English Program in Korea(EPIK)

Eligibility

Be a citizen of a country where English is the primary language

• By E2 visa law, EPIK teachers should have a citizenship from one of the following countries : Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States, South Africa.
• Must have studied from the junior high level(7th grade) and resided for at least 10 years or more in the country where English is the primary language.
• Must have studied from the junior high level(7th grade) and resided for at least 10 years or more in the country where English is the primary language

Hold a minimum of Bachelor's degree from an accredited university

Be a maximum of 55 years of age

Be mentally and physically healthy

Have a good command of the English language

Have the ability and willingness to adapt to Korean culture and living

Salary & Benefits

EPIK Pay Scale

SMOE Pay Scale

Level H: 1.8 million won per month (some chance)
- A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in one of major English-speaking countries with the instructions taught in English.

Level G: 2.0 million won per month
Must have one of the following qualifications:
- A valid teacher certification for either elementary or secondary level schools.
- A Bachelor’s degree in Education.
- A Bachelor’s degree in English, English Education, English Literature, or Linguistics.
- A TESOL/TEFL or an English Teaching Certificate comprised of a minimum of 100 course hours.
- A Master's degree.
- A Bachelor's degree with at least ONE (1) full year of English teaching experience at accredited institutions.

Level F: 2.2 million won per month
Must have one of the following qualifications:
- In addition to one of the requirements for Level G, ONE (1) full year of English teaching experience at accredited institutions including at the SMOE.
- A teacher certification with specialization in English Education.
- A Master’s degree in Education.

Level E: 2.3 million won per month
Must have one of the following qualifications:
- Meet the Level G qualification with at least TWO (2) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions.
- Employed as Level F at the SMOE for ONE (1) full year.
- A Master's degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education.

Level D: 2.4 million won per month
Employed as Level E at the SMOE for ONE (1) full year.
- At least ONE (1) full year of English teaching experience at accredited institutions with Master's degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English education.
- A Bachelor’s degree in English education with at least THREE (3) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions.
- A teacher certification with specialization in English education with at least TWO (2) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions.

Level C: 2.5 million won per month
- At least TWO (2) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions with Master's degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English education.
- A teacher certification with specialization in English education with at least THREE (3) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions.
- Employed as Level D at the SMOE for TWO (2) full years.

Level B: 2.6 million won per month
- At least THREE (3) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions with Master's degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English education.
- At least THREE (3) full years of English teaching experience as a present public or private school teacher with a recommendation by the superintendent or the school principal.
- Employed as Level D at the SMOE for THREE (3) full years.

Level A: 2.7 million won per month
- At least FOUR (4) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions with Master's degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English education.
- At least FOUR (4) full years of English teaching experience as a present public or private school teacher with a recommendation by the superintendent or the school principal.

Duties

The DUTIES section describes your expected duties as an EPIK Teachers. These duties are listed as a general guideline. Detailed duties will be announced at the time of your local placement.

The duties are carried out under the guidance of the host Provincial Office of Education (POE).

To conduct English conversation classes for Korean teachers and students

To prepare teaching materials for English language education

To assist in developing teaching materials for English language education

To assist with activities related to English language education and other extracurricular activities

Have a good command of the English language

To assist Korean teachers with their English classes and/or jointly conduct English classes

To perform other duties as specified by the host POE

Contract Period & Sample Contract

Contract Period

The employment period will be 1 year(52 weeks).

The start date of the contract will coincide with the first Monday after completion of an unpaid orientation conducted by the EPIK Office.
The exact dates of the employment period will be recorded on the contract.

The foregoing employment period may be renewed by the mutual written agreement of the host POE and the employee.

As early termination of the contract will cause inconvenience to the host POEs as well as the employees, all employees are expected to fulfill the contract term.

Have a good command of the English language

Employees shall work eight hours per day, five days per week excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Korean national holidays (about 14 days).
Total instructional hours will not exceed 22 hours per week.

Sample Contract

The contract shown here is a general contract.

There is a slight possibility of some contract variation from different POEs.

The employer and the employee must sign three (3) copies of the contract.(one for the employer, one for the employee, one to be used for visa issuance)

Contract signing: Overseas applicants sign at the Korean Embassy / Consulate to which they apply.

Teaching Conditions

Korean co-teacher

There will be a Korean co-teacher in each school that hires a native Guest English Teacher(GET). The licensed Korean English teacher or a teacher who speaks English fluently plays the role as the Korean co-teacher. He or she is responsible for consulting, directing and cooperating concerning classwork, or life in or around the school or at home for the GET. The primary role of the Korean co-teacher is to plan and proceed English class with the native GET. In addition, the Korean co-teacher participates in preparing school event, carrying out the administrative job which is related to co-workers or students, and consulting the native GET in difficulties.

Classwork

In principle, the GET should teach students in collaboration with the Korean co-teacher. Though the GET learns how to prepare teaching materials and methodologies during preliminary training called Orientation, the native will be informed again about assigned classroom, teaching materials, teaching methods from the Korean co-teacher, when the native GET starts teaching at the designated school. All issues related to classwork are always needed to be consulted with the Korean co-teacher.

Class hours

Each class basically, meets for 40 minutes for elementary school, 45 minutes for middle school, and 50 minutes for high school. But it can be changed according to season, weather, or individual environment of each school. Some schools have special classes after regular classwork, in which GETs are required to teach specified subjects or fields.

