I recently passed the EPIK interview and was asked some strange questions in addition to standard ones. Firstly, "what are 3 things that make you smile?" and "Teach me something interesting that not many people know about". Be prepared for this - it threw me off guard a little bit.
Just took the interview. Make sure to through the various pages on the EPIK website particularly the duties section. a great deal of my interview seemed like it was feeling me out as to whether I had done research into the program
The reason for picking Korea, is I love the culture, food, everything. And of course they only have 24 letters in there alphabet as opposed to China and Japan having I believe 500 and 1000. That's a great motivator to pick Korea, especially considering the time I have until I graduate.
Good questions! Also if you do take drugs, Korea takes hair samples they don't mess around ask GD. It seems Korea is focusing more and more on applicants that have some teaching experience plus a well rounded individual. Wanted to know did Epic give the incoming teachers lessons in custom and how to handle general issues regarding certain situations? Are you allowed to use popular music as teaching tools, or their favorite groups, or anime, or games as teaching tools?
Yes, during orientation they gave us a primer on Korean culture. Some key phrases, intro to Hangul and some things on culture. Not super in depth, but got our feet wet. Also, yes, using popular culture is super useful and I recommend personally. Using material that is of interest to students is always a good idea.
+dvprk Traces of drugs stay longer in hairs rather than in the blood, I would guess that's the reason behind doing them rather than their methods being outdated.
Red Dragon Diaries Good news! I have managed to get a interview with EPIK just last night. As I was watching your video about questions they would ask you in the interview, I have also heard there will be a part where they will go over the lesson plan. Do you have any tips on that?
Thanks for the vid. But, about the whole counseling thing, I'm actually in foster care right now and therapy sessions are mandatory. It's not necessarily because they think I'm crazy, mainly really to just help me cope with my traumas, I guess. Do you think that when I apply, they'll take that whole "mandatory, not because she's psycho" thing into account?
7 years late to reply to this, but my university degree is in counseling, so we all have to take it in order to know what it's like to be a client. I'm sure they'd understand your situation just as I believe they will understand mine. My interview is in an hour.
This is an amazing resource, thank you so much for posting these videos! I'm not even halfway through high school yet, but this is what I really want to do later on in life. Never too early to start preparing, right?
I am wondering how much I should disclose in regards to the counselling question. I know mental health is still a bit of a taboo topic in South Korea. I have had some counselling in the past (many years ago) but now I no longer receive counselling and my mental health is sound. Should I still disclose this information or will it be looked unfavourable upon?
How do you deal with children that misbehave or those hell classes? I work in an elementry school in a after school program and some of them make me pull my hair out! But i usually make them sit seperatly so they can calm down, is that inappropiate in Korea?
I'm also in elementary. We have a reward system set up where the culmination of stamps equals a prize. I've trained the students to be quiet when I start counting down with my hand held up, but I don't speak. If I get to 0 and they're not quiet, no stamps for the day. That is apocalyptic to them! So what happens is the class quiets each other down for me. Hasn't failed yet.
Red Dragon Diaries That's a really great discipline idea. Thanks for sharing that one. Also, have you done a video about any "hell classes" you've had? If so, can you link it? If not, maybe you can do one. I'd be interested to hear more about the worst classes/kids you've experienced in any country abroad you've worked in. I feel like I can handle situations like that much better if I'm not totally blindsided, and have already had some idea of the worst (or at least close to it) that i may experience. I feel that will help me mentally prepare for it, so if I do have some really bad class or kids, which I probably will at some point, it won't be quite as bad if I remember that I've mentally envisioned this scenario before. Thanks-- your videos are really helpful!
hey man i've been watching your videos for awhile now! Just wanted to say thanks for all of the helpful info. That being said, is Wonju a good place to go?
Thanks for the tips SeoulTee. I've heard that Korean employers only hire native English speakers as ESL teachers. Is it possible for non-native speakers to get hired? If they are able to speak English fluently as well.
Omg I hope they don't ask all nine of those questions at once . I love your videos.. That was an eye opener. Hey can you do a video on public schools vs hagwons. What are some of the pros and cons? Do hagwons pay more than public schools?
I think a similar question to this has been asked but I didn't see an answer to it, there is no way you can give a definite yes or no as you are not the interviewer, but as a child I went through a traumatic event, unlike in Korea and some other countries, in the U.S. many parents automatically go to counseling if their child has gone through any event that could possibly hurt them in any way. My parents were no exception, so as a young child (off and on for about 3 years, 10 to 13) I had to go to counseling, but it wasn't my choice and never has anything been mentally wrong with me. Do they give you a chance to explain this? Or do you have to respond simply yes or no? Does this mean I would be given no opportunity simply because of that?
