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ladyrenwick
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
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 Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:51 am Post subject: YBM ECC Gangnam |
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Hello, I'm sure this has been asked before, but I would appreciate any information anyone has about YBM ECC (Kids) in Gangnam. It is a franchise, so I'm a little wary. I have searched on the discussion boards, but can't find enough specifics about this branch.
Also, I have some experience, and a TESOL certificate. How do I tactfully ask for a higher salary? (They are offering 2.0 for 110 hours)
Also, how were their accommadations?
Much appreciated. |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 10:12 am Post subject: Re: YBM ECC Gangnam |
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| ladyrenwick wrote: |
Hello, I'm sure this has been asked before, but I would appreciate any information anyone has about YBM ECC (Kids) in Gangnam. It is a franchise, so I'm a little wary. I have searched on the discussion boards, but can't find enough specifics about this branch.
Also, I have some experience, and a TESOL certificate. How do I tactfully ask for a higher salary? (They are offering 2.0 for 110 hours)
Also, how were their accommadations?
Much appreciated. |
The Seoul ECCs aren't franchises edit: except for maybe Gangnam and Gimpo- they are owned and run directly by YBM. This makes them a lot more reliable than franchise schools, since the company doesn't do things like get the bright idea that they can steal your severance or ban you from dating or whatever else. I've worked for YBM for 2 contracts (not at an ECC, mind) and found them to be pretty well run for a Korean company. It's probably not the best job out there, but you could do a lot worse. ECC Kangnam is likely to be a flagship branch as well, which should make it decent to work for (good resources, etc)
About the money, I can't say for sure, but you'd be lucky to get more than 2 mil for 110 off those guys. When setting your pay they have to follow company policy, and salaries there are capped pretty low. In general I think that ECC is a bit less work than comparable schools, so you might be able to get overtime without ending up overworked. You could try commenting honestly on the pay - the people who do the hiring for YBM know that the company pays less than others, and complain about it a lot since it makes hiring qualified people much more difficult. The more they can say 'we were turned down by this many qualified teachers because of the pay' maybe the better the chances of pay rises.
Last edited by gang ah jee on Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:43 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ladyrenwick
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 1:25 pm Post subject: Thank you |
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| Thanks so much for your reply. It's good to hear from someone who has worked for them. I know the pay is not so great, but I thought I'd better go with a company that has a good reputation above anything else. |
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Cohiba
Joined: 01 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:57 pm Post subject: YBM |
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Yes, it certainly has a well established reputation. Why don't you
just ask now about doing runners, etc.? |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: YBM |
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| Cohiba wrote: |
Yes, it certainly has a well established reputation. Why don't you
just ask now about doing runners, etc.? |
Damn, I hate to sound like a corporate stooge, but there's a difference between being employed by YBM proper and working for an owner operated mom-and-pop ECC franchise. |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:07 pm Post subject: Re: YBM |
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| gang ah jee wrote: |
| Cohiba wrote: |
Yes, it certainly has a well established reputation. Why don't you
just ask now about doing runners, etc.? |
Damn, I hate to sound like a corporate stooge, but there's a difference between being employed by YBM proper and working for an owner operated mom-and-pop ECC franchise. |
But didn't you just say above that they aren't franchises? |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:48 pm Post subject: Re: YBM |
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| JongnoGuru wrote: |
| But didn't you just say above that they aren't franchises? |
Hmm. Maybe I should be clearer. ECCs in Seoul are (to my knowledge) managed directly from YBM head office. ECCs outside of Seoul, including the satellite cities, are generally run as franchises, which means that the ECC brand and curriculum has been bought, but apart from some general organisational features the owner-operator is free to run their business as they see fit. This is where the horror stories tend to come from.
