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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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Change of plans
I’m going to Taiwan! I’ve accepted a position with Gloria English School in Taoyuan, so I’ll be starting on getting the ball rolling on everything I need to do to be eligible to leave America and enter Taiwan!
More updates to follow!
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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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Well, I have been placed on a waiting list for Spring intake for TaLK. I’m proud of those who were chosen for such a small intake and I hope I get to meet them in the spring as we had planned. 
Everything is crazy. Currently, I’ve placed applications to go teach in Taiwan for the remaining 6 months between now and next intake. I need to get out of a bad situation here in my house, with all my ducks placed in this basket with TaLK it sucks. 
Control is out of my hands with this program so I have hope Taiwan works out.
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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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TaLK 2020 August Intake Timeline
So, with the newest information posted for the program, I wanted to post a timeline of everything so far. This might be helpful for someone down the line when things haven’t gone crazy with COVID in the world. 
Granted, this is how everything has went so far with intake being pushed back due to the reduction in positions available, as well as my own slight adjustments I made to be able to have everything ready in a timely fashion.
July 2019 - Received my passport!
October 2019 - I gave the letter of recommendation forms to my manager of my current employer and to my college algebra teacher to give them enough time to fill everything out given holiday season was coming up for retail. 
December 2019 - I started getting my documents together that I needed for the background check to send after Christmas season. These didn’t take long and I have a post on how I did my fingerprints myself for the CRC background check. I also was given my first letter of recommendation from my professor at my school after my final exam.
January 2020 - Sent in my background check around Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so the whole process of getting my background check as well as the apostille took a bit longer than usual (I know many people now, in June 2020, are waiting 30+ days for them now). My CRC with apostille was received around the end of January.
March 3, 2020 - My manager gave me my letter of recommendation finally. I also managed to get mid-term grades as this was my last semester of my associates degree, and would not have my final ones until May.
March 6, 2020 - I was finally able to apply to my office, Houston. I submitted everything online that was needed. I received an email confirming my application was submitted to my local office. I was called that same day and was informed of what they needed to set up my interview. I already had everything except my final transcripts, so I was able to ship everything to Houston same day. 
March 9, 2020 - I was called when my package was delivered. Being honest, it was 10:30am, I was still in my pajamas, I was tired and didn’t know what was going on. They had everything they needed, but were slightly concerned with my transcripts as I only had 49 credits. A quick confirmation I would be graduating in May helped smooth the situation, and I was set up with an interview at 13:30, the same day.
My first interview was under 10 minutes. I was tomato red the whole time. As soon as they ended the call I wanted to cry from anxiety, and I was called again. They were recommending me to Seoul, my documents would be scanned in to be looked at, and I would be emailed about my second interview soon. Excitement. I cried. I did get two emails confirming my application status AND completion of my interview on March 9, 2020. It does seem like those who apply in offices other than Seoul get these two emails if they pass their first interview. 
This was where things got a bit anxiety inducing. 
March 31, 2020 - I emailed the head office due to not hearing anything about a second interview and it seemed a bit odd since I was told I would hear back within a week. I sent this email, and that same day TaLK head office informed me they did not have any documents on file for me. Heart attack.
April 3, 2020 - I had emailed my local office but ended up calling them around 11am because I was agonizing over everything. They were amazing. They realized they misplaced my documents, but they located them and scanned everything then, apologizing for the mix up. I emailed the head office again later in the day to confirm my documents had been received okay. 
April 4, 2020 - TaLK emailed me back to inform me of the arrival of my documents, and to expect an email booking for my second interview within a week. 
April 6, 2020 - My email booking came in, I booked for April 8, 2020, for 20:30 central time. I got a confirmation of booking and waited. The time slot was confirmed the same day!
April 7, 2020 - I was sent a reminder about my interview and to make sure I was on Skype as they would message me about 5 minutes beforehand to ensure they had the right Skype name for me. My interview started a bit late, but it lasted 33 minutes, and then I was told they would inform me of the final decision soon. 