When I was in school public humiliation was the norm. If we chewed gum in class we had to put it behind our ear. Disgusting! If we passed notes in class they were read to the whole class. If we threw attitude we had to stand with our nose pressed to the wall or "hold up the wall." Holding up the wall meant facing the wall, raising your arms and pressing against the wall with all your might as if the wall is falling over. It is tiring. My math teacher threw board erasers at our heads for talking without permission. We learned to duck. Our reflexes improved. Our biology teacher had a breakdown after boys threw around dead frog parts meant for dissection. Our classroom looked like a horror movie. Bored, rich kids are HORRIBLE monsters! I guess public humiliation is forbidden in Korea.
OMG - what planet was that on? lol. From what I understand, only until recently, many Korean teachers were apparently pretty much like mini Kim Jong ils. A few years back the government prohibited corporate punishment. Now the students are taking over!! lol.
SeoulTee If we were a smart ass girls had to do jumping jacks. Boys did push ups. This was public school in SoCal. Parents didn't care. They were working, traveling, golfing and checked out. We grew up with little supervision unless you count a maid, nanny or babysitter. We had more time and money than we had good sense or common sense. Boredom + money = drugs, alcohol, teen pregnancy. It is worse today. Kids threaten teachers and students with guns now days. Only 1 kid brought a gun to school when I was growing up. It is worse now for the teachers. My niece told me her teacher was taken away to the psych ward. The students broke her. She snapped and did not recover.
I recently passed the EPIK interview and was asked some strange questions in addition to standard ones. Firstly, "what are 3 things that make you smile?" and "Teach me something interesting that not many people know about". Be prepared for this - it threw me off guard a little bit.
Great info - thanks for sharing. Those are peculiar.
Just took the interview. Make sure to through the various pages on the EPIK website particularly the duties section. a great deal of my interview seemed like it was feeling me out as to whether I had done research into the program
Great info - thanks!
thanks!
Well done. I will be applying soon to EPIK and this really helps. Love your videos by the way, really hoping I can get that experience.
The reason for picking Korea, is I love the culture, food, everything. And of course they only have 24 letters in there alphabet as opposed to China and Japan having I believe 500 and 1000. That's a great motivator to pick Korea, especially considering the time I have until I graduate.
Yup, Hangul is easy to learn.
Good questions! Also if you do take drugs, Korea takes hair samples they don't mess around ask GD. It seems Korea is focusing more and more on applicants that have some teaching experience plus a well rounded individual.
Wanted to know did Epic give the incoming teachers lessons in custom and how to handle general issues regarding certain situations? Are you allowed to use popular music as teaching tools, or their favorite groups, or anime, or games as teaching tools?
Yes, during orientation they gave us a primer on Korean culture. Some key phrases, intro to Hangul and some things on culture. Not super in depth, but got our feet wet.
Also, yes, using popular culture is super useful and I recommend personally. Using material that is of interest to students is always a good idea.
Nope not at all. You just can't take them now!
That is surprising that they do a hair test... isint that very expensive? Their drug policies are very outdated...
daveparkk
During my 2/14 EPIK orientation there was no hair test.
+dvprk Traces of drugs stay longer in hairs rather than in the blood, I would guess that's the reason behind doing them rather than their methods being outdated.
Your interview tips for EPIK is quite helpful. I happen to be in the process of working on my application with a recruiter at the moment.
Good luck!
Red Dragon Diaries Good news! I have managed to get a interview with EPIK just last night. As I was watching your video about questions they would ask you in the interview, I have also heard there will be a part where they will go over the lesson plan. Do you have any tips on that?
Hey can you make a video about these "hell classes" (if you haven't already) and how you dealt with them?
Thanks for preparing me for these questions. Big help!
Thanks for the vid. But, about the whole counseling thing, I'm actually in foster care right now and therapy sessions are mandatory. It's not necessarily because they think I'm crazy, mainly really to just help me cope with my traumas, I guess. Do you think that when I apply, they'll take that whole "mandatory, not because she's psycho" thing into account?
7 years late to reply to this, but my university degree is in counseling, so we all have to take it in order to know what it's like to be a client. I'm sure they'd understand your situation just as I believe they will understand mine. My interview is in an hour.
This is an amazing resource, thank you so much for posting these videos! I'm not even halfway through high school yet, but this is what I really want to do later on in life. Never too early to start preparing, right?
Great info for those applying to EPIK.
I wish I knew these questions when I was applying!
These were many of the same questions poised to me in 2008.
I'm going to apply in 2016 after I finish my third year of university 😊 but I'm scared of the interview bit and how many interviews do you do
Lots of good info here. Thank you sir for uploading
You're welcome. Actually thanks to the source who gave me the questions.
I really enjoyed this, keep it up!
I am wondering how much I should disclose in regards to the counselling question. I know mental health is still a bit of a taboo topic in South Korea. I have had some counselling in the past (many years ago) but now I no longer receive counselling and my mental health is sound. Should I still disclose this information or will it be looked unfavourable upon?