The number of students

Early every year the number of students each class is decided by superintendent of each Provincial Office of Education. The number is usually 35 or more, though there is no national unified regulation. The class size will depend on the location of a school such as urban area or local town. So the number of students ranges from 10, the smallest, to over 40, the largest.

Educational system & school-age

Elementary school : 6 years, from 6 years old
Middle school : 3 years, from 12 years old
High school : 3 years, from 15 years old
* Educational system(6 years-3 years-3 years) is nationally applied without exception by the law. But the school-age can be different according to an individual student.

Vacation

Generally speaking, school year begins on March 1 in Korea. Korea has four distinct seasons : it is hot in summer, and cold in winter. Accordingly summer vacation begins at the end of July and finishes at the end of August, which lasts for about one month. Winter vacation begins at the end of December and finishes at the end of January or early February. The starting date or the ending date can be different per each school, because it is the choice by the head of each school. During vacation, GETs may be required to teach some programs such as an English camp. Students do not spend the vacation period only at home. For more information on vacation, please refer to the contract.

Administrative office

The Administrative office at each school provides the GETs administrative services necessary after the placement. This office arranges housing before the native GET is appointed. The Administrative office is in charge of handling contract, paying salary, insurance, tax etc. for the native GET. If there may be any question, please contact the Korean co-teacher who passes on the question to the Administrative office

How to Apply

Before you start
If this is your first time to apply teaching position in EPIK, feel free to contact us anytime. We are glad to answer your questions and consult you about this wonderful opportunity and job hiring process.

The Fall 2010 EPIK Application is now available for download.
We will begin accepting applications on April 1, 2010. Early submissions will not be considered. The deadline to submit applications will be June 15, 2010. This date is tentative and could change depending on circumstances.

SMOE applicants must submit the Fall 2010 EPIK Application.
Applicants applying to Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) must submit both the Fall 2010 EPIK Application and the SMOE Attachment Form.
Please read the instructions and determine your eligibility before submitting this form. Applicants who do not or will not meet the minimum requirements will not be considered for a teaching position with SMOE.
Please download and use the EPIK Application Form and SMOE Attachment Form Instructions to help you complete the forms.

When submitting your application, you must include the following in your email:
1. The application form(s)
2. Two scanned letters of recommendation*
*Please follow the guidelines provided in "EPIK Application Instructions" for letters of recommendation. You can find it in bottom of this page.
If any of these documents are missing, your application will not be processed.

Application forms and all other documents must be in the office to which you are applying by the deadline date. Interviews will follow immediately after the receipt of applications. The documents you submit will not be returned, so please make copies for yourself.
Please submit all applications and letters of recommendation to recruit@eslagent.net

Requested Documents
All applicants will be required to submit the following documents:

• A completed application form with a passport size photo attached, (download below)
• 3 Passport size photo
• Two reference letters
• Authenticated Police check report (Criminal Record),
• Original university diploma or a copy notarized by Korean overseas consulate office.
• Two official school transcript sealed by appropriate school authority.
• A scanned copy of the passport (photo page). Clear photo copies will be accepted
• (If applicable) Notarized copies of certification (teacher certificate, TESOL, etc),
• (If applicable) Proof of teaching/work experience,

Required Documents

The following documents are required in order for an applicant to be considered as an EPIK teacher.

Please refer to the descriptions below for more details and clarifications regarding the documents.

Required Documents	Optional Documents
Completed Application Form	Copies of Teaching Certificate or Certification (TEFL (100+ hours), TESOL (100+ hours), Teacher’s Certificate, Etc)
A Copy of Bachelor’s Diploma with Apostille Attached Exception: Current students must initially submit a Letter of Expected Graduation and send the official apostilled copy of their diploma upon receiving it. The original diploma must be sent to Korea if it will not be issued before the teacher departs their home country.	Proof of Full-Time Teaching Experience
Original Sealed Transcripts	Copy of Citizenship and a Copy of Legal Residence Certificate (for Korean citizens only)
A State/Provincial or National Level Criminal Record Check with Apostille Attached	Proof of English Education (for Korean citizens only)
Two Letters of Recommendation from Academic/Professional Sources
Copy of Passport Photo Page
Korean Criminal Record Check (only applicants applying from within Korea)

**Notice for Copies
You must also submit a photocopy of all the documents/apostilles you submit along with the actual originals/apostilles. The only document which will not have copies is your transcripts, which must remain sealed.
Important Note: When copying apostilled documents, you may fold the document, but DO NOT remove the staple or detach the apostille after it has been affixed by the government office. If an apostille appears to have been removed and reattached to the document, it is considered invalid.

Important note on Medical Exam Requirements
Applicants do not need a medical exam prior to arriving in Korea. However, medical tests must be done in Korea after arrival in order to obtain an alien registration card. If the results show that the applicant is unfit to be an EPIK teacher, his/her contract will be cancelled. In that case, all expenses for entry, departure, or stay in Korea, including medical fees, will be borne by the EPIK Teacher.

The original copy should be submitted to the Korean immigration office when applying for the alien registration card.

Download for EPIK

EPIK Application Instruction
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Fall 2010 EPIK Application(A4 size)
Download   |   View

Fall 2010 EPIK Application(Letter size)
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SMOE Attachment Instruction
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2010 SMOE Attachment(A4 size)
Download   |   View

2010 SMOE Attachment(Letter size)
Download   |   View