Korean Job Discussion Forums

Ray del Mundo · Joined: 16 May 2007 Location: Korea

Anyone know anything about this school? It's an adult hagwan. Nice comments about Gumi on the site, but nothing on this specific school. Thanks.

mhills · Joined: 24 Aug 2005

Hi...

I worked at Global Language School. They ripped me off 2 and a bit million won. They are an adult school and will make you work a split shift. I started at 6am and had my last class at 9pm-10pm. They will also make you work company classes. Which means you have to taxi to the company and try and get them to reimburse you later. I was teaching 10 hours of classes a day, good overtime. You would think so. But in months that had more than 20 teaching days, i didn't get paid. I was told it was my duty to teach those days. Also the books suck. The owner is a *beep*. I went to the labor office to file a complaint, but found out his cousin was in charge. So nothing happened. The year after I left they hired 24 teachers, 18 of them did runners.

Gumi is a nice enough place, can be a bit quiet. But most of the other teachers are nice.

All I can say is..... Don't go to this school.

PM me if you want more details.

c_malinow · Joined: 13 Apr 2009

Hi, how can I contact you? I want to ask more questions about the school you are talking about, but I can't PM you because I need to post 25 times or something like that. Do you think the school has changed since then? I think it might be the same one I am starting work for.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

I doubt very much that they have "changed". I haven't worked there, but I have worked for similar type hagwans. These places don't change as a rule, they just get new suckers to replace the last people they've ripped off. They generally hire newbies and then work them like dogs until they quit or until it's convenient to fire them. ( like the 11th month).

c_malinow · Joined: 13 Apr 2009

That is very disappointing to hear. When I had my phone interview, the interviewer seemed reasonable and nice. It's an adult language school and I will be teaching adults at companies during the day. It sounds pretty good to me. I just signed the contract, so I guess I will just have to deal with it now. Can you be more specific about what types of problems you had. You said you had to work a lot, but they paid you for it right?

Scouse Mouse · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Location: Cloud #9

This is a 2 year old post, so a reply is unlikely. A few things to note though...

c_malinow · Joined: 13 Apr 2009

gee thanks,

It's always helpful when someone I wasn't even talking to replies with a redundant post.

Scouse Mouse · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Location: Cloud #9

Hardly redundant. The person you were asking probably doesn't visit this board any more. You asked if they got paid, I pointed out that they had already said that they did not get paid.

I'm sorry... you obviously wanted to hear something different... Will this do?

I am sure you will have a wonderful time at this school. They sounded nice on the phone because they really are nice!!! The job is so wonderful that they have numerous teachers lined up to take it and they are in Korean NOW! They decided to pay the cost of your flights because they know that you are perfect for the job! Experience doesn't matter when teaching! What those experienced teachers tell you is all lies, and even if it were true, the wonderful people you spoke to on the phone are the NEW owners, who care more about the new teacher than they do about making profit!

Better?

c_malinow · Joined: 13 Apr 2009

o.k. sorry I thought you were being sarcastic.

tomato · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 1:22 pm Post subject:

If I remember correctly, that was the same school where I enrolled as a student in Japanese classes.
The director kicked me out because I was a foreigner,
and he was sure I was slowing the class down because the class was conducted in Korean.
I said, "What makes you think your English is so wonderful?
I'm having trouble understanding you!"

c_malinow · Joined: 13 Apr 2009

Ha, did you speak any Korean at all? I could see how it could be a problem if you only spoke English, and other people in the class payed money to take Japanese and you were slowing them down. They should of let you know that before you signed up though! Did you work for this place? From what I recall, I think the person I spoke with said they teach Japanese and Chinese there also. It's not sounding like a very good place to work right now.

tomato · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject: Re: Gumi School

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

c_malinow · Joined: 13 Apr 2009

Yeah, before I heard all the horror stories I signed the contract because nobody seemed to know much about it. I figure that if I could at least stay a few months, I could make some cash before I get dumped, and it seems like teaching jobs in Korea are a dime a dozen, so I may be able to pick up something else and scope out other better places to work first hand. I've spent the last 10 years in NYC doing freelance work like this. I don't prefer it but if something goes awry it seems like there are plenty of opportunities.

As far as the adult hagwon thing goes. It sounds like they have other schools all over Seoul, so they don't seem too small. It sounds very likely that they would ditch new teachers to save money though. I'd like to try and find a public school job, but I already handed in all my documents, do you think there is a way to get them back?

c_malinow · Joined: 13 Apr 2009