FOREIGN ENGLISH

(Thursday August 28th, 2008)

FETA is planning a AGM/Dinner Meeting. We are hoping every Foreign Elementary and Middle school teacher can make it out to our first, and most important meeting of the second semester. We are having this dinner meeting on the 8th of October at 6:00pm. 

The name of the restaurant we will be having this dinner meeting is:
황소 불화로구이 and their phone number is: 435-0920

The restaurant is located in Janggok-dong near the central Siheung Police Station and near Jinmal Elementary School. Bus route 61, 63, or 30-7

If you need more help in getting there, please call me (Charles Hill) at 010.8642.4828 anytime.

Please RSVP this event!

(Monday August 25th, 2008)

A brand new *Marketplace has opened for Foreigners looking to buy or sell goods and services in Siheung. New, used, whatever! It is here. It is free. It is open waiting for your post today. 

Many foreigners coming to Korea need things quickly and cheaply, and some that are leaving have products they need to sell before they go, so Charles Hill (President of the Association) decided to launch this free service.

To use this *Marketplace you first need to be registered with F.E.T.A. as a teacher in Siheung (currently working/living here) and then complete the simple electronic form using the link at the top of the Forum page.

Please read the User Agreement prior to any posts.

(Friday August 08th, 2008)

Since the beginning FETA has been a hit with the Foreigners in SIheung, but recently FETA has been making headlines nationwide. 

The President or FETA, Charles Hill, has been receiving many emails and calls from reporters and media outlets about covering FETA in a story. Some of the stories have been posted in the FETA Forum (In The News) section.

(Thursday July 24th, 2008)

Starting in the 2nd semester anyone in Siheung signing or re-signing for the 2008/2009 contract school year should read the following article. Siheung in-line with Gyeonggi have once again changed the contract.

Vacation:

• In previous years the contract allowed for 14 paid vacation days per year. To be taken during the two main vacation periods.
  
• Now, according to the new contract, employees may now take up to 20 days of paid vacation during their first year.
  

Housing:

• To allow for the rising cost of housing, the city and province are raising the housing allowance up from 300,000W to a more fair and reasonable 400,000W per month.
  

If you would like more information please see: http://cge.ken.go.kr

(Please note the above website is Korean only) 

(Wednesday July 23rd, 2008)

Starting today people wishing to nominate a teacher for outstanding performance in English education may now do so.

The Foreign English Teachers' Association in accordance with the Presidents plan has created an award to highlight the actions of three teachers that have gone above and beyond in teaching the students of Siheung.

Right now the awards are only open to members of F.E.T.A. (so E or F visa holders currently employed in a public elementary or middle school).

Anyone can nominate someone, just download the PDF application form from the Awards page of the site, complete, and return via fax.

All submissions must be in by October 31st, 11:59pm to be considered. The awards ceremony will be held in mid-December.

For more information please write the chair of the Awards Committee at: awards@foreignenglish.com

(Tuesday July 22nd, 2008)

Siheung City Hall is looking for some willing participants in a completely voluntary program whereby, you, the foreigner are invited into the homes of selected Korean participants for a cultural exchange.

You stay for a few hours, chat, enjoy some Korean food ~ and both parties learn a little bit about each other.

If you are interested please contact the Director of Sub-Group Services at sgs@foreignenglish.com

(Monday July 21st, 2008)

Starting today the Office of Education, Siheung has begun taking applicants for the

"Experience Program of Korean Traditional Culture" for Native English Teachers in Korea.

Starting August 11th 2008 thru til August 13th 2008 Native Teachers are invited to take part in a series of culturally motivated activities geared to educate those new to (or curious about) Korea.

How To Apply:
* Those who wish to participate in the program are required to summit an application form to Gangneung Danjoe Festival Committee by e-mail (240665@naver.com) or fax (033.646.1595) before July 31st.

It will be a first-come, first-served basis.

There is a 70,000W fee for this program.

All Korean managers have been sent notification of this program so if you require additional information please see them, or Membership Services Director @ F.E.T.A. by email at ms@foreignenglish.com

(Friday June 27th, 2008)

We are proud to announce that FETA has two new executives to fill key positions within the Association. 

