Tefl in South Korea

trickydave

Lovely thanks ~Cool Running~!

dapto1

trickydave wrote: »

ah ok, that clarifies it!

Just gave a ring there, 50 euro for notary, man this process loves money!

Cheers for all your help ekevosu, nice questions list above too!!

Try a few places, shop around. I got 3 documents notarised for €30.

trickydave

dapto1 wrote: »

Try a few places, shop around. I got 3 documents notarised for €30.

Why three?

I have an honours degree and a masters, but i presume i only need the masters in english and notarised etc etc, the other one is irrelevant now, right?

dapto1

trickydave wrote: »

Why three?

I have an honours degree and a masters, but i presume i only need the masters in english and notarised etc etc, the other one is irrelevant now, right?

I got my degree and two teaching certificates apostilled. The certs didn't need to be! According to the recruiter I'm using for EPIK, you do need your undergrad and Masters apostilled. Might be different for hawons though, don't know.

trickydave

dapto1 wrote: »

I got my degree and two teaching certificates apostilled. The certs didn't need to be! According to the recruiter I'm using for EPIK, you do need your undergrad and Masters apostilled. Might be different for hawons though, don't know.

Im going for EPIK aswell.

But I emailed, i to i just now, they are organising my EPIK application and they said

"Hello,

Thank you for your email.

I would advise you have the degree of the highest standard translated, notarized and apostilled. You could then mention in your CV that you have the other degree also."

sweet..might leave it be for a while then!

ekevosu

I got my degree and masters apostilled but they only asked for my degree. I did send a scan of the masters though. They might need both when calculating your pay scale at epik.

Newson123

I know someone in pyeongtaek, but i've never been there. It's about an hour and a half to 2 hours from the centre of Seoul. It's kinda rural, but is on the subway. There's a pretty big foreign teacher community there.

I started in a Public School in Seoul at the beginning of March.

Bring over a few pairs of shoes. In a public school, black shoes, black pants or slacks and a shirt is fine. I brought over a suit. There probably was no need as it can take up alot of room in your luggage. If possible, bring over some irish whiskey or baileys or something. Give it to your Principal and V-P on the first day. Bring as much tea as you can.

Bring over enough clothes to last you for a month or two. yes, you can buy all of that stuff over here, but you're new in a strange land. For your first few weeks, buying a proper fork will prove challenging enough, let alone shoes!

From what i hear, you're better off to get a Public School job, if at all possible.

Also, i think this is important. If you can get into Seoul, do it. You will not regret it. This is especially true, if this is your first time travelling and/or you're young. Seoul is where it's at. Whatever you want to do is just a subway ride away.

You don't need a CELTA/CELT to get into Seoul. You do need a 100 hour TEFL course. They are alot cheaper. Also, try and get some experience. There will be summer camp jobs in Ireland going over the summer (you'll need a CELT for them most likely), or get volunteering experience.

Also, buy a laptop in Ireland and bring it over. Cameras, for example, are alot cheaper here, but laptops are about the same (from what i can gather). It could be a pain changing them from Korean to English if you get it here.

Don't buy a netbook either. You might as well spent an extra hundred or two and get a decent laptop. It WILL be worth it in the long-run.

hyperbaby

This thread is invaluable so thanks to everyone for their input.

My EPIK interview is done and dusted. It went okay, I was extremely nervous so I stumbled over a few questions but as time went on I felt more at ease and I was able to answer the questions easier.
I will find out next week if I am successful or not.
Fingers, limbs, toes, eyelids and everything else crossed!

hyperbaby

I got the job!! 4 hours later I found out, I can't frecking believe it!!

Showtime!12

My Visa arrived in the post so I'm all set for Weds as long as I can figure out where to come up with the cash to survive my first month!

livinginkorea

hyperbaby wrote: »

I got the job!! 4 hours later I found out, I can't frecking believe it!!

Congrats!

squeakyduck

hyperbaby wrote: »

I got the job!! 4 hours later I found out, I can't frecking believe it!!

OMG Congrats Hyperbaby!

