|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
huck
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
|
 Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: ...but don't you want to live a little? |
 |
|
| sjk1128 wrote: |
I used to hang out with a guy who worked at CDI. He drank a lot on weekend nights and was always trashed long before I went home. He had to teach something like 30 hours a week, had to work on Sundays, and had these ridiculously long "camp" hours when public school was on vacation. He also seemed to have piles of paperwork and lived in a typical bachelor apartment of about 10 pyong. He said the money and job security made it worth it, so I said nothing to him after the first time I tried to convince him to change jobs on his next contract.
I work at a public school, teach 24 hours a week (although it averages more like 20 because of weekly cancellations), never work on weekends, and am on vacation when public school is on vacation. I live in a 33 pyong apartment. Plus, I can teach English and not worry about satisfying little Minsoo's mom: There are no paying customers at public school so there's a lot less hassle. Your paycheck will be there unless the Korean government fails - in which case we'll all be leaving. I don't have to do any grading or evaluations unless I choose to, and I only write 6 lesson plans a week.
I'm making over 40 million this year including the camp job I worked during one of our vacations. I just can't imagine enough money being paid by CDI for me to jusitfy living in a rat hole, working long hours and having no real vacation. Even if they pay 34-35k for 30 hours a week, that's still less than 50m for the year. Isn't their vacation unpaid too? If I had to have more money, I could just work another camp during winter vacation. Instead, I think I'll just go hang out in Palau for a month.
I think the secret to making money and living a decent life as an EFL teacher in Korea is finding a job with the least contact hours and the most paid vacation time possible. This is why I'll be finding a good university job as soon as I finish my master's next year. Meanwhile, a good public school job seems like the best compromise, and they're far from all full. |
You're saying CDI made this guy drink heavily during the week, or are you saying CDI is a good place to work because you can drink during the week, and you don't have to wake up at 730am to go teach?
CDI doesn't choose your apartment. You choose your own.
The "long camp hours" you refer to are summer and winter intensive classes, which most hogwans have, and for the most part, the instructors who do them volunteer to do so because of the money.
Hmm..I'm not going to go through the rest of your post, but I just wanted to mention that it's full of logical fallacies, which is something that we're teaching in one of my classes this week. The reason I enjoy teaching at CDI is because I actually feel like I'm teaching, and that the students are learning and improving, and that I'm doing a good job....I like teaching.
I couldn't imagine working in an elementary school where you only see students of various levels all crammed together into a giant classroom. How much do they actually learn from you? Are you just here for the money and you just play in the classroom (it's okay if you are..most people are only here for the money)? Do you actually notice a difference in your students' ability throughout the term?
Everyone has different reasons for choosing a job...If you've never worked at CDI, then I'm not sure how you can give advice about it. It's not always the best place to work, especially if you go to a branch/franchise where your FM or HI's suck, or where you're teaching 3 full days, and 3 half days each week...but those are isolated incidents, and for the most part, (the good) instructors generally seem happy at CDI. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Beezo44
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
|
| Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:36 pm Post subject: $$$ |
|
|
| Hey do you guys know if i would be able to get at leats a minimum of 2.1 million Won? I don't have teaching experience but have the option to teach back home in nyc. I figure i'd give working abroad a try before i start teaching back home. I do have experience in the classroom but not as an official teacher. I am sure i can pull a littl;e more money than this. What do you guys think? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sjk1128
Joined: 04 Feb 2005
|
| Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
He seemed to only be here for the money. That's the point of my post. He had 5 minute breaks between classes and taught 6-7 of them during the days. He also had to work on Sunday mornings and those crazy hours during "camps."
I work Mon-Fri 8:30 to 4:30. My classes range in size from 7 to 17 students. I see the students for 4-5 classes a week, know them all by name, and get 11 weeks vacation.
I'm just saying there are better things out there if you take the time look for the job.
To each his own. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Masta_Don
Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Location: Hyehwa-dong, Seoul
|
| Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:15 pm Post subject: Re: ...but don't you want to live a little? |
|
|
| huck wrote: |
CDI doesn't choose your apartment. You choose your own.
|
I wish that were true. I got stuck paying 500,000/month for a place out in Cheonho. I knew people that were paying 200,000, although they were smaller places. Tried to get out of it but since they'd signed a lease agreement, they wouldn't let me move. And when I asked why they put me in such an expensive place, they claimed it was to lessen the blow of culture shock (by forcing me to pay more rent?). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
huck
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 4:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
| sjk1128 wrote: |
He seemed to only be here for the money. That's the point of my post. He had 5 minute breaks between classes and taught 6-7 of them during the days. He also had to work on Sunday mornings and those crazy hours during "camps."
