Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ibu]

I have a contract offer from this school.

Does anyone have an opinion on this school or know where I could find out some information on the place?

I am waiting for the school to reply with some info but I would like an outside opinion if possible.

I cant find it anywhere on the searches.

[bassexpander]

Other EG schools are owned by the same person, named Jung. Worth a read, I suppose. Someone said that the term "EG" is not a searchable term on here, because they are a paying advertiser, and have threatened to stop paying due to negative comments. Not sure I believe everything I read, though.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=37456&highlight=Kangnam

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=20747&highlight=Jung

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=106320&highlight=Kangnam

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=52852&highlight=Kangnam

[garykasparov]

I cannot speak for the reputation of the school. It may be worth your time to ask questions to the foreign teachers (present and past). For example;

( 1 ) What are your working hours? (Including the times you prepare for classes & breaks)
( 2 ) How many classes do you teach per week?
( 3 ) Does your employer always pay overtime wages?
( 4 ) Does your employer pay the employees on time?
( 5 ) Does your employer provide a pay receipt that clearly defines (1) wages (2) all deductions and (3) income tax?
( 6 ) Does your employer pay in cash or by electronic deposit?
( 7 ) Has your employer provided you with a health insurance card?
( 8 ) Does your employer pay into the Korean Pension Plan?
( 9 ) Does your employer deduct the correct amount for income taxes from employee's monthy salary?
( 10 ) Does your employer always pay teachers their severance pay?
( 11 ) Were you satisfied with your living conditions when you arrived in Korea?
( 12 ) Is the school in financial trouble?
( 13 ) How many teachers work at the school?
( 14 ) How many students attend the school?
( 15 ) What discipline methods does your employer use towards the students?
( 16 ) Does your employer have a reputation of firing employees for the sole purpose of not paying last months wages, airfare and severance pay?

[ibu]

Cheers bassexpander for that info... and also to Garykasparov for the questions... they are extremely helpful.

Many thanks. You guys are stars...

Ideally I want to be situated in Incheon, but I need the best deal which will work out mostly for me but also the employers. I shall post more queries as the prop up but so far thank you. Not every experience is a terrible or perfect one but knowing how to disseminate from trolls or bullcrap speakers helps.

Cheers again

ibu

[PGF]

[Aussiekimchi]

If it is the one near Incheon city Hall...Mr Park the VP there is a pretty good bloke....unorganised..but nice.

[Ruraljuror]

I can tell you I was completely miserable for the year I worked at EG. Absolutely miserable. I didn't work for the Incheon branch, but I can tell you that the "EG Style" is that *everyone*, students and teachers, must work HARD. Their advertisizing promises mothers that no hagwon in Korea gives out more homework. Which means a) the kids are miserable and b) you have an unbelievable amount of homework to grade every day. There are 2 tests every class, plus essays, plus writing notebooks, etc. You will spend 2-3 hours everyday grading homework, unpaid. You will never have a day with less that 2 hours grading, and some days you will have much more. I had to take work home with me probably 2 nights a week.

And on top of that, while the teachers are all absolutely breaking under all the work, the hagwon director is constantly cracking the whip telling everyone how poor the teaching is, how the kids and the moms are complaining, and how he was constantly on the verge of firing some foreign teachers. And of course, you will get called into his office in between classes so you can spend your 5 minute break listening to that maniac complain about how you took too long taking attendance, or that there were kids who spoke Korean in your class. There are cameras and microphones in every room for a reason...you ARE being evaluated in every class, every day. And here's the funny thing: despite all of the abuse heaped on the teachers, my branch nearly DOUBLED in enrollment during the 12 months I was there. The man has become incredibly rich by riding his teachers like farm animals, but still didn't say a single pleasant word to any foreign teacher that I heard during the year I was there. Only complaints and threats.

To be honest, writing this has brought up all of these memories again and I feel pretty depressed...that may have been the most unpleasant 12 months of my life. There are good things about EG, the kids are high level and well behaved and your money is always on time, but I STRONGLY advise against teaching there unless the money is just impossible to turn down. But if it's only an industry standard wage, RUN -- don't walk -- away from the offer. Take a job with less work and less stress.

[ibu]

[Aussiekimchi]

nope

[Return Jones]

[ibu]

That bad eh? I heard the guy in the Incheon place was alright.
Thanks for the feedback on the other schools... its the weekend and I have sent a long list of questions to a current member of staff there... if he replies or not is a different kettle of fish altogether.

I am looking into lots of different schools also.

[Return Jones]