EPIK Orientation

[mooninkorea]

Does anyone know when and where the next EPIK orientation will take place? I've been here for almost four months and I haven't heard anything about the orientation.

[Davey]

Does anyone know when and where the next EPIK orientation will take place? I've been here for almost four months and I haven't heard anything about the orientation.

Try contacting the EPIK coordinator:

http://waygook.org/index.php/topic,15723.0.html

[sunrise]

If you're an EPIK hire and can get away without having to attend any orientation, then by all means, DON't GO. You can expect long 12 hour days, midnight curfew, and mandatory attendance checks. You might even be expected to complete an online workshop and exam on your own time, too. If your handler hasn't mentioned it, then don't remind him/her!

[cdwyer07]

Yes, definitely contact EPIK to find out.    I think new teachers are coming in September, so you might want to ask about that.  If not, then I know for sure there will be one in February before the new school year starts. 

Also, when I came here 2 and a half years ago the first thing I did was go to orientation.  Yes, it was long and tiring (having to wake up by 7 a.m. everyday was really hard due to jet lag), but overall it was fun and you make a lot of new friends! ^_^   You also get a great insight into South Korea.   I didn't have to take an exam.  The only thing I was required to do was to make a small lesson plan and presentation with some other teachers in training.   It was fun ^^ 

[Cereal]

There are 3 coming up soon: Sept. 21-25; Oct, 21-25; Nov. 21-25

They are taking place in Seoul at a university somewhere which I believe is a subway stop. The first day starts at 2:00pm and the last day finishes at 10:00am. Transportation is covered as are sleeping accommodations and meals. The days will be long and there is a midnight curfew. I believe the attendees have to get together in small teams and prepare a lesson plan and demonstrate it.

All in all it sounds....okay. Hopefully you can meet a couple of cool people and have a few laughs.

I started here March 1st and am attending the September session.

[madison79]

I never did it and it was fine for me. 

[kyndo]

The orientation is pretty well set up, and they took pains to make it relevant and everything, but if you've taught before, and know how to deal with the occasional new or strange thing, then you're not really missing out on anything from the training itself.

That said, the orientation was an awesome way to introduce new teachers to each other. I'm not the most social person in the world, but I made a number of friends there, and having a group of people you can talk to is probably the best way of staying sane here. :D

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

If you're an EPIK hire and can get away without having to attend any orientation, then by all means, DON't GO. You can expect long 12 hour days, midnight curfew, and mandatory attendance checks. You might even be expected to complete an online workshop and exam on your own time, too. If your handler hasn't mentioned it, then don't remind him/her!

I'd like to offer an alternative perspective.

If you don't live in a rural area without many friends, then sure - do not waste your time as proffessionally it is a complete and utter waste of time.

If however you could do with broadening your social horizons and are adept at socialising and making new relationships, I'd say go for it as you'll have hundreds of other nets to mingle with.

[jenicap]

I never did it and it was fine for me.

There is a midnight curfew...They do feed you three times a day. Today we went on a fieldtrip to a Korean fold village... Looking forward ot getting out of orientation and into my apt and school!

[hardenca]

If you want to meet new people/contacts I would go. Otherwise I would use my time to finish lesson plans or explore the area.

[jacthegirl]

I've heard good and bad things about the EPIK orientations. I myself had attended one after living in Korea for 3 months, and I found a lot of the information repetitive or non-applicable. It was nice, although to meet other teachers in my area!

If you have no previous experience with teaching, it can help if you listen, and apply what you learned in the seminars. BUT they are only helpful if you do in-fact apply them in your classrooms.

And plus usually you get put up in a hotel/resort for no-cost. That's at least worth attending the orientation!

[Jozigirl]

I had taught for several years prior to coming to Korea.  I attended the orientation 3 weeks after I arrived and found it quite beneficial for the most part.  Some of the lectures were a little dry or boring but some were really good and provided a different perspective on things I'd already learned.  It offered more than just a chance to meet other NETs in my opinion.

