Korean Job Discussion Forums

[briochick]

Hello. I recently graduated with a bachelor's in English and Literature and have some esl teaching experience (unpaid). I've decided I want to teach ESL overseas, specifically in Korea. I'm really confused because I'm hearing a lot of great things, and a lot of horrendous things. Presently I'm talking with a group called YBM ECC. Can anyone tell me what they know about this group? Good? Bad? It's a hakwan and they say they'd only stick me in a company school, not a franchise school. They're saying 26 hours a week (which I'm translating to 50 with preparation, would it be even more?), free housing, insurance, bonuses, and severance pay, and 2million to 2.4 million won a month. I figure they're lieing to me a little, but are they lieing a lot? I've started to sign up with AskNow.ca, would it be better to go with them? I'm not afraid of hard work, I just need an hour or two to relax and about eight for sleep, but I'm hoping being a first year ESL teacher won't require 14 hours of work a day. Ah, I really want to do this right, or as right as possible, so honest (not sarcastic) replies are GREATLY welcomed.

[laogaiguk]

It's a big chain. You probably don't have to worry about getting screwed too hard, but it won't be the best of jobs. It's pretty safe, and not too bad for a first time hagwon job.

BTW, what great things did you hear about Korea ??

[briochick]

well, geez, nothing good so far from this forum. I grew up in university housing and most of my neighbors were Korean. My mom nannied a little Korean girl for a while. Also, I've roomed with a Korean in college and met a lot of them (I went to a university that had a very high international student rate, most were korean). Erm, two people in my bible study are esl teachers and have been to other countries. One was in china and she said she loved it, she also said she had friends teaching in Korea who liked it very much. I have an old room mate who's father is an esl teacher in Korea and he seems to enjoy it well enough. So, I've heard some pretty nice things from real people. Of course there's fantastic stories on sites like AskNow but I am distrustful of them since it's a recruiting site.

Thank for thinking I'll not get ripped off too bad. I expect to get ripped off a little but that story on the other thread about the hours. wow. Yeah, I think 50 is my limit, maybe 58 if I work on saturday too. BUT the stuff from the state department and US consolate say the average esl teacher teaches about 30 hours a week...

[Newbie]

Point 1, Koreans overseas are NOTHING like Koreans here. Overseas Koreans are much, much more interesting, dynamic, open minded, friendly, and less xenophobic (generally speaking, of course)

Second, it sounds like you're adding way too many prep hours to your day.

Third, push hard for 2.4. DO NOT settle for less than 2.2

Good luck.

[briochick]

Newbie: you're in Korea? one could say the same thing for Americans abroad. It takes a certain kind of personality to travel to the other side of the world and settle. that being said, I beleive that very few people on the planet are truely uninteresting.

second: the reason I'm adding so many prep hours (in my mind) is because I would hate to get there thinking that I only had to do any work 26 hours a week and find out it's more and be horribly dissillusioned. I'm aware at some point I'll be dissillusioned anyway, I don't want to set myself up for it (which is also why I'm imagining living in a walk-in closet).

third: thank you for that advice. I will try and follow it.

And, thank you.

[alibuch]

Typically with prep time you don't go over 40 hours a week... I don't know anyone who does. I teach 25 hours a week with 2hrs prep time each day (which is more than anyone else I know).

I've heard a few bad things about YBM but each YBM school is going to be different.

[briochick]

Have you heard anything about Yeongdeungpo in Seoul?

They say it's not franchise owned but company owned and it's on their company website...

[briochick]

p.s. what kind of bad things?

[ernie]

if your housing is included, make sure to ask questions about location, the ability to change your apartment, and utilities... i'm getting burned this year paying about $250 per month for 'utilities' (kwalibi: $100, electricity: $15, internets: $35, gas: $50, telephone: $40)

my biggest beef is with 'kwalibi' (aka 'management fee') which is basically a required fleecing every month that covers things like the useless security dude who smokes cigarettes outside my apartment, electricity for the entire building, taxes, insurance and other stuff that in the real world is INCLUDED IN THE PRICE!

[briochick]

oooh, thank you. YBM ECC is saying they'll pay for the appartment but not utilities. should I push for utilities too? or just the managment fee? or just deal?

I've done a lot of reasearch already, read stuff from the state department, read up on locations, statistics, culture, on the basics of what should be in a contract (and you guys are being very helpful in showing me how to pinpoint things), but all the information and advice i can get will be welcome.

Right now I'm going with my first offer. is that a bad idea? I know it's a big school so I wont' be stranded what are the chances that a school that said it would pay 2.4-2.8 and 25 hours a week and room and air fair and severence and holidays and healthcare would be kind of a scam?

[mnhnhyouh]

I went for an interview with YBM and the kind of splits they were offering put me off..... 6am to 10 am then 6pm to 10pm. Yuk. Ask about this, and if they wont give it to you in writing you may be facing something like this.

h

[briochick]

thanks. I'll ask.

[ernie]

i would use the kwalibi fee as leverage to get an extra 100 000W/month... explain to them that since it is NOT a utility (i.e. you can't use more or less of it), you expect it to be paid by them...

[briochick]

ooooh, that's an idea. And...all this needs to be specifically in the contract? I think that's what I'm hearing; have it in the contract, have it in the contract, read your contract.

And since I don't actually have a contract yet I have time to take you guys' advice.

[alibuch]

briochick: I heard problems about getting paid on time and the split shifts thing that was mentioned by someone else.

Also, I don't know anyone teaching here who's utilities are paid for. Utilities are cheap. Water runs me about $15 every two months, electric $30/month (more during summer for air con), $5 for gas/month. It's not bad.