Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lil Linz]

My boyfriend and I are trying to find jobs in South Korea and we've had some offers from some schools. I've read some bad things about schools run by the same companies but in different parts of Korea. So does that mean the school we've been offered jobs at will be okay, or should I be wary of all schools associated with the company?

The schools are Kim School in Gwangju City, GNB Pyangchong, and Little America in Daejong.

Also does anyone know if Planet People are a good recruiter. They are looking into something for us and I want to know if I can trust them.

Thanks for your help!

Lil Linz

[Juggertha]

[rapier]

They're probably not Okay- they're in korea aren't they? You just have to hope for the best and make the best of whatever profiteering sweatshop you end up in. good luck.

[shawner88]

Oh my god! Not those schools! Run!!!!!!!!!!!! Run far and fast!!!!!!!!!!

[slap it]

GNB and Little America have bad reps overall..............Kims School? Man...............have the people in Korea are Kims.....so who's school is it?

[schwa]

I cant speak to the specific academies you list but all 3 by association raise warning flags. Decent franchises within bad chains do exist, but if this is the best your recruiter can come up with they sound like bottom-feeders. Be careful. Without solid convincing contact with happy campers already there, dont sign anything.

Shop around. Youre not beholden to any recruiter (& whatever they might promise theyre likely to forget you as soon as they place you). Do-it-yourself is preferable.

[purrrfect]

There are positives and negatives about both kinds of hagwons (a chain school or a smaller, privately owned one).

With a chain school, you probably won't have to worry about being paid on time, and there is usually a set curriculum. This means you don't have to spend as much time with lesson preparation. On the other hand, it means there's less flexibility.

With a privately owned hagwon, you (probably) wouldn't have to worry about directives being passed down from a distant, unapproachable company president, and there would likely be more flexibility in terms of structuring your lessons the way you want. The downside is that there's more of a risk of the school going bankrupt or of being screwed over.

I'm assuming this will be your first time teaching in Korea; if so, I'd recommend going with a bigger chain school. The bigger schools are easier to check up on (and get people's opinions on) from a distance. I wouldn't recommend a smaller school unless you were able to check it out personally. As for the reputations of the big companies? It varies from school to school. One branch of a school might be rife with problems, but teachers at another branch might be perfectly happy. Regardless, getting paid (on time, the proper amount, etc.) is the biggest area where people tend to have problems, and to avoid this you're better off with a bigger school with the proper resources.

Good luck!