I work Mon-Fri 8:30 to 4:30. My classes range in size from 7 to 17 students. I see the students for 4-5 classes a week, know them all by name, and get 11 weeks vacation.
I'm just saying there are better things out there if you take the time look for the job.
To each his own. |
ahh...you do have a good job. I didn't know there were public elementary jobs that were that English-intensive..my apologies if I sounded like I was attacking you personally (which, when I re-read it, it does)...To each his own, as you said... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
huck
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 4:34 am Post subject: Re: ...but don't you want to live a little? |
|
|
| Masta_Don wrote: |
| huck wrote: |
CDI doesn't choose your apartment. You choose your own.
|
I wish that were true. I got stuck paying 500,000/month for a place out in Cheonho. I knew people that were paying 200,000, although they were smaller places. Tried to get out of it but since they'd signed a lease agreement, they wouldn't let me move. And when I asked why they put me in such an expensive place, they claimed it was to lessen the blow of culture shock (by forcing me to pay more rent?). |
Was it a franchise? I know that the CDI branches employ a realtor who "tries" to help new teachers find places, but I've never heard of that happening to any teacher that I've worked with. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Roch
Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 4:59 am Post subject: Re: ...but don't you want to live a little? |
|
|
| huck wrote: |
| sjk1128 wrote: |
I used to hang out with a guy who worked at CDI. He drank a lot on weekend nights and was always trashed long before I went home. He had to teach something like 30 hours a week, had to work on Sundays, and had these ridiculously long "camp" hours when public school was on vacation. He also seemed to have piles of paperwork and lived in a typical bachelor apartment of about 10 pyong. He said the money and job security made it worth it, so I said nothing to him after the first time I tried to convince him to change jobs on his next contract.
I work at a public school, teach 24 hours a week (although it averages more like 20 because of weekly cancellations), never work on weekends, and am on vacation when public school is on vacation. I live in a 33 pyong apartment. Plus, I can teach English and not worry about satisfying little Minsoo's mom: There are no paying customers at public school so there's a lot less hassle. Your paycheck will be there unless the Korean government fails - in which case we'll all be leaving. I don't have to do any grading or evaluations unless I choose to, and I only write 6 lesson plans a week.
I'm making over 40 million this year including the camp job I worked during one of our vacations. I just can't imagine enough money being paid by CDI for me to jusitfy living in a rat hole, working long hours and having no real vacation. Even if they pay 34-35k for 30 hours a week, that's still less than 50m for the year. Isn't their vacation unpaid too? If I had to have more money, I could just work another camp during winter vacation. Instead, I think I'll just go hang out in Palau for a month.
I think the secret to making money and living a decent life as an EFL teacher in Korea is finding a job with the least contact hours and the most paid vacation time possible. This is why I'll be finding a good university job as soon as I finish my master's next year. Meanwhile, a good public school job seems like the best compromise, and they're far from all full. |
You're saying CDI made this guy drink heavily during the week, or are you saying CDI is a good place to work because you can drink during the week, and you don't have to wake up at 730am to go teach?
CDI doesn't choose your apartment. You choose your own.
The "long camp hours" you refer to are summer and winter intensive classes, which most hogwans have, and for the most part, the instructors who do them volunteer to do so because of the money.
Hmm..I'm not going to go through the rest of your post, but I just wanted to mention that it's full of logical fallacies, which is something that we're teaching in one of my classes this week. The reason I enjoy teaching at CDI is because I actually feel like I'm teaching, and that the students are learning and improving, and that I'm doing a good job....I like teaching.
I couldn't imagine working in an elementary school where you only see students of various levels all crammed together into a giant classroom. How much do they actually learn from you? Are you just here for the money and you just play in the classroom (it's okay if you are..most people are only here for the money)? Do you actually notice a difference in your students' ability throughout the term?
Everyone has different reasons for choosing a job...If you've never worked at CDI, then I'm not sure how you can give advice about it. It's not always the best place to work, especially if you go to a branch/franchise where your FM or HI's suck, or where you're teaching 3 full days, and 3 half days each week...but those are isolated incidents, and for the most part, (the good) instructors generally seem happy at CDI. |
How very forking logical!
You refuse to address the points of the Poster's reply yet you claim to know her/his argument.
Nice.
This sort of nonsense causes this White Bread Mo-Fo to wonder if you are for real.
R |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
huck
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
Which points? Which poster - sjk1128?
If someone enjoys where they work, then why do you have problem with it? I don't understand why you'd be so angry at a place where you don't work...
