIK orientation. I have been here for almost four months and haven't heard anything about it. Thanks!

Davey · « **Reply #5 on:** August 19, 2011, 04:20:38 pm »

Quote from: mooninkorea on August 19, 2011, 10:56:08 am

Hello there! I was wondering if you could give me some info regarding the next EPIK orientation. I have been here for almost four months and haven't heard anything about it. Thanks!

Contact him by e-mail.

fiona.rave · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2011, 08:26:55 am »

I believe you are supposed to contact your EPIK province co-ordinator? I know there is a hierarchy with contacting people regarding issues, to stay on the safe side I think mentioning any issues with your co-teacher would be a good first step- mine has been really helpful regarding being on the wrong pay scale :-)

Davey · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2011, 01:58:50 pm »

Quote from: fiona.rave on August 31, 2011, 08:26:55 am

I believe you are supposed to contact your EPIK province co-ordinator? I know there is a hierarchy with contacting people regarding issues, to stay on the safe side I think mentioning any issues with your co-teacher would be a good first step- mine has been really helpful regarding being on the wrong pay scale :-)

Yes, but a lot of people don't even know who their respective coordinator is. It's likely James can provide this info.

anniemariedevi · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2011, 01:25:38 pm »

James Kim has always been super helpful and detailed when we've an extra hand. Thanks James Kim for all you hard work!

Paul · « **Reply #9 on:** September 14, 2011, 09:35:29 am »

Quote from: Davey on August 31, 2011, 01:58:50 pm

Yes, but a lot of people don't even know who their respective coordinator is. It's likely James can provide this info.

This might actually raise a good point in itself. Could the community perhaps benefit from a list of them on Waygook somewhere? And would EPIK be cool with that? I mean, there'd only be 14 that I could think of for EPIK so we should be able to ask around (Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu, Ulsan, Busan, Gwangju, Jeju, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeollabuk, Jeollanam, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, Gangwon), unless the rural boards have subdivisions. I know the metropolitan cities do (Daejeon has Dongbu and Seobu DMOEs) but still a single English NET coordinator.

kjmerri2 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 25, 2011, 08:26:20 am »

Hello!

I've been teaching at a national high school in Incheon for the past 2 years and 3 months. I've made up my mind that I do not want to remain at this school for a 4th year. (It's nothing particularly serious. It's just that no one really talks to me (not even my co-teachers); and it's becoming incredibly draining to be so isolated.)

The problem is, I don't want to leave Incheon or my apartment...or my Korean boyfriend who lives here. However, last year when I tried talking to EPIK about changing schools, no one would respond to my emails. My question is, who can I talk to about ensuring I don't get placed somewhere far from my home (for this has pretty much become my home now)? I'm planning to take over the contract on my apartment if I leave my school. All I really want is a job closer to it. Is it possible to even ask that and have a concrete answer before you sign anything? Should I just go straight to the EPIK office when I have a chance?

My other problem is that I seem to be in some kind of classification purgatory. My school just plays whichever side is more convenient for them depending on the situation. Sometimes it's, "Oh, our school is national not public. So you're not really part of EPIK." Other times it's, "You're in the EPIK program. So, such and such is impossible." If I'm not in EPIK, I could just use a recruiting agency and choose the school I want, right? If I'm in EPIK, well....refer to the questions from the previous paragraph. (I strongly suspect I am in the EPIK program, but I'd like to know for sure.)

Thanks so much for any help you can give me. It will be much appreciated.

techteacher · « **Reply #11 on:** November 25, 2011, 10:21:21 am »

Quote from: kjmerri2 on November 25, 2011, 08:26:20 am

Hello!

I've been teaching at a national high school in Incheon for the past 2 years and 3 months. I've made up my mind that I do not want to remain at this school for a 4th year. (It's nothing particularly serious. It's just that no one really talks to me (not even my co-teachers); and it's becoming incredibly draining to be so isolated.)

The problem is, I don't want to leave Incheon or my apartment...or my Korean boyfriend who lives here. However, last year when I tried talking to EPIK about changing schools, no one would respond to my emails. My question is, who can I talk to about ensuring I don't get placed somewhere far from my home (for this has pretty much become my home now)? I'm planning to take over the contract on my apartment if I leave my school. All I really want is a job closer to it. Is it possible to even ask that and have a concrete answer before you sign anything? Should I just go straight to the EPIK office when I have a chance?

