Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wonkavite62]

Hi. I am awaiting interview from YBM in Seoul. I am an experienced teacher, and have had some great experiences(for example recently). I am thinking of returning to Korea.

What is YBM like to work for? I am thinking of asking them to put me in touch with teachers there now. But until then, whatcan you tell me?

I want to know about pay. Is it okay?

I want people who have had good experiences with YBM to share them. Also, if things went wrong, tell me why. I am NOT interested in name-calling or abuse! I want to know facts.
Is it a reasonable employer?
Or are people fired for minor mistakes? Do teachers tend to complete their contracts? Is it a supportive atmosphere? Or do people find themselves criticised for mniscule problems.
? Lastly, do teachers have to pay KEY MONEY?

[ttompatz]

[I-am-me]

How about CES academy? Any comments on that one? Specifically the one in Suwon.

[NoDolan]

I work at YBM. I got everything they promised.

I also teach 8 classes a day without any breaks or food.
I also have to be at school 1.5 hours before the first class to write lesson plans.
We also have hundreds of evaluations, English Diaries,Test, speaking testk, phone call tests, demo teaching days, staff meetings.
It sort of feels like a factory.

[RufusW]

[crusher_of_heads]

[RufusW]

[ttompatz]

[tomato]

My first job in Korea was a YBM job.
Ttompatz is telling the truth.

[red_devil]

Well they gave you everything they promised on the contract, which is more than what a lot can say.

[NoDolan]

Yes, they gave me everything, except for my sick days.

I had a throat infection and the flu at the same time. The antibiotics were so strong and I was so sick I could barley stay awake. Walking and teaching were out of the question.

My doctor told me I needed rest and IV fluid for my dehydration. I called my boss to tell him I was in the hospital in bed with an IV.
He came to the hospital and told the doctor I had to teach a class at 3pm, and that I must be released at 245pm.

I also got yelled at that day in my second class because with 2 minutes left in class I just sat down while the kids talked and played. The boss came into my class and asked me if this is how I teach English. He began giving me a lesson in teaching.
He watched my final five minutes in every class that day after that period.

That day changed my life.

[Hyeon Een]

[Golem]

I had a similar problem with being sick. I had tonsillitis and eventually required surgery. My YBM wouldn't give me sick days or otherwise work with me. They put me in a position where I felt I had no choice but to quit. They owe me a lot of money (housing deposit and one months pay).They also tried to blacklist me by claiming I was a midnight runner. It was hell getting that fixed.
My wife who is Korean also worked for them (not at the same time or at the same place) and eventually decided that she didn't like her job there and wanted to move on to a different job. They required her to work two more months before they let her quit and they also owe her money.
Because of my own bad experiences I could never recommend working for YBM. Try CDI, Pagoda, Berlitz, English Channel, or Princeton review. They all pay far better and are good jobs.

[Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida]

The Good:

- You will usually get paid on time. There was only one time, the pay did not go in on time and that was because the academic director was buying gifts for the K teachers. Priorities.

- Your co-workers are a bit older and thus professional (late 20s to early 50s) that your average hogwon. They have held jobs and travelled the world before they came to Korea. Now, I have ran into 2-3 tossers but this chaps had no career direction and were unhappy with their life.

- You will teach adults unless you go the ECC route.

The bad:

- If you want to make money expect to teach a lot of extra classes.

- Your English academic supervisor only got the job because he learned some degree of Korean. He/she is usually not qualified enough to lead a parade of winos to the nearest liquor store. And this is the individual responsible for creating your monthly schedule

[Hank the Iconoclast]

I tried to tell my friend all of this but he still decided to work at YBM