Speaking from my own experience, I would never call YBM generous, but they were fair and honest. Actual work environments will vary at the YBM schools because of internal policies, so if you have a bad manager it can be an unpleasant experience; however, overall you're less likely to encounter the unhinged insanity that passes for running a hakwon when the sajang/wonjang is a small businessman who has never even learnt English and thinks that honouring contracts cuts into his profits unacceptably, for example. |
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soviet_man
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Hmm. Maybe I should be clearer. ECCs in Seoul are (to my knowledge) managed directly from YBM head office. ECCs outside of Seoul, including the satellite cities, are generally run as franchises, which means that the ECC brand and curriculum has been bought, but apart from some general organisational features the owner-operator is free to run their business as they see fit. This is where the horror stories tend to come from. |
As I know, Gangnam ECC is a franchise. It is not company owned.
There are actually 8 YBM branches in Gangnam:
Chungdam ECC, Banpo ECC, Gangnam YBM ELS, Gangnam e4u, YBM PSA Apgujeong, YBM CCA in Gangnam, YBM ELS Yeoksam - these are all company owned.
But "Gangnam ECC" is not company owned. Infact anyone from YBM who uses a yahoo address (as they are using) is clearly from a franchise - not head office.
It is true that nearly all of the YBM ECC's in Seoul are company-owned. I think Gangnam ECC and Gimpo ECC are the only franchised branches left, although there may be one or two others (I think possibly one in Incheon). |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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| soviet_man wrote: |
As I know, Gangnam ECC is a franchise. It is not company owned.
There are actually 8 YBM branches in Gangnam:
Chungdam ECC, Banpo ECC, Gangnam YBM ELS, Gangnam e4u, YBM PSA Apgujeong, YBM CCA in Gangnam, YBM ELS Yeoksam - these are all company owned.
But "Gangnam ECC" is not company owned. Infact anyone from YBM who uses a yahoo address (as they are using) is clearly from a franchise - not head office.
It is true that nearly all of the YBM ECC's in Seoul are company-owned. I think Gangnam ECC and Gimpo ECC are the only franchised branches left, although there may be one or two others (I think possibly one in Incheon). |
Ah - very good point. And my mistake. This is the list off the ybmecc.co.kr website of branches in Seoul. I think the website only lists the company owned ones.
Banpo
Jungye
Kwangmyeong
Mokdong
Sangye
Seokchon
Seokgye
Ssangmun
Sungbuk
Yeongdeungpo
Chongdam
Dongdaemun
Kangdong
Songpa
Junior Nowon
English Village
Suwon English Village |
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mastap
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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Last edited by mastap on Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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| mastap wrote: |
| so that means even the large schools at Jongno and Kangnam are franchises? does that make them less reliable as employers since they might not follow all company rules? |
It means you better check carefully.
Read the contract VERY carefully BEFORE you sign on the dotted line.
Talk to current or past teachers and get SPECIFIC answers to questions like:
-What are the hours? (start time / stop time / breaks).
-How many classes per day, week, month? NOT hour many hours per month. 110 classroom hours can mean anything from 110-165 CLASSES per month. That is a lot of extra time in the classroom for low pay.
-Do they ALWAYS pay on time?
-Do they pay at the end of your month or do they have a hold back period (5-10 days after your month end) to prevent runners? (no=red flag 1)
-Do they really pay overtime or avoid it with creative book keeping?
-Do you get credit for classes on the national holidays or do you get the day off but still have to work your 120 hours before you get overtime? (no=red flag 2)
-Do they have national medical (with the little booklet)? (no=red flag 3)
-Do they pay into pension? (no=red flag 4)
-What about the holidays? 10 or more WORKING days? (legal requirement here) (no=red flag 5)
-When and how do you get your holidays? One or two days at a time scattered over the year or week long blocks? Who decides when you get your holidays?
-What extra stuff do you really have to do - mentioned or not in the contract.
-Then consider the quality of life issues - things that are important to you that aren't mentioned here (housing, furnishings, THE BATHROOM, access to recreational facilities, shopping, banking).
Do they take additional deposits in addition to the delay in payday? (yes=red flag 6)
Starry eyed newbies often sign the first contract that comes their way and 3 months later, when they discover they are getting seriously ripped off they come here bitching and whining that they signed a bad deal.
Take your time and do it right the first time. It will make your year a whole lot more enjoyable. |
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