May 2020 - Nothing happened from TaLK, mostly speculation as things got worse within Korea due to spread of COVID and we knew intake would be effected. I graduated with honors with my Associates! I put in my request for final transcripts, which I received around May 28 and I sent them to my local office on June 1.
June 3, 2020 - I got a call a few minutes before 9:30am letting me know my final transcripts had been accepted, as well as being scanned to head office that day. I was done with my documents.
Which brings us to;
June 9, 2020 - TaLK sent an email giving applicants a few options. Continue to be processed for August intake, which seems to be less than 20 positions at the moment but this is purely speculation. Waitlist for August, with option for Spring 2021 intake, just needing to resend an updated CRC with apostille. Defer entirely to Spring 2021 with your documents being kept, same situation with the CRC and apostille. Complete pull of your application with need to submit new documents entirely for future applications. 
I went ahead and emailed back with my decision to continue with August intake as they have everything they need from me, with absolute acceptance of deferment to Spring 2021 intake if I do not make it in August. 
That’s the situation as it stands now. I hope everyone who reads this got a bit of help and my inbox is always open for questions. 
Good luck!
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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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More information on TaLK 2020 August Intake
So it has been awhile since my previous post, things have been crazy for everyone so I thought I’d update with the information I have, as well as go through what’s been going on with me as well. 
As of today, June 3, 2020, I am a graduate with my Associate of Arts. I have all of my documents in with my local office. They only need to scan my final transcripts over to head office in Seoul and I’ll be done. 
With COVID still being prevalent there’s been some schools dropping out of the placements for TaLK’s August intake this year. Confirmed so far has been Gangwondo and Jeollanamdo. We should be getting information by way of email tomorrow, June 4th, about whether TaLK is even happening this fall. 
We have heard some interesting rumors that we could get Spring 2021, generation 26, placements if there is no intake for the fall and we interviewed well. So there is that small detail we are unsure about. 
Quarantine has been another interesting rumor. We’ve been told we will have to pay for it out of pocket, that we won’t have to, we may get reimbursed. So, for now, I’m assuming I will have to pay for it with no chance of reimbursement. While not ideal, I’m fortunate enough that I can do this and will gladly do it if they give me the chance. 
When more information is available I’ll make sure to update here. I’ve been back at work since our company took everyone off furlough and a problem with our manager has me working more hours that I’m contracted for now! 
Hopefully everyone gets good news tomorrow.
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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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Well my second interview should be coming shortly! With only 4 weeks left of my associates degree, and this interview coming soon, everything is happening so fast. Amidst a pandemic, happy things are still happening.
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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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The anxious waiting game.
A case of coronavirus has popped up near my city in Arkansas. I got my application approval for graduation in May. There are talks that our school will move entirely to online classes after spring break. 
I’m not worried entirely. It’s concerning, yes. I hope things clear up soon. I’m more anxious for graduation, if they even have a formal one. As well as my interview for this position in South Korea. 
Everything has come to a head it seems and I do look forward to what may come in the future. Let’s hope it’s just good things.
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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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It’s not a lot, but I had my interview today, 09 March 2020 at 12:30pm Central time. I thought it went well, I was even told it went well by my two interviewers. I received a call immediately after the Skype call was ended that I had passed my interview and they would be forwarding my documents to their head office. 
I’m so excited and thrilled to even have made it this far.
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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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I got this on my screen in my portal yesterday after checking my email. I rushed to overnight my documents to Houston because I wanted everything done and over with as soon as possible. 
My documents are sitting in Houston today. I was told I could schedule my interview probably next week. I’m so anxious, but excited as hell, about this process finally getting somewhere after waiting a year since I heard about this program. 
Wish me luck! And good luck to everyone else applying for August 2020 intake as well!
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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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Everything is pushed back, kind of.
After logging into the TaLK website and being unable to select the Houston consulate as my home application location, I managed to grow the nerve to call the Houston Korean Education Center.