My other problem is that I seem to be in some kind of classification purgatory. My school just plays whichever side is more convenient for them depending on the situation. Sometimes it's, "Oh, our school is national not public. So you're not really part of EPIK." Other times it's, "You're in the EPIK program. So, such and such is impossible." If I'm not in EPIK, I could just use a recruiting agency and choose the school I want, right? If I'm in EPIK, well....refer to the questions from the previous paragraph. (I strongly suspect I am in the EPIK program, but I'd like to know for sure.)

Thanks so much for any help you can give me. It will be much appreciated.

You dont work for EPIK. They are not your employer, the MOE/POE is. From my friends experience, you can request a certian school if the other native teacher is leaving. Or you can request a certian area. If you change schools you will probably have to move unless you found the housing on your own. The school will use the apartment for the next teacher at their school.

kjmerri2 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2011, 12:19:56 pm »

Quote from: techteacher on November 25, 2011, 10:21:21 am

You dont work for EPIK. They are not your employer, the MOE/POE is. From my friends experience, you can request a certian school if the other native teacher is leaving. Or you can request a certian area. If you change schools you will probably have to move unless you found the housing on your own. The school will use the apartment for the next teacher at their school.

Sorry to be replying so late to this....I didn't hit the "Notify" button.

I actually don't think my school would keep this apartment. It was leverage to keep me working there for another year. (I wanted to move closer to my boyfriend.) It's an hour commute from my school....They'd be really crap for putting that on a new teacher.

I don't even know who my MOE/POE is. I'm in Incheon, but my school is a national school (not public.) Apparently, the office we answer to is located in Seoul and takes very little interest in our school. Although, this is coming from my co-teacher who, over the years, I've stopped giving the benefit of the doubt. It's not just her bad English communication; it's her whole understanding of how the system and various procedures work.

I realize I don't work for EPIK. That's not really the problem. Last year, when I tried to find another school through various recruiting agencies, they all informed me that teachers new to the EPIK program had the option of using recruiters to pick their location (which contradicts what the EPIK website says about choosing your location.) However, because the recruiters were not sure whether or not my school was involved in the EPIK program, they didn't know whether or not they could help me.

I tried contacting EPIK, but no one would return my messages. I guess I'm just going to go to their office this vacation when I have some time....

JamesKim · « **Reply #13 on:** January 02, 2012, 03:31:24 pm »

Hello!

If you are interested in staying in Incheon, you will need to contact the Incheon Office of Education to find out whether there are any positions available in other schools. To be honest, the chances are pretty low since the Incheon positions for the Spring 2012 intake have already been filled, but you can still try and look into it.

As far as choosing you location goes, you are able to choose your province or city, but placement into a specific school or area within that province or city is decided by the respective office of education, based on what is available for that term.

jlehmke · « **Reply #14 on:** February 04, 2012, 11:53:48 am »

I know a few people who worked for EPIK that scored too low to recontract and they think they cannot work for public schools again. Is that true?

Rhodesian · « **Reply #15 on:** February 21, 2012, 02:56:00 pm »

What does it mean to "score too low to recontract"? Does it mean you get a report card at the end of a years contract?

supermanisdead · « **Reply #16 on:** February 23, 2012, 08:47:20 am »

quoting from this thread ---> http://waygook.org/index.php/topic,2614.0.html

"When will I get the renewal offer?

Eight to ten months into your current contract--the timing varies from POE/MOE, so don't worry if you know somebody in another city or province who got it.

Note that your evaluation score must be at least 70 percent to be offered a contract extension. Your score is determined by co-teacher(s) and vice principal. If your score is below 70 percent, you will not get rehired through EPIK. "

@ Rhodesian, pretty much a report card (which will probably be done soon-ish) and scoring too low means you haven't shown that you're good enough to be kept on for another year.

@jlehmke, as far as I've heard it's only EPIK that won't rehire you.

stevieg4ever · « **Reply #17 on:** March 06, 2012, 12:55:58 pm »

they actually have assessments now, eh.

shameem.razak · « **Reply #18 on:** March 07, 2012, 09:32:58 am »

Does anybody know what the official EPIK/ SMOE group on Facebook is called?

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Author Topic: GOT "EPIK" PROBLEMS? ASK THE EPIK COORDINATOR (Read 3158 times)