Korean Job Discussion Forums

[smartwentcrazy]

How's it going everyone?

I'll be teaching in Korea soon and I've been weighing my options whether to go public or private. I'm leaning towards the public sector at this point in time, but I am also inclined to work at a private institution due to the smaller classes and higher pay. I've recently obtained a job offer by the Chungdahm Learning, a private institution. Does anyone have any feedback from this private school? Any current/past teachers from here? If so, can you give me your rating of this establishment? Anything I should know for the hiring process? Thanks!

[smartwentcrazy]

Whoops, I apologize, I didn't realize that Chungdahm Learning is short for CDI. I was able to find some nice threads on CDI and prior experiences. Anyways if anyone has any additional input on this institution (preferably recent experience) I'd greatly appreciate it!

PS: They want to do an exercise over the email, anyone know what that's about?

[Insomnia]

One of my friends back home came to Korea recently and she's been at CDI. All I know is she works from like 3 to 10:30, has to do a lot of lesson prep, has to teach a lot of classes in one day, no paid national holidays off and not much vacation. She's also not getting any medical or pension, since she went with the hourly wage.

Mean while I work at a public school, where the school pays half of my monthly insurance, half of my pension, I don't get taxed the first two years (as an American), all national holidays off, don't have to even come in during summer and winter break, on top of the days off there are many days where the students have a special exam or a school activity and I can do whatever I want, I only teach 19 hours a week -- the rest of the time I can do whatever including sleep!

My lesson prepping can be done while i'm on the clock, meanwhile my friend has to use up 2-4 hours of her free time just to prep for the hagwon classes. Sure salary wise people at CDI make more, but they work a lot of a lot more than me.

On top of that, we're both on an F4 visa, since she works at night she doesn't get the opportunity to make good money private tutoring, not that she would even have time anyway. I tutor a few hours a week and take home more than her and work way less.

I told her I could try to get her into my school when they plan to hire another native teacher, but apparently she actually doesn't see the light. Must be a denial thing, public schools are clearly better.

[ahsieee]

CDI- some ppl like them, others don't.
my friend quit his campus because the deal wasn't that great.
if you take the monthly salary, it'd be better for you.
my friend went by the hourly and taught middle school students.
these students don't attend CDI during a period called "holding" twice a semester, which means the kids are not attending CDI in order to study for their school midterms & finals.
he wasn't getting paid for these days and he had to find his own housing and insurance.
from the posts, if you go with their monthly salary, you can receive these.
make sure you get CDI to tell you exactly what you're entitled to before you sign the contract. negotiate if you can as well~