Any tips on questions? How long was your interview. Did you do a skype webcam interview?

Did you find out where you would be based?

JohnJoe1987

Just had a phone interview for a job in a hagwon yesterday morning. The school is called Hello Segye (World) language school in Bupyeong, Incheon city. Is this a good location?

The interview was with an irish teacher who i am replacing and he gave me good information about the school regarding being paid on time and that his boss was a good man.

Do you think it was unusual for a teacher that i am replacing to be doing the interview? Also has anyone ever heard of the school as I was trying to find info about it online but didnt find anything?

kraggy

trickydave wrote: »

ah ok, that clarifies it!

Just gave a ring there, 50 euro for notary, man this process loves money!

Cheers for all your help ekevosu, nice questions list above too!!

Do NOT pay 50 euro to get your documents notarised.

You DO NOT need to get it done by a Notary Public. A normal solicitor will do, as long as they are a Commissioner for Oaths. Most, if not all, solicitors are. It should only be 10 euro per document. It is the standard charge. A Notary Public charges 40/50 euro per doc but you don't need to get it done by one of them. I got mine done recently so it's up to date information.

Remember you also need your Police Check notarised too.

virmilitaris

JohnJoe1987 wrote: »

Just had a phone interview for a job in a hagwon yesterday morning. The school is called Hello Segye (World) language school in Bupyeong, Incheon city. Is this a good location?

I already answered this, didn't you see it ?

Bupyeong is a good centre on the edge of Incheon towards Seoul. You can be in Seoul in 30 minutes on the subway and in Itaewon (Foreigner central) in 40.

There are several foreigner type bars, lots of restaurants, a decent nitelife and a lot of other foreigners there too.

I live quite close to it and it's definitely one of the best areas on Incheon.

The interview was with an irish teacher who i am replacing and he gave me good information about the school regarding being paid on time and that his boss was a good man.

I might know him then but I'm not sure about the guy I'm thinking of school's name.

Do you think it was unusual for a teacher that i am replacing to be doing the interview?

Nope. Quite usual.

What the school cares about;

1. Do you qualify for a working Visa ?
2. Can you speak English ?

You're hired.

Also has anyone ever heard of the school as I was trying to find info about it online but didnt find anything?

Do you know the address ? The name of the teacher who interviewed you ? PM me.

hyperbaby

squeakyduck wrote: »

OMG Congrats Hyperbaby!

Any tips on questions? How long was your interview. Did you do a skype webcam interview?

Did you find out where you would be based?

Thanks :D:D

My interview was 40 minutes long.
The interviewer asked me:
Why did I want to become an EFL teacher?
Why Korea?
What are my short-term and long-term goals?
Tell me about your teaching experience to date?
How do you feel about working with a co-teacher?
How to deal with a disinterested student?
My favourite thing when I visited Korea?
What will be the hardest thing about Korea?
How will I deal with the different levels in class and the age of the students?
Have I lived or studied abroad?
Went through all of the application form very quickly, except the essay.

I asked a load of question near the end when I got over the initial jitters!

Won't find out where I'm based until I send in all my documents, just waiting on one more document to be sent back to me and then I can send all the documents to them.

trickydave

kraggy wrote: »

Remember you also need your Police Check notarised too.

cool runnings just said on the last page that you dont? and i saw no mention of it on i to i website,
think its jus apostilled, not notarised...

JohnJoe1987

just a quick question regarding jobs in public schools. My friend and I are hoping to travel over together in the next two months. Would it be possible to get work in the same public school or would it be easier in hagwons?

trickydave

JohnJoe1987 wrote: »

just a quick question regarding jobs in public schools. My friend and I are hoping to travel over together in the next two months. Would it be possible to get work in the same public school or would it be easier in hagwons?

If you go on to daves esl cafe ,there are many different opporutunities for 2 people etc so you should be able to find either

kraggy

trickydave wrote: »

cool runnings just said on the last page that you dont? and i saw no mention of it on i to i website,
think its jus apostilled, not notarised...

