How to Teach for the EPIK Program in Korea

Teaching English in South Korea was never on my bucket list. Thailand, maybe. But Korea? I hadn’t even considered it.

Once I started my research on teaching abroad, however, the EPIK (English Program In Korea) program kept jumping out at me. Decent salary, free apartment, flight reimbursement, five weeks’ vacation, adventure sports, fascinating culture - the list went on and on. Before long, I had decided: Korea was it!

Turns out, deciding was the easy part.

Part 1: Jump Through The Hoops

Applying to become an EPIK teacher is no small feat. Tip #1: Start early to avoid any holdups with required paperwork. EPIK hires teachers in February and August on a first-come, first-serve basis. I started contacting recruiters in March, with the intention of going to Korea in August. Alternatively, you can apply online through the EPIK website or in person at your nearest Korean consulate or embassy.

I used Footprints Recruiting, one of the twenty recommended recruiters listed on the EPIK website. I applied as a joint applicant with my boyfriend. Footprints was very clear that they could not guarantee a joint placement, but we were willing to take the risk. Our best bet was to submit all of our paperwork as early as possible.

The EPIK application criteria often changes, so make sure you clearly understand the following when you apply:

• Applicants must have at least an undergraduate degree in any discipline, but a concentration in English or education is advantageous, as is a TEFL/TESOL certificate.
• A national criminal record check is also required, which can take up to 12 weeks to receive.
• You must also provide sealed transcripts from your university, a copy of your degree with an apostille seal, and two letters of reference.

EPIK has very specific requirements for how you should submit these documents, and one mistake can hold up the application process indefinitely.

After our documents were approved, we each had a phone interview with EPIK. By the end of April, Footprints sent an email saying that we had passed the interview. It was the end of July before we received the official papers stating that we had been hired to teach in Gangwon province, our location of choice. I Fedex-ed my passport and visa application to the Korean consulate in Chicago, bought plane tickets, and waited anxiously for the departure date.

Part 2: The Honeymoon Phase

Korean Traditional Dance

Your initial few months in Korea will probably go one of two ways: the 'What-Have-I-Done Phase,' or the 'Honeymoon Phase'. Luckily, most people fall into the latter category – a euphoric feeling towards Korea and everything Korean, usually lasting from one to three months.

For me, this stage kicked in on the last day of our 10-day EPIK orientation, when everyone finally found out where they would be teaching. My boyfriend and I were relieved to hear that we were in the same town, and astonished to find that we had actually been placed in the same school. Everyone’s situation is different, but most joint applicants I knew wound up in close proximity to each other.

Finally free from the hassle of paperwork, I was thrilled to be in Korea at last, with an apartment, a school, and one lovely co-teacher. The students at Yeongwol Elementary School were incredibly friendly and completely fascinated by their new English teachers. The whole town seemed to roll out the red carpet for our arrival. Strangers said enthusiastic hellos at the corner store, the crosswalk, and the bus station.

I learned how to read Hangul (the Korean alphabet), which made me feel like I’d grown another brain. It was so rewarding to look at a sign and be able to slo-o-w-ly sound out words. Studying Korean is extremely beneficial in your day-to-day life, from ordinary transactions to conversations with co-workers. You can get by without knowing Korean, but it’s much better to make the effort to learn.

The honeymoon phase was like landing in Oz after living in black and white. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the flowers were in bloom. I never wanted it to end..

Part 3: The Learning Curve

..Of course, no one can be on a honeymoon forever. There are inevitable stumbling blocks that come with living in a foreign country, and Korea is no exception. Small tasks like setting up a bank account, taking out the recycling, and using my washing machine suddenly require the help of a local. Besides re-learning how to complete simple tasks, I had to figure out how to teach English!

Initially, I taught 3 different grade levels for a total of 30 instructional hours a week. I relied heavily on my co-teacher and PowerPoint presentations to guide me through the classroom. The kids laughed at the funny pictures in my slide shows, but I didn't feel the language was sinking in. A good PowerPoint presentation can be highly effective in the classroom, but if it’s not used well, it’s nothing but a prop.

Eight months down the line, I’ve learned to incorporate more learning activities disguised as games. My students spend less time looking at the television screen and more time speaking English. I have learned to simplify my language and speak slowly. When possible, I cover less material in a longer amount of time. Everyday I am becoming a better teacher, and I hope my students benefit from that.

To be an EPIK teacher you need to be motivated, professional, and patient.

Classroom fun in Korea

Part 4: The Comfort Zone

Living in Korea still brings its own special challenges, but things that once seemed strange are now normal. Initially, the Korean custom of bowing in greeting made me feel like a bobblehead doll, but now it is second nature. Using chopsticks is a way of life, and I am unfazed when a plate of octopus tentacles arrives at the table. I am still barely competent in Korean, but I can buy a train ticket or talk about the weather with a cashier.

Unexpected things happen to me every day, which is what keeps the comfort zone from becoming a rut. A student might run up to me in the street and press an unwrapped stick of gum into my hand, or a toddler might point at me and break out in tears. A middle-aged woman may point at my frayed jeans and laugh, or another teacher will pass by in the parking lot and give me a box of fried chicken,.

Teaching English in Korea is easily the best job I have ever had, as well as the most exhausting and confusing. Just when you think you know what is going on, you realize you have no idea. That’s Korea – an ever-changing, complicated, generous, traditional, and modern country. To be an EPIK teacher you need to be motivated, professional, and patient. Everyone’s experience is different, from the application process to placement to the classroom. Pave your own way, and remember that those with the best attitude tend to have the best experience!