[dolphingurl2022]

Didn't do an orientation my first year contract but I did one about a month into my new contract.  Since I live in Daejeon they just had me attend the one in my city when it came around....it was nice because a few nights I just took the bus back to my house and I came back for the first class the next morning. (I have a cat so I also needed to check up on her occassionally) 

It's incredibly boring for those that have some teaching experience or have been in Korea before but if you're fresh out of your university and all then you'll most likely learn something during the orientation.  For me since I was in korea for a year I already knew more then some of the lecturers we had for what works and doesn't work...nothing the instructors were talking about wouldve worked in my school (activities, management etc)

Meeting a ton of new people and the free food though are awesome perks so even though most people are bored I recommend always going to yours to at least have the fun crazy times with all the new people you'll meet.  (Some people meet hundreds and some just make one good one...each person is different)

[icafitz]

I think you will get out of it as much as you put into it. If you go with a sour puss attitude then I am sure you will find it boring and bothersome. It is true that the lectures and information are geared toward new teachers and new arrivals to Korea, as that is the majority of the participants (at least at the main intakes in August and February). You can however view it as professional development, attend with an attitude of what can I get from this experience rather than poor me for having to curtail my partying/boozing/late night outings for a week.  I disagree that it is worthless for people with experience teaching, there is always something new to learn, some new activity, technology or just ideas you gain from discussing lessons, teaching and Korean students with others.

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

I think you will get out of it as much as you put into it. If you go with a sour puss attitude then I am sure you will find it boring and bothersome. It is true that the lectures and information are geared toward new teachers and new arrivals to Korea, as that is the majority of the participants (at least at the main intakes in August and February). You can however view it as professional development, attend with an attitude of what can I get from this experience rather than poor me for having to curtail my partying/boozing/late night outings for a week.  I disagree that it is worthless for people with experience teaching, there is always something new to learn, some new activity, technology or just ideas you gain from discussing lessons, teaching and Korean students with others.

 

[Yu_Bumsuk]

I think you will get out of it as much as you put into it. If you go with a sour puss attitude then I am sure you will find it boring and bothersome. It is true that the lectures and information are geared toward new teachers and new arrivals to Korea, as that is the majority of the participants (at least at the main intakes in August and February). You can however view it as professional development, attend with an attitude of what can I get from this experience rather than poor me for having to curtail my partying/boozing/late night outings for a week.  I disagree that it is worthless for people with experience teaching, there is always something new to learn, some new activity, technology or just ideas you gain from discussing lessons, teaching and Korean students with others.

You're talking about the KOTESOL international conference, right? You know, the one that teachers who are genuinely concerned about professional development pay to attend?

[DejaVu]

If you're an EPIK hire and can get away without having to attend any orientation, then by all means, DON't GO. You can expect long 12 hour days, midnight curfew, and mandatory attendance checks. You might even be expected to complete an online workshop and exam on your own time, too. If your handler hasn't mentioned it, then don't remind him/her!

This.

All in all, you feel like you're on a high school field trip forced to talk to people you don't like...

[icafitz]

I meant EPIK Orientation. All I am saying is it's up to you, all attitude...are you a complainer or someone who makes the best out of every situation? Whatever makes you happy. Some people like to gripe, so go ahead. I do go to KOTESOL conferences and those are much more informative and enjoyable, probably because it is my choice to go. No one else waists my time, I can do that all on my own.

I just encourage/fully support the idea of enjoying your life and circumstances no matter where you find yourself...I think we are all pretty lucky to be here doing what we are doing, for the pay and amount of work that is actually expected of us.

[aribomop]

Yep the days are pretty packed solid. We've met some good people here and some of the lectures really have been fantastic...the only downside I guess is the lack of free time and the whole school trip feeling e.g. nametags, t-shirts etc

[KiwiChris]

Yep the days are pretty packed solid. We've met some good people here and some of the lectures really have been fantastic...the only downside I guess is the lack of free time and the whole school trip feeling e.g. nametags, t-shirts etc

Hey, you have to love the snack time between class.  I didn't even get that as a kid.