Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jsiegel]

I'm looking into a school called Moon Kkang English School. They have quite a few schools located in Degu and a few in a suburb of Seoul. Has anyone worked in one of these schools? In an email they mentioned a school called Young Jae which is a school for higher level students. They said that position would require some lesson planning for the classes. I am currently an elementary teacher, so the lesson planning doesn't worry me too much. If anyone has any experience with these schools let me know. Thanks!

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Seoulsista and her boyfriend worked for the larger one in Daegu, and I have a Korean friend who works for the smaller one in Daegu, closer to Daeguk. I've met a few other teachers here and there who've also worked at one of the Daegu branches. The general consenses seems to be that it's all right but a bit over-rated. Their biggest complaint is about the classrooms being too small for the size of the classes, and a lack of A/V rescources. One of my co-worker's sons goes to the larger one and his English is very impressive for a grade 3 middle school student, which suggests that they must be doing something right, because I can tell you that he sure didn't learn his English from his parents.

[the eye]

They offer better than average pay and decent apartments. The workload can be spread over 5 or 6 days.
There is very little prep required as the lessons are produced for you by the editing department.
The owner has some eccentriciies apparently.

[dmbfan]

Anyone know about a school name Youngmoon Academy in Deagu, which used to be part of Moonkkang?


dmbfan

[Pak Yu Man]

When I was in daegu I had friends who worked for both ( I hope there is only 2). They had nothing bad to say about their school except the usual compliants. I guess for a hakwon that's a good thing. One of the guys thought he was making huge $$ cause he was making over 3 mil and working like 6000 hours a week.
I heard they give you lots of overtime if you want it.

[ginger7]

I currently work for MoonKkang and I have nothing but positive things to say about the company and its schools. I have had no problem communicating with any of the managers, the Reinforcement Team is always helpful, the Foreign Teacher manager is a great guy and gives free Korean lessons, my manager at my branch is one of the genuinely nicest people I have ever met, my apartment is great, the neighborhood is awesome...should I go on? Really, it's a great position, especially for a new teacher with little or no experience. There are so many foreign teachers in Daegu who work for MoonKkang, you'll have no problem making friends and finding your own social scene.

The only problem is that most of the schools are in Daegu. And Daegu as a city BLOWS. It's just mountains, large white apartment buildings and backwards people who couldn't be progressive even if they suddenly found themselves in a Renaissance. There isn't much to do here...

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[ginger7]

That sucks, dude. How do you survive?

I actually used to work with SeoulSista and her boyfriend before they moved back west. Same schools.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[TOMODACHI-KID]

"Jsiegel,"

Don't forget to keep in mind--Daegu's summers ! Best wishes on your decision....

[butlerian]

I like Daegu. Good location too - easy to get to Seoul or Busan by KTX.

[seoulsista]

Hi YBS and Ginger.

MK's fine as far as hagwons in Korea go. You will get paid on time and what you are due (for the most part - let's see if I get the money they owe us). I would stay away from the branches in Sang-in due to the partial ownership of the managers. There tend to be more class size, pandering, and student behavior issues at these branches than the other MKs.

YBS, sorry if I made my current job seem so bad. In terms of pay, hours, atmosphere - it rocks. Lack of fullfillment is what I was referring to.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Glad to hear it's not so bad. Are you sick of Americans yet?

[jazblanc77]