EPIK Teacher

So, how does one become a teacher in South Korea?  I am here as part of the English Program in Korea (EPIK), which is a government program that recruits native speakers of English and places them as teachers in various Municipal and Provincial Boards of Education.

To be eligible for the EPIK program, candidates must be from one of the following seven countries: Canada, USA, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, be in good mental and physical health, have a strong command of the English language, and be willing and able to adapt to life in Korea.  A criminal record check is required.  Candidates must have a bachelor's degree (in any subject) and complete a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate.  Teaching experience is not required but is advantageous.  Most of the EPIK teachers that I met at orientation were not licenced teachers. Some, like myself, had teaching experience, while for others, EPIK was their first job after graduation.

The application process is tedious and long. Submission of the application takes place months in advance, followed by a Skype interview. Then you wait. And wait. And wait. And months later, when you are just about to give up, you receive an email of congratulations explaining that you have been accepted into the EPIK program!  You then scramble to secure your work visa from the Korean consulate, buy your plane ticket, and pack your bags.

Middle school

The contract with the Board of Education is for one year, with the possibility of renewal upon mutual agreement. Transferring to a different school, city, or Board of Education is possible after one year.  In addition to a nice local salary, EPIK offers free accommodation, entrance and exit allowances to cover the cost of airfare, settlement allowance, national medical coverage, pension, and severance pay at the end of the contract.  Twenty-six vacation days can be used at certain times of the year in order to limit interference with the school schedule.

A feature of the EPIK program is having a local Korean teacher assigned to help you with day-to-day life, such as setting up a bank account, getting a telephone plan, and navigating the school system. My teacher has gone above and beyond all of that by ensuring that my apartment was clean and stocked with the essentials, taking me shopping for bedding and groceries, gifting me fresh towels, demonstrating how to operate my Korean washing machine and microwave, and explaining the complex system of waste disposal and recycling.

Personally, I was attracted to the relative security of the EPIK program as it carries the legitimacy of a government program and avoids private companies that can sometimes be unscrupulous in the ESL industry.  I wanted to teach in the public school system and work standard hours.  Additionally, EPIK attempts to place you in your preferred location in Korea, and there are plenty of placements in major cities such as Seoul and Busan. 

Updates to follow throughout the year on whether or not the EPIK program lives up to its name.