I finished my two years of teaching at Sangchon Elementary School on August 31st. It was sad to say goodbye to all of my wonderful students, but according to Suwon city laws, the Native English Teacher in public schools (me) can only teach for a maximum of two years at each school. So I found a new school using Korvia Consulting which was a very professional service to use. If you are looking to teach in public schools in South Korea through EPIK, GEPIK (my program in Gyeonggi-do), or in a private language institution, I highly recommend using their awesome services! They ask about your preferences and try to match you with a school that meets those preferences based on who is hiring. Then the schools offer you an interview and if the schools like you then they extend an offer for employment. Korvia helps you collect all the documents you need for the hiring process and if you need to apply for the E-2 visa (English Conversational Teacher visa) if you are not on an F visa like me, they help you collect those documents as well.
My next contract at my new school began on September 3rd at Namsuwon Elementary School. So far I have met my new co-workers and they are all really nice and welcoming. I also have a huge office that is only shared with one other teacher and my own classroom. Usually as a Native English Teacher you have to share a classroom with your Korean co-teachers, but at this school both Korean co-teachers have their own rooms to teach in and I have my own room to teach in. So I don't have to share with anyone and can set-up and decorate my classroom any way I want. So much excitement!
At my last school I was teaching 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade English, but this semester, at my new school I will not teach 3rd grade students which is a little sad because the 3rd graders were my favorite (not that teachers have favorites!! 😊) I will meet my new students starting on Thursday. I hope they are fun like my Sangchon students were! Here goes year five!