Sorry, my mistake. Because you're police check is an original, it doesn't need to be notarised. But you're degree photocopy does, because it's not an original.

So you should only have to pay a solicitor 10 euro. And then pay Dept of Foreign Affairs for 2 apostilles.

livinginkorea

hyperbaby wrote: »

Thanks :D:D

My interview was 40 minutes long.
The interviewer asked me:
Why did I want to become an EFL teacher?
Why Korea?
What are my short-term and long-term goals?
Tell me about your teaching experience to date?
How do you feel about working with a co-teacher?
How to deal with a disinterested student?
My favourite thing when I visited Korea?
What will be the hardest thing about Korea?
How will I deal with the different levels in class and the age of the students?
Have I lived or studied abroad?
Went through all of the application form very quickly, except the essay.

I asked a load of question near the end when I got over the initial jitters!

Won't find out where I'm based until I send in all my documents, just waiting on one more document to be sent back to me and then I can send all the documents to them.

Wow 40 minutes long is really something! What is the position? They are being really thorough I guess. Wow 40 minutes!

trickydave

kraggy wrote: »

Sorry, my mistake. Because you're police check is an original, it doesn't need to be notarised. But you're degree photocopy does, because it's not an original.

So you should only have to pay a solicitor 10 euro. And then pay Dept of Foreign Affairs for 2 apostilles.

ah right i see, cheers kraggy!

ITs a bit confusin, like a rang a solicitor today and she was like, il witness that no bother, free if you like, and i was like notarise it? and she was like... hmm im not sure if i can notarise it exactly, you might need a public notary to do that, but i dont do i, shel do/? right?

kraggy

livinginkorea wrote: »

Wow 40 minutes long is really something! What is the position? They are being really thorough I guess. Wow 40 minutes!

Mine was 45 mins. Did it 3 weeks ago.

Flying out this Friday. Going working with SMOE in Seoul and my visa will be ready on Thursday, so booked a flight for Friday, which arrives lunchtime on Saturday. Said to the recruiter that I might be arriving on a Saturday and he never metioned any problem. Emailed him the flight details today and he replies back saying that there won't be anyone available on a Saturday to meet me at the airport so could I rebook my flight? Or alternatively, I can arrive, make my way to a motel for 2 nights and head into work Monday morning, from the motel for my first day at work.

I'm livid. But at the same time, I got an email from the SMOE Co-ordinator saying that transport had been arranged for me. But to contact EPIK for the information.

But he didn't give me a number for EPIK. So I've to wait up late tonight and try and sort this mess out. Cause if I do need to change flights, I need to do it asap.

Really didn't want this mess so close to going. And it's the second major fúck up by my recruiter.

ekevosu

trickydave wrote: »

ah right i see, cheers kraggy!

ITs a bit confusin, like a rang a solicitor today and she was like, il witness that no bother, free if you like, and i was like notarise it? and she was like... hmm im not sure if i can notarise it exactly, you might need a public notary to do that, but i dont do i, shel do/? right?

You need someone that is an official notary that can notarise it. Kraggy is right though about the cost. 10 euro should be plenty.

hyperbaby

livinginkorea wrote: »

Wow 40 minutes long is really something! What is the position? They are being really thorough I guess. Wow 40 minutes!

Well, it might have been 5 minutes shorter if I hadn't asked him loads of questions near the end, once I got over the initial nerves. The average time is 30-40 minutes.
It was just for the regular EPIK position.

What's people's experience of getting their first choice of location?
I'm still waiting on one set of transcripts and then I can send off the forms.
HURRY UP COLLEGE!!

RadioClash

JohnJoe1987 wrote: »

just a quick question regarding jobs in public schools. My friend and I are hoping to travel over together in the next two months. Would it be possible to get work in the same public school or would it be easier in hagwons?

Public schools, highly unlikely, never heard of them having more than one NET. Hagwons do sometimes like taking on couples though. Although I don't know if you're a couple .

JohnJoe1987

RadioClash wrote: »

Public schools, highly unlikely, never heard of them having more than one NET. Hagwons do sometimes like taking on couples though. Although I don't know if you're a couple .