I talked with a very nice man, Mr. Sung, who explained that everything has been pushed back to about mid-March due to coronavirus. I’m assuming they are waiting to see how many NET’s decide to stay in the country due to the scare going on before applications begin processing.
It was funny as he told me I should go ahead and start getting my CRC and apostille because there’s a bit more time than usual. Of course, me being the overly prepared person I am, I explained I already obtained it. 
He sounded surprised, took my information, then explained he would email me when they began processing applications so I can send all my documents to them for consideration.
I’m much more hopeful in light of this situation. Not the coronavirus one, but hearing from someone within the program that I have a decent shot.
Here’s to hoping!
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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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T-minus 78 Days
I’m internally screaming and wanting to hide in a hole. I graduate with my associates in 78 days. I’m not sure how to feel about it overall. Excitement mostly because my lovely girlfriend is coming down to see me, she’s going to be all dressed up and I can’t wait. 
I’m just a lesbian running my life as a librarian at this point if I’m completely honest with myself.
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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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Anxiety, Essays, and Lesson Plans.
With March 1st coming up, which is the date that intake ‘officially’ opens up for paperwork to be submitted to local consulates, I wanted to make a post about one thing that is nagging me terribly; my lesson plan and essay.
For those just reading this for whatever reason, TaLK requires a personal essay and a lesson plan for each application that is submitted. The essay is submitted with your Part B electronically through their myTaLK portal, as well as a hardcopy along with a lesson plan that is sent to your local consulate (I live in Arkansas so my ‘local’ consulate is in Houston, Texas).
I’m no teacher if you haven’t already figured that out. I am a simple associates student in the United States hoping to eventually become an ACTUAL teacher. So this program is a way for me to gain a bit of experience while waiting for that magical age of 24 so I can get more support for my education. 
Lesson planning isn’t something I have been taught how to do. I know this whole program is an exchange of sorts. I get to learn more about South Korea as a whole, and the kids in rural areas who typically would not have access to native English speakers get the chance to have a native English speaker in their classes. 
This is a program more for exchange of language, history, and culture. I’m excited that something like this exists! This doesn’t alleviate the anxiety of not having formal training. They will give us weeks of training and modules to prepare for our time, if selected to go to Korea, but I’m just worried about being an adequate enough applicant. 
I don’t want to be someone who gets to some foreign country with stars in their eyes thinking everything is going to be absolutely perfect because I know that’s not the case. I want to do as well as I can as an absolute amateur student who wants to learn more about culture, history, and language.
Which leads me to my essay. I’m terrible at talking about myself because I hate sounding like a selfish asshole. That comes with the territory of how I’ve been raised. I’ve done volunteer work as a literacy coach for elementary ESL students. I’ve helped friends kids with their reading at a super basic level. Nothing grand or exciting, but stuff I’m excited about. 
I know the program worries about whether you’d be okay living abroad, living alone, being the only foreigner in your town potentially. Things that are normal for many programs like this. They don’t want someone who will get homesick and decide they can’t live alone for their contract period. 
Living alone and being the only foreigner is a bit of a scary thought, I guess? It’s not daunting to me. If anything, the language barrier is the most isolating aspect, but that can be overcome with practice. I’ve learned some basics, I have some textbooks coming in the mail, I’m doing what I can to prevent the isolation I know a lot of people tend to go through. 
That won’t matter though. Being American is already going to mark me as different within a rural community, but it’ll be okay. It’ll suck some days, but it’s manageable. 
My lesson plan is far from perfect, it’s about colors. Using colors for basic, every day conversation that can be used outside of school. Which is I think what they're looking for, but there was not a lot of information on exactly what they wanted so I went with practicality. 
My essay is just an explanation of my work volunteering. My life being an older sister and managing a household, showing I can live alone and figure things out for myself. A small reason why I applied for the TaLK program, it would be the best chance to get to learn about Korean culture and language through immersion and get the chance to work with kids. 
I hope this is all good enough for this application. I’m worried, but this is all I have going for me right now. It’s a huge leap I hope works out. 