His points...He knew a guy who drank a lot who worked at CDI..More than likely, the guy probably drank before he started working at CDI.
Most hogwans (not universities) teach 30 hours per week.
Some teachers work on Sundays, but most teachers only work 5 days a week. Usually, the Sunday classes are the higher-level, better-paying classes. Sometimes new teachers get stuck doing it. In general, the better teachers probably get first choice of whether they want to do weekends...which is pretty fair.
Intensives can be voluntary. Last summer, only the people who wanted to had to do them...and a couple of teachers who wanted to couldn't because there weren't enough classes.
Apartment...Every teacher that I know has chosen their own apartment.
7 days of vacation per year does suck...But you can take a 3-month UPAID term break...But everyone knows that going in, when they sign their contracts.
The majority of hogwans (not the special ones that most people can't find) make their teachers teach at least 30 hours per week, some include split shifts, and they only give you 2 weeks paid vacation...The difference in money is worth it.
So, why are you so angry, Mr. Roch/Mrs. Roch/Rochy? Let's hear the bad things that happened to you while you were working for CDI...This is the place for horror stories...Unless you failed training or the grammar test, which would be a pretty horribly sad story in itself.
And sjk1128...like I said, I apologize for responding to your posting in a rude way...I didn't want to do this either, but it appeared as if Roch wanted some answers... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
garykasparov
Joined: 27 May 2007
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I wonder how the new E2 Visa regulations will affect CDI? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
huck
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| What are the new E2 visa regulations? One of my friends mentioned something about how we have to go home and interview at the nearest consulate?!?! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Masta_Don
Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Location: Hyehwa-dong, Seoul
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:24 pm Post subject: Re: ...but don't you want to live a little? |
|
|
| huck wrote: |
| Masta_Don wrote: |
| huck wrote: |
CDI doesn't choose your apartment. You choose your own.
|
I wish that were true. I got stuck paying 500,000/month for a place out in Cheonho. I knew people that were paying 200,000, although they were smaller places. Tried to get out of it but since they'd signed a lease agreement, they wouldn't let me move. And when I asked why they put me in such an expensive place, they claimed it was to lessen the blow of culture shock (by forcing me to pay more rent?). |
Was it a franchise? I know that the CDI branches employ a realtor who "tries" to help new teachers find places, but I've never heard of that happening to any teacher that I've worked with. |
Yeah franchise. They moved one of co-workers into an expensive roach-infested, scummy officetel and he was able to complain enough that they moved him elsewhere. Since I just wanted to pay less rent they wouldn't hear it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Beezo44
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 11:15 am Post subject: $ |
|
|
| Hey do you guys know if i would be able to get at leats a minimum of 2.1 million Won? I don't have teaching experience but have the option to teach back home in nyc. I figure i'd give working abroad a try before i start teaching back home. I do have experience in the classroom but not as an official teacher. I am sure i can pull a littl;e more money than this. What do you guys think? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
huck
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I think salaries for new teachers are based on what level they are trained for, so you could be getting anywhere from 28k/hr - 34k/hr..
If you make 28k/hr, and you work 130 hours/month, then that would be 3,640,000 won...That would be the minimum you could be making for 30 hours a week.
If you only work 24 hours/week, then you'd make about 2.8 million won....minus whatever you pay for housing, so yes...you could make over 2.1 million. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Toon Army
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| garykasparov wrote: |
CDI violates the following acts on a routine basis;
National Pension Act
Korean Labor Standards Act
Immigration Control Act
Nationanl Health Insurance Act
As a company, they should examine and fix these problems. However, I don't see that happening anytime soon. |
are you put on an independent contractor rate if you accept the hourly? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mashimarofan
Joined: 05 Aug 2014
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 11:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Voyeur wrote: |
People need to remember that it is all relative.
The problem with CDI is that all their training and propoganda establish this expectation that it is professional in a way that say a Fortune 500 company in America is professional (ofc even at that company stupidity will abound - as it does everywhere).
And then CDI disapoints these expectations - esp. now since expansion has diluted so many things and generally lowered quality.
BUT ignoring performace compared to the false expectations CDI itself sets, CDI is still one of the best places to work. Forget about their propaganda and compare it to Hogwons and Public Schools in Korea in general. Sure bad things happen - worse stuff happens elsewehere.
As long as you aren't taking one of the 2.0 to 2.3 million monthly contracts or 25k to 27k hourly packages ofc. CDI sucks at those rates.
And btw hours just are not that long once you know how to prep. quickly - or eventually not prep at all. |
I'll be doing the 28k hourly...does that still meet up with the bad rate scale? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