No we are just friends. Would they not take two people to work for them if they were just friends? I don't intend on pretending to be a couple

RadioClash

JohnJoe1987 wrote: »

No we are just friends. Would they not take two people to work for them if they were just friends? I don't intend on pretending to be a couple

I'm quite sure it is possible but you may have to do a bit of digging. Explain it to a recruiter and see what they can do for you. Some schools like hiring couples because they only have to provide one apartment. You might find it easier for the two of ye to gun for separate jobs in the same area though, I dunno.

ekevosu

RadioClash wrote: »

I'm quite sure it is possible but you may have to do a bit of digging. Explain it to a recruiter and see what they can do for you. Some schools like hiring couples because they only have to provide one apartment. You might find it easier for the two of ye to gun for separate jobs in the same area though, I dunno.

The public school I was hired for has two nets, me and an Australian guy. They previously had an American couple. I have read a lot of jobs advertising for couples / friends as it helps people settle easier.

The American couple at the school from last year left their contract early directly after taking a 2 month vacation and making a tip out if the two apartments they were given.

virmilitaris

kraggy wrote: »

Or alternatively, I can arrive, make my way to a motel for 2 nights and head into work Monday morning, from the motel for my first day at work.

Did you get this sorted ?

If you need help finding your way to wherever you're going in Seoul you can give me a bell. I'm free most Saturdays, pm ne for my num.

Or if you tell us where you're going I can find a cheap motel for ya and give you directions.

G86

Looking into EPIK here and wondering about extra classes, I know it's illegal outside of your sponsored school, but can't you do extra classes in the school you're teaching in? Just organising documentation now, and not sure if I'm going to apply for public or private, also not sure whether to go through a recruiter as I've heard stories... - god there's so much to think about, I feel like I'm going around in circles!!! :eek:

Squeakyduck - didn't know you were heading!! I'll fb you later so:D

neaideabh

I have been following this thread for some time now and had been thinking about making the move to do tefl in SK for some time now! Getting good info. But by writing on this thread myself, I am commiting myself to the prospect of making the move.

To start I just want to know the following....

What exactly do I do regarding the garda check process. Do I just present myself to the garda station and state that I need to get a check! Do I bring any forms????

My degree.... I have a degree from Ireland and one from the UK. I would prefer to use my degree from the UK....

What exactly do i need in this regard.... Transcripts (document showing actual results) or do I just need the actual degree certificate? How do I get the copy notarized and apostilled?

I know what to do about the rest but I want to get started on the whole thing and believe I should by getting started on these 2 issues and want to do it right first time.

Thanks in advance

hyperbaby

neaideabh wrote: »

I have been following this thread for some time now and had been thinking about making the move to do tefl in SK for some time now! Getting good info. But by writing on this thread myself, I am commiting myself to the prospect of making the move.

To start I just want to know the following....

What exactly do I do regarding the garda check process. Do I just present myself to the garda station and state that I need to get a check! Do I bring any forms????

My degree.... I have a degree from Ireland and one from the UK. I would prefer to use my degree from the UK....

What exactly do i need in this regard.... Transcripts (document showing actual results) or do I just need the actual degree certificate? How do I get the copy notarized and apostilled?

I know what to do about the rest but I want to get started on the whole thing and believe I should by getting started on these 2 issues and want to do it right first time.

Thanks in advance

You need to get a form at your local station or online
http://www.garda.ie/controller.aspx?Page=1548
fill it it out, send money and they will send it back to you in a fee weeks, i think i was waiting 2 and a half weeks for it.
then you need to notarise and apostille it.

You will need to mention both degrees, (as far as i know).
you need stamped and sealed transcripts from both colleges and a photocopy of your degree which has to be notarised and apostilled.
here for notary http://www.notarypublic.ie/finding_a_notary.html
here for apostilles: http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=268

cloneslad

If you use a degree from the U.K, (well mainland U.K) then it can't be apostilled by the dept of foreign affairs, it will have to be done in Milton Keynes or wherever it is they get it done.