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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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He’s so happy to see you!
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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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FBI CRC and Apostille!
Let’s start off this adventure by talking about the worst possible thing we have to deal with when applying for a job: Background check.
Now, this wouldn’t be as bad if this was a straightforward process, but we are dealing with a criminal background check, as I will now refer to as a CRC for my own joints relief. A CRC for TaLK August intake 2020 now is required to be done at the federal level. Before this intake, if you lived in the same state for so many years then you could simply get a state-level CRC which could be much easier for everyone!
This is for teaching small humans though, and they want to make sure their children are safe, so now you need your government to do this background check.
Many decide to use a channeler to get the background check itself done, I decided to do it myself despite being told it would take months for it to come back if I did it DIY. As a side note, I did this whole process two times, once in October of 2019, the second in January 2020, I got both back from the FBI within 3 days of my fingerprint card being received.
The first step to go to the FBI.gov website, or simply Google “FBI background check”. Make sure you click on “Identity History Summary Checks”.
Option 1 is what I went with. So I was able to electronically fill out all of my information and it was submitted directly through the website to the FBI. I paid $18 for the process, which does not include the postage or cost of obtaining your fingerprints to SEND to them. That $18 DOES pay for the cost of thems shipping your physical copy, if you choose to get one, first-class USPS back to you.
Now fingerprints are where people get iffy. I live in a suburban area and cannot drive due to sight issues, so getting to a police station was not feasible. I did what any modern-day college student could do, I ordered a kit from Amazon.
I looked up a basic “how the hell do I fill this sheet of paper out” on Google. I watched some videos on YouTube on how to roll fingerprints. I pulled up my pants and I DIY’d the fuck out of that.
With that done, I made a label to send to the FBI HQ in Virginia, along with the email I received from the Identity History Summary Request bot telling me that my payment was successful.
Then I waited.
I received my emailed PDF background check in 3 days. My paper copy came about a week later. I chose to obtain the paper copy just in case I happened to need it, but that’s not a requirement for the next step. This one, I would highly recommend using a channeler.
Apostille time. I KNOW. I asked myself the same question. What the hell is an apostille? Well, it’s a stupid piece of paper with a stamp on top of your background check saying it’s a legitimate document and not a fake.
I paid $55 with tax to Monument Visa both times I did this. They were fast, efficient, and I even got an email when I forgot that processing times would take longer because of MLK day. I was able to upload the PDF version of my CRC I got and they took it to the office in hand the next day.
This was a fantastic turnaround, and I think it took barely a week when I take out MLK day for the total time it took to get my apostilled CRC in the mail to my house.
I got scared when I saw the posts about how it took people 3-6 months to get theirs back from just the FBI, and I will say, I’m not sure if it matters at all but my biometrics are already in the government database due to prior military escapades. I’m unsure if that helped speed up the processing time within the government database or not, but I didn’t have nearly as much of a headache as some people also located here in the US seemed to.
If anyone else is curious and has any questions let me know! I am happy to answer them. Until the next post!
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wannabeteacherstuff · 4 years
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Hello, world!
Before I launch into the whole blogging thing, I guess I should explain why I’m here. I am 23 years old, situated in the southern half of the United States, about graduate with my Associate of Arts in May 2020, and I am applying for the TaLK August 2020 intake. 
I realized very soon into my journey of starting the application that there’s not a lot of straightforward, good information regarding how to go about the supplemental items needed. The CRC, letters of recommendation, the essay, lesson plan, etc., are all bits and pieces that are vital to the entire application but there is very little out there to give detail into what we need to do as applicants. 
So, why not make a blog of the journey from submission of my application through... wherever this takes me. I am still planning on completing my bachelor's degree, I would love to focus on linguistics related to second language acquisition and minor in education. My end goal is to become a teacher of the English language as a foreign language in Asia and settle down there. 
I hope this is informative for anyone starting their own journey into applying for this program, at least the first few bits as I cannot give any good advice for background checks related to anywhere except the US!
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