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List of major Korean English hagwon franchises?
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jay-shi



Joined: 09 May 2004
Location: On tour

PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 8:32 am    Post subject: List of major Korean English hagwon franchises? Reply with quote

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have a list of the major, and maybe not so major, English hagwon franchises in Korea?

I could also really use your opinion of them, good, bad or just plain ugly.

Curriculum, quality of their textbooks, working hours, working conditions, housing, paperwork, etc...

I think the topic has been covered before, if anyone could point me into things previously posted, I could really use the information.

Any and all info would be useful.

Thanks
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twg



Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Location: Getting some fresh air...

PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Every franchise tends to be different depending upon the owner. I do know that, for the most part, a franchise gets nothing from the company but the rights to the name. But making a comprehensive list like you want would be difficult unless it comes from the people working there.

I mean, we've all heard the Prisoner of Wonderland stories, but I've met people working at some Wonderland franchises that were happy cats.

But I can only think of four off the top of my head right now

Kids Herald
ECC
Wonderland
Little Fox
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ilovebdt



Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Location: Nr Seoul

PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 6:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

GnB
Ding Ding Dang
SLP
Toss English

ilovebdt
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B-Teacher



Joined: 09 Nov 2006

PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 6:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't forget:

Ewha
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wylies99



Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!

PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I mean, we've all heard the Prisoner of Wonderland stories, but I've met people working at some Wonderland franchises that were happy cats.


With all of the horror stories about Wonderland franchises, why would any poster encourage others to work at a Wonderland? Rolling Eyes

BE SMART-STAY AWAY from big hogwan chains- especially Wonderland and any of the Herald chains. Better safe than sorry.
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khyber



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction

PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

BCM (or Min Byoung Chul)

a franchise so every situation is different. And really, it's all about your relationship with (AND about your) boss.
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wylies99



Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!

PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 8:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
And really, it's all about your relationship with (AND about your) boss.


Everyone is free to do whatever they choose. If you choose to ignore advice and blacklists and horror stories, well, that's up to you. Maybe you'll get lucky- MAYBE.
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jay-shi



Joined: 09 May 2004
Location: On tour

PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 6:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks to those who listed some of the big chains, if anyone knows of others please do share.

I am very interested in the curriculum and the textbooks these big chains use. Also how much leeway there is in deviating from the set (imposed) curriculum.

For the record, I am happily employed at the moment and not looking to jump ship anytime soon. I am also not looking to encourage, condone or condemn any of the practices of these chains. I am simply interested in how they operate.

Thanks
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twg



Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Location: Getting some fresh air...

PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 7:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

wylies99 wrote:
Quote:
I mean, we've all heard the Prisoner of Wonderland stories, but I've met people working at some Wonderland franchises that were happy cats.


With all of the horror stories about Wonderland franchises, why would any poster encourage others to work at a Wonderland? Rolling Eyes

BE SMART-STAY AWAY from big hogwan chains- especially Wonderland and any of the Herald chains. Better safe than sorry.

As I said, they're franchises. The level of crap is totally up to the franchise owner.
Quote:

Everyone is free to do whatever they choose. If you choose to ignore advice and blacklists and horror stories, well, that's up to you. Maybe you'll get lucky- MAYBE.


I worked at a Kids Herald several years ago. I was treated very well and had no problems in the slightest from management. You can't go by a name alone. You need to talk to the employees to get the real deal.
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braunshade



Joined: 19 Apr 2006
Location: Somewhere better!

PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 7:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

CDI
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Oreovictim



Joined: 23 Aug 2006

PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 8:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I work at an Oh Sung Sik English Club. I've heard bad things about them, but my job is pretty cool. It helps that my director is probably the coolest boss that I've ever had.
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wylies99



Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!

PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I worked at a Kids Herald several years ago. I was treated very well and had no problems in the slightest from management. You can't go by a name alone. You need to talk to the employees to get the real deal.


Rolling Eyes Where there's smoke, there's fire.

twg- which Kids Herald?

Oh, and twg- I did work at a Kids Herald aka "hogwan hell", in Hwajeong. Not a few years ago- a few MONTHS ago. Yep, I'm an "employee" you can "talk to to get the real deal." In fact, I've already posted the details so that others can avoid this nightmare. Care to read on?

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=60381&highlight=hell


twg- do you own a hogwan or serve as a director? Be honest.
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twg



Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Location: Getting some fresh air...

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

wylies99 wrote:
Where there's smoke, there's fire.

Where there's a bad hagwon owner, there's a pissed off employee. If the companies (Herald, ECC, etc) are to be blamed, it's for renting their names to any shiftless wonjangnim willing to pay, regardless of their lack of decency or business sense. The companies don't give a crap about the franchises beyond the money they collect from them

Bu the simple fact remains that they're just names. The management is the key. Bad management will be bad management, even if the place was called "Pay Wylies99 Teacher A Million Dollars Every Day Hagwon"

Quote:
Oh, and twg- I did work at a Kids Herald aka "hogwan hell", in Hwajeong.

Then no one should work at that one. Pretty simple, huh?

Quote:
Be honest.

No, that would be bad for everyone.


Last edited by twg on Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:05 am; edited 1 time in total
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Roch



Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

B-Teacher wrote:
Don't forget:

Ewha


word.
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Roch



Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

twg wrote:
wylies99 wrote:
Quote:
I mean, we've all heard the Prisoner of Wonderland stories, but I've met people working at some Wonderland franchises that were happy cats.


With all of the horror stories about Wonderland franchises, why would any poster encourage others to work at a Wonderland? :roll:

BE SMART-STAY AWAY from big hogwan chains- especially Wonderland and any of the Herald chains. Better safe than sorry.

As I said, they're franchises. The level of crap is totally up to the franchise owner.
Quote:

Everyone is free to do whatever they choose. If you choose to ignore advice and blacklists and horror stories, well, that's up to you. Maybe you'll get lucky- MAYBE.


I worked at a Kids Herald several years ago. I was treated very well and had no problems in the slightest from management. You can't go by a name alone. You need to talk to the employees to get the real deal.


Back in Fall, 2002, you typed on your site that you had KH kids in Bucheon City that made you feel that they were evil. More, I RECALL you stating something to the effect that you were even checkin' out Japan for another go at it, etc., due to their poor manners.
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