When I was getting mine apostilled, there was an guy from Dublin with a degree from Edinburgh and they would not stamp it for him. I'd imagine they will stamp one from Northern Ireland though.

neaideabh

hyperbaby wrote: »

You need to get a form at your local station or online

You will need to mention both degrees, (as far as i know).
you need stamped and sealed transcripts from both colleges and a photocopy of your degree which has to be notarised and apostilled.
here for notary http://www.notarypublic.ie/finding_a_notary.html
here for apostilles: http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=268

So.... does that mean...

• Get transcripts from universites that are stamped and sealed....
  AND
• Separately copy my degree certificate and have it notarized and apostilled???

No need to get the stamped and sealed transcripts notarized and apostilled????

cloneslad

neaideabh wrote: »

So.... does that mean...

• Get transcripts from universites that are stamped and sealed....
  AND
• Separately copy my degree certificate and have it notarized and apostilled???

No need to get the stamped and sealed transcripts notarized and apostilled????

exactly, the transcripts are not even need anymore (legally by immigration) though some employers do still ask for them. You just get them, make a few copies of them, put year 1-23 and 4(if there was a 4) into one envelope, seal it and get the university to stamp it.

You then copy your degree and get it notarised and apostilled. You don't need to notarise or apostille the transcripts.

squeakyduck

hyperbaby wrote: »

You need to get a form at your local station or online
http://www.garda.ie/controller.aspx?Page=1548
fill it it out, send money and they will send it back to you in a fee weeks, i think i was waiting 2 and a half weeks for it.
then you need to notarise and apostille it.

You will need to mention both degrees, (as far as i know).
you need stamped and sealed transcripts from both colleges and a photocopy of your degree which has to be notarised and apostilled.
here for notary http://www.notarypublic.ie/finding_a_notary.html
here for apostilles: http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=268

Do not download any form or send any money! What you need is a certificate of character. You write a letter to your local superintendent stating your name, DOB and all your previous addresses and that you want a cert of character as you are travelling to Korea in the coming months. DO NOT SAY YOU WANT IT FOR TEACHING. They will not give it otherwise. It should take a week. I sent mine to the wrong garda station and I was waiting ages for mine but I got it in the end.

(personally I found trying to find out the above REALLY DIFFICULT I was told about a million different things (by guards and from others) until a friend of mine who is in Korea sent me a copy of his to have a look at.)

As for the degrees hyperbaby is bang on. Just get stuff photocopied and bring both copies and originals to a notary and they will charge 10e for it. To get stuff apostilled at the dept of foreign affairs it cost 20e per doc (I got my BA, MA and cert of character done....€60) cert of character is already notarised.

cloneslad

squeakyduck wrote: »

Do not download any form or send any money! What you need is a certificate of character. You write a letter to your local superintendent stating your name, DOB and all your previous addresses and that you want a cert of character as you are travelling to Korea in the coming months. DO NOT SAY YOU WANT IT FOR TEACHING. They will not give it otherwise. It should take a week. I sent mine to the wrong garda station and I was waiting ages for mine but I got it in the end.

This is correct. The other thing is only to state you can work with kids. That is not what's needed as you could have a criminal record for theft, which would allow you to work with kids. However if you had a criminal record for theft, it would not allow you to get a visa to work in korea.

They don't care if you are only safe to work with kids, they don't want you to have any criminal record at all. You don't have to pay for the statement from your superintendent and if they tell you that you must send it to Thurles, then it's the wrong one.

hyperbaby

What?
I will lose the plot if i have the wrong criminal record check. I asked at the garda station,double checked online and rang Thurles before and after and i was sure that it was correct.
If it is wrong, ill have to re notarise and apostille it, I'll be very annoyed.

Cole

I got my police cert recently (not for S. Korea, but they're all the same).

You need the check that's done for visa applications. You don't have to mention teaching, probably best not to, as it may just add to the confusion in the station....just stress visa, not employment. A lot of the stations are dealing with these applications now, due to the numbers of people emmigrating to the US, Australia, Canada etc.