Today, Charles Hill, President of FETA welcomed Tyler Clark and Viola Micka to the FETA family.

Tyler Clark will serve as the Executive Vice-President for the remainder of the year. He was chosen because of his passion to English education in the city, and experience in working in Siheung in the public school system. If you would like to write to Tyler, his new address is: vp@foreignenglish.com

Viola Micka has accepted the invitation to serve as Director of Subgroup Services for FETA for the remainder of the year. We know that Viola will add greatly to our Association in her role. VIola can be reached at: sgs@foreignenglish.com

We are still looking for a Director of Member Services. If you are interested please write the Association (or Charles) at president@foreignenglish.com

## 

(Friday June 06th, 2008)

The F.E.T.A. forum has had some minor problems with spiders and bots registering fake profiles with our forum, so as a result we have shut it down in an attempt to fake out the bots. 

We have listed the up-date as Tuesday June 10th and at 9:00am the site will be unlocked, all the posted messages will still be in place. 

(Sunday May 25th, 2008)

Because of certain undesirable material posting to our forum, some of the topics have hd to become closed ~ except to registered members. Registration is still free and open to all those working in public schools within Siheung. (Parents in Siheung are also invited to participate).

(Tuesday May 06th, 2008)

Charles Hill has just completed the fifth installment of his popular "Complete Siheung" series of books for foreigners. Many of the teachers in and around Siheung have read the fourth edition, however, after making some changes, adding a few new sections the fifth is finally ready. No official publication date has been set, but he seems confident that the new hires in Siheung will have their copies in the coming weeks.

To download your very own copy of the fourth edition click here. 

(Friday April 25th, 2008)

Just over a month ago the first issue of TRIVIUM was sent out to all the schools with a foreign teacher, 30 to be exact. Now, a month later the May issue of TRIVIUM is set to be printed and sent out. This issue is longer than last with even more interesting articles than before. This issue will feature insight on banking in Korea, the future of English education in Korea, and the [potential] benefits of homework for your students. Keep an eye out for it. 

(Tuesday April 01st, 2008)

The Foreign English Teachers' Association launches a page for parents. Earlier today, after much planning, the Association opened the first page for Parents of students in Siheung schools.

"As far as I know, this is the first of its kind..." said Charles Hill, a local elementary school teacher in Siheung. "Parents can find the internet too intimidating. It's a massive area to browse and sometimes after hours of searching you only end up with a few short activities. We hope with this page now, parents can get everything with only a few clicks." 

Along with the launch of this new page for parents, Charles noted that, although the site is only in English at this time, that the site will slowly be translated, with the hopes of being fully bi-lingual.

"From the beginning, I wanted this Association to be as open as possible. Though I know all of our members are English, because we operate in Korea, and we have parents and other visitors browsing our site, I think it's important to offer certain key services in Korean." Charles went on to explain that with parents and other Korean teachers visiting the site, that they may better understand the Association if things are explained in Korean. It will be a better experience for them for sure.

Most of the funding comes from the City of Siheung, and in consideration of that, Charles thinks that offering some of the site in Korean is the decent and smart thing to do. There is no e.t.a. on when it will go bi-lingual, but he will be working "tirelessly" on it, in hopes to get it up and running in the coming weeks. 

(Monday March 25th, 2008)

People at the Siheung Office of Education have asked us to post a notice up on the website letting the foreigners in the city know that starting on the 08th of April the Korean classes will begin again.

Some of you may have participated in the past programs, but we have a new teacher, and those just recently hired are welcome to join. If you work in the city for a public Elementary or Middle School and are interested in learning Korean please let your co-teacher or manager know and they will make the necessary arrangments.

Class Details:

• Every Tuesday & Thursday night
• Location: JANGGOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
• Time: 5:30pm ~ 7:30pm

Please note: If you decide to register in the class your school will be responsible for the cost of the tuition and if you fail to come to the classes you will be asked to reimburse the school for all costs associated with the class. The school won't pay for you not to go!