+Winnie Ho that's really a personal call. If they don't ask directly, you can just leave it out
I have my interview with EPIK on Monday. Your videos have been a great help! Any advice for being anxious/excited? :3
I'm actually thinking hard about these questions, even though I will never teach English in Korea...
How do you deal with children that misbehave or those hell classes? I work in an elementry school in a after school program and some of them make me pull my hair out! But i usually make them sit seperatly so they can calm down, is that inappropiate in Korea?
I'm also in elementary. We have a reward system set up where the culmination of stamps equals a prize. I've trained the students to be quiet when I start counting down with my hand held up, but I don't speak. If I get to 0 and they're not quiet, no stamps for the day. That is apocalyptic to them! So what happens is the class quiets each other down for me. Hasn't failed yet.
Sounds easier that way!!!
Red Dragon Diaries That's a really great discipline idea. Thanks for sharing that one.
Also, have you done a video about any "hell classes" you've had? If so, can you link it? If not, maybe you can do one. I'd be interested to hear more about the worst classes/kids you've experienced in any country abroad you've worked in. I feel like I can handle situations like that much better if I'm not totally blindsided, and have already had some idea of the worst (or at least close to it) that i may experience. I feel that will help me mentally prepare for it, so if I do have some really bad class or kids, which I probably will at some point, it won't be quite as bad if I remember that I've mentally envisioned this scenario before. Thanks-- your videos are really helpful!
hey man i've been watching your videos for awhile now! Just wanted to say thanks for all of the helpful info. That being said, is Wonju a good place to go?
Thank you. I don't know a whole lot about it, but I'd have to think it's a good area.
Have you worked with anyone prior service military? This is what I'm planning to do after I separate from the Air Force
Thanks for the tips SeoulTee. I've heard that Korean employers only hire native English speakers as ESL teachers. Is it possible for non-native speakers to get hired? If they are able to speak English fluently as well.
that was very helpful. thank you very much!
Omg I hope they don't ask all nine of those questions at once . I love your videos.. That was an eye opener. Hey can you do a video on public schools vs hagwons. What are some of the pros and cons? Do hagwons pay more than public schools?
Teach in Korea: Public School or Hagwon?
What was that in the beginning of my last comment?
I think a similar question to this has been asked but I didn't see an answer to it, there is no way you can give a definite yes or no as you are not the interviewer, but as a child I went through a traumatic event, unlike in Korea and some other countries, in the U.S. many parents automatically go to counseling if their child has gone through any event that could possibly hurt them in any way. My parents were no exception, so as a young child (off and on for about 3 years, 10 to 13) I had to go to counseling, but it wasn't my choice and never has anything been mentally wrong with me. Do they give you a chance to explain this? Or do you have to respond simply yes or no? Does this mean I would be given no opportunity simply because of that?
can you request the non blood test for medical testing? there are 2 viable other options approved by the FDA in testing for diseases etc.
With EPIK, they'll likely only accept a blood test administered here in Korea under their supervision. But you can always ask.
Do they ask at all about your lesson plan?
You may want to get your tyroid checked out can they do a sonogram of your thyroid?
When I was in school public humiliation was the norm. If we chewed gum in class we had to put it behind our ear. Disgusting! If we passed notes in class they were read to the whole class. If we threw attitude we had to stand with our nose pressed to the wall or "hold up the wall." Holding up the wall meant facing the wall, raising your arms and pressing against the wall with all your might as if the wall is falling over. It is tiring. My math teacher threw board erasers at our heads for talking without permission. We learned to duck. Our reflexes improved. Our biology teacher had a breakdown after boys threw around dead frog parts meant for dissection. Our classroom looked like a horror movie. Bored, rich kids are HORRIBLE monsters! I guess public humiliation is forbidden in Korea.
OMG - what planet was that on? lol.
From what I understand, only until recently, many Korean teachers were apparently pretty much like mini Kim Jong ils. A few years back the government prohibited corporate punishment. Now the students are taking over!! lol.
SeoulTee
If we were a smart ass girls had to do jumping jacks. Boys did push ups. This was public school in SoCal. Parents didn't care. They were working, traveling, golfing and checked out. We grew up with little supervision unless you count a maid, nanny or babysitter. We had more time and money than we had good sense or common sense. Boredom + money = drugs, alcohol, teen pregnancy. It is worse today. Kids threaten teachers and students with guns now days. Only 1 kid brought a gun to school when I was growing up. It is worse now for the teachers. My niece told me her teacher was taken away to the psych ward. The students broke her. She snapped and did not recover.
Are you running a fever? Your ears are bright red. My nephew's does that when he is running a fever. Sorry its just in my nature to nurse people =P
Are you half Caucasian or Korean adoptee? You look full Korean but look like you could have a hint of Caucasian.