There is an application form for this (it says "for visa applications/foreign embassies only" or something to that effect) but it appears that it's not necessary to have this filled in, provided you have supplied all the relevant information. My district station had the form and gave me one to fill out (another station said that they don't hand out these forms, but fill them in themselves from the info provided by the applicant?) I still put in a cover letter to the super, explaining my application.

My suggestion is to ring your district station and ask to speak to the clerk's office. These are the civilian admin staff and they deal with the paperwork relating to these type of applications. I found them very helpful and efficient. I dropped mine into my local station (very helpful garda) on a Friday and had it back on Tuesday/Wednesday....I did mention that I wanted it asap.

It's can be a ridiculously confusing process, with a lot of mis-information thrown around....a lot of it by gardai. It seems to be pot luck who you get to speak to, but I think the clerk's office should be clued in.

cloneslad

hyperbaby wrote: »

What?
I will lose the plot if i have the wrong criminal record check. I asked at the garda station,double checked online and rang Thurles before and after and i was sure that it was correct.
If it is wrong, ill have to re notarise and apostille it, I'll be very annoyed.

you don't need to notarise the gardaí check as it's already signed by the superintendent, which is good enough. You just get it apostilled at the Dep Foreign affairs (unless that's changed recently)

hyperbaby

It definitely is the wrong criminal check, so i need to organise getting this sorted. I hope it doesn't take too long. How frustrating!

kraggy

hyperbaby wrote: »

It definitely is the wrong criminal check, so i need to organise getting this sorted. I hope it doesn't take too long. How frustrating!

You just need to go to your Garda Station. Thurles have nothing to do with it. They deal with Garda Clearance for Primary School Teachers, Nurses etc in Ireland. They do a very detailed search.

The one you need should be able to be got back in 5 to 7 days. Call into to your local station with your previous addresses for the last 6 years, Date of Birth, PPS, Why you want the clearance cert i.e. for which country and maybe some other details. Ring them and ask. It won't take long to do. Some stations will have it ready in as little as 3 days.

kraggy

So, started work here in Seoul yesterday. Going grand so far. Have to do an introduction presentation about myself and Ireland to the classes next week and the week after.

Any tips? I'm in a middle school. Have started a Powerpoint with the usual, cliffs of moher, hurling, U2 etc. Just wondering would they know Robbie Keane?

Trying to think of famous Irish folk they might know. So far

Bono
Robbie Keane
Will also tell them about the Irish dude who designed the White House.

Any others? Have also included youtube clips of hurling, river dance.

Thanks.

SpatialPlanning

They will probably know Robbie Keane better than Bono! Everytime I tell a Korean where I'm from they say "Oh, ROBBIE KEANE". Once I got a "Giggs" and one time a bus driver even did part of the Robbie Keane goal celebration for me!

Yeah, a presentation with pics of your family, home, any pets, hobbies, GAA, Irish music...etc. They will want to know all about you!

skinsseries3

Westlife goes down pretty well I always find.....get them singing 'My Love'...good craic :pac:

hyperbaby

How about mentioning The Script and Colin Farrell?
When I got off the plane last year, the first thing i saw on the wall of the airport was a massive poster of Pierce Brosnan advertising a casino.

cloneslad

They know, or at least did know Kevin Doyle from him time with Reading. They had a korean player on their team at the time so every reading match was shown on TV.

They'd most likely know gentleman John O'Shea as he plays alongside Park Ji Sung.

I always liked comparing Ireland to Korea and England to Japan. We both got taken over, murdered, are small, have a chip on our shoulder, hate the people to the east of us and we even decided to get the IMF in last year, just like they did in the late 90's. Though you might want to save that for when you know them better, chatting about war is hardly a friendly introduction.

G86

Guys I've just had a quote for €40 from a notary for one document, he asked me if I was a student to which I stupidly said no:rolleyes: But is €40 still decent enough?

Thanks a mil
Gráinne

dapto1

That's a complete rip off, should be ten euro per document.