Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DollyD]

Hi.
We're currently working at Kid's College Geochang and are keen to contact other Kid's College teachers for idea swapping, topic help and advice etc - also some story swapping!

Thanks

[alabamaman]

[Peeping Tom]

I wasn't too impressed with my Kid's College hakwon - my first position in Korea. I definitely wouldn't work for them again.

Of course, that isn't what you were asking, so my comment is pretty useless.

[hugo_danner]

I was in a contract with them in 1996. It was VERY bad then, and doesn't seem to have improved a bit! Lies, BS and pure garbage then and now!

[wylies99]

Kids College is a chain hogwan that routinely cheats teachers out of pay, benefits, and abuses the legal system to chase good teachers out of Korea. Stay away from Kids College.

OP- do you REALLY want to swap stories about working at Kids College? Most will be horror stories about no pay, bad housing, long hours, and no benefits.

[DollyD]

thanks for all your comments guys. It hasn't been so bad so far. We're in a new school in Geochang and the owner is pretty nice. I was actually trying to locate some other Kid's College teachers to see if any of them are taking a pre-school class (Korean age 4). It was lamped on me on Tuesday - Happy New Year!
I feel bad on these kids. they can't even hold a pencil, most of them are in nappies (diapers) and I am supposed to teach them when really I think they should be allowed to play for the next year and a half of their life before school comes into it. But I am new to this whole thing and I could be totally wrong.

[wylies99]

DollyD- You are a teacher at a Kids College? For how long? If you just started, are you getting all of your pay and benefits? My guess is NO.


And, you TEACH English to preschoolers? Goo-goo, ga-ga?

[robyn1882]

Dollyd..I worked for Kids College in Apgujeong this summer and ended up breaking my contract because the director and the head teacher were the two biggest crooks I have ever met in my life. I taught 3-5 year olds and it was a nightmare at first b/c they are so young and its so hard to teach them for 5 hrs a day. However, i found that routine was the BEST thing in the world. I basically did the same thing everyday in the same order. I would go over colors, feelings, go around the table and have each child ask the next "how are you today. I am fine thank you," and then turn and do it again. I sat them in the same seat everyday, and when i noticed there were getting a little squirmy I would play a Raphie song and have them "get their giggles out". I found the babies really responed well to routine and knowing what they were going to to everyday.

[DollyD]

Thank you Robyn.

I needed some advice. I was teaching the older Kindergarten class before the Christmas break (they're Korean age 6) and found it a lot easier. It's not that I am opposed to younger children, I just wasn't expecting it and was never told that I would be expected to teach such young children.
You said you broke your contract? Was that hard? Have you been in korea for long?
I have only been here for six months and one recruiter advised me against breaking my contract as no reputable Hogwans would be interested in me teaching for them if I did.
I really can't see myself doing this new class long term. I will give it my best shot but it's not at all what I want.
Thanks again
And Wylie. Yes, I have been paid bang on time every month,have a nice apartment and got a Christmas bonus! It's a really nice school that has a nice owner - I just don't want to teach three year olds...

[robyn1882]

I was only in Korea for the summer. I broke my contract because after I arrived my director started changing my contract, and the head teacher broke into my apartment and stole over $5000 worth of stuff. We had no help in the situation because the director was doing things illegally at her school and didn't want cops involved. So after that I left. I am waiting for my Visa to run out now so I can come back...and not teach kindergarten I didnt find it hard to break my contract because the director treated us so badly that we didnt feel bad leaving. Had it been a school like yours ans we were treated well I would have felt bad doing what I did. I loved Korea and teaching, and the ppl I worked with, but I jsut chose the wrong school and believed people that I should have know were only trying to make a buck off me.

[Milwaukiedave]

I have taught kids that are (Korean) age 4. Keep in mind that really means they are 3 1/2-4. I'm sure the owner will probably provide a book and expect you to teach them much more then they are capable of learning at that age.

Granted at that age they do catch on pretty quick and their mind absorbs like sponges. However, there attention span is that of a nat. The best thing you can do is use lots of songs, coloring materials where they can color and say words.

See if you can get the owner to give you a Korean teacher to help you (at least for purposes of keeping them under control) so that you don't go crazy. If you don't have a Korean teacher in the class with you, your going to want to jump off a bridge by the end of the year. It makes a BIG difference.

Honestly here's how I feel about teaching preschoolers: NEVER AGAIN!

[TheUrbanMyth]