The EPIK Application Process

So I’m moving to Korea. Oh, you didn’t know? Well, I thought the blog name would give you a clue..

Wait..
What?.. 
MOVING TO KOREA?!!?!

Yeah, that’s right.. South Korea (the good one, before you ask). Seoul to be more specific.

But…WHY?!

Well, the short story goes a bit like this..
I fancied a bit of an adventure; I worked out that to make the adventure last as long as possible I’d need a source of income; I speak English; I have a degree….all of these factor lead me to TEFL! Then I did a bit of Googling and BINGO…I found EPIK.

Oh wow! Umm…what’s EPIK?

EPIK (English Program in Korea) is.. well.. an English Program in Korea. It’s a government run program that hires hundreds of Native English Teachers (NETs) every year and places one in each state-run elementary, middle and high school throughout Korea on 1-year contracts.

So, you’re going to be a teacher?!

I’m certainly going to try. In January this year I signed up to complete a 120 hour TEFL course. 100 hours online, and 20 hours in-class to get some real experience and practice my ‘teacher voice’.

OK, OK.. So you started this process back in January! What’s happened between then and now?

I’m glad you asked!
There are a few key steps so here we go:

1, Initial Application.
The first step in the process is to submit a few initial document by email. These included the EPIK Application From and two letters of recommendation. I also sent an additional application stating that I’d like to be considered specifically for Seoul. The next day I got an email from EPIK stating that they had received my application and that I’d hear from them once they started evaluating applications and scheduling interviews. 

A couple of weeks later I heard that I’d passed initial screening and that they’d like to interview me. Huzzah!

2, Skype Interview.
I was emailed confirmation of an interview time… 6.30am!

Nightmare.

FedEx

NOA

The first part of the interview involved my EPIK co-ordinator going through parts of my application he wanted me to change (missing dates or small changes to my personal statement and example lesson plan). Then we moved onto questions about why I wanted to teach, what my teaching philosophy was and what I would do in various different and tricky situations in the classroom or with Korean colleagues.

Four days later I found out I had passed the interview and now had to gather a lot of documentation and Fedex them to Korea.

3, Submission of Documentation.
This was probably the most stressful and complex part of the entire process. The list of the documentation EPIK needed seemed endless. I had to include my full application form, additional Seoul application form, copy of my passport, letters of recommendation, sealed university transcripts, two copies of a signed contract, my TEFL completion certificate and certified and apostilled copies of my degree certificate, criminal record certificate and my birth certificate.
Safe to say the Fedex packet was bursting at the seams but it did

Visa

arrive in Seoul safely 3 days later.

At this point, it's 90% definite that you’re in! If there are problems with your paperwork then your EPIK coordinator will work with you to solve the problems and you’ll not lose your pace in the queue when being considered for a placement. I did have a slight problem due to the fact that I messed around at Uni for the first couple of years and then changed course meaning my transcripts didn’t look quite right.. But a couple of emails to MMU to confirm a few things and everyone was happy.

Documents are then sent to the different Korean provinces. Mine were sent to Seoul as I’d indicated a preference for Seoul from the beginning of the process.

4, Placement and Receiving a Contract.
Eventually, I received an emailing telling me I’d been placed in Seoul. I was also told I wouldn’t find out where exactly I’d be working or living until I arrived in Korea. I was only told it’d be an elementary school for children aged 5-11. How very exciting!Just a couple of weeks ago I was sent a Fedex package from EPIK that included my Notice of Appointment (NoA) and co-signed contract along with some other information about the pre-orientation course we’d need to complete online before we arrived.


5, Visa.

Packing...ish

I took the NOA, contract, passport, visa fee (£80!) and a completed E2 Visa Application form to the Korean Embassy near St James’s Park. Just over a week later I got my passport and visa posted back to me.

6, Pre-Orientation Course.
The last thing I needed to complete before heading to Korea was the pre-orientation online course. This consisted of 17 classes covering all aspects of teaching including child development and learning strategies as well as Korean language and Korean culture lessons.

FLIGHTS!

All of the above is done.

My (one way) flight is booked, my packing is (almost!) done, I leave from Manchester airport in approximately 6 hours and I haven't slept a second all night..

Next stop: KOREA

Until next time…

Bren.

BYYEEEEEEE