Korean Job Discussion Forums

[RattusRattus]

Does anyone here work for ChungDahm, can you tell me what to expect in terms of working conditions? I'm about to go there in August. Assigned to one of the main branches in seoul, hourly contract.

specifically:

How's management? What kind of hours do they really expect you to be working/or do you have to work (say in prep for lessons outside of paid hours)?

How are students? What age groups are best?

What does their drug test test for? what kind of test is it? (I've been using codine for a mtn biking accident injury)

What's a nice place to live?

Anything else you can tell me.

[seoulsucker]

If you're a masochist, go for it. Low pay, very little vacation, weekend work, extra (unpaid) hours, the works.

It is one of the more stable franchises in Korea, and teaching is very standardized (read: show up anytime and teach straight from the book) but most people I know there have either quit or refused to resign after their contract was up.

[Ukon]

Opinions vary...money good but you work for it...I know one guy who can't take any more of it despite the money.

[Gnawbert]

I can't speak for the other branches, but I'm at one of the ones in Bundang, and I quite enjoy it. It seems to vary wildly by branch and location, as I know people from my training group who have had good and bad experiences.

I've only been at this location for 2 months, out of about 18 months in S Korea, so I can't speak for other experiences.

Pros:
-Pay is on time.
-Training was quite good.
-Great opportunity for over time during summer/winter intensives.
-I get pension, medical, awesome apartment.
-Curriculum is great, teaching methodology is fun. Lots of Q&A and critical thinking.
-Many of the students are very sharp, and have lived or grown up over seas.
-Most coworkers are also good friends.
-Laid back but professional. Reminds me somewhat of when I worked for Google.
-Fast teaching hours, very little down time. I work from 4-10pm and it's pretty much straight teaching.
-Prep is easy once you get the hang of it.

Cons:
-Very little vacation time, or holidays.
-Hours can be long compared to other jobs (30 teaching a week)
-Summer / Winter intensives add another 6-10 teaching hours a week for a month. That wasn't really made clear in any way shape or form.
-Older students from 7-10pm can be a bit exhausted and apathetic due to school overload.
-Quite a few meetings and changes that you need to keep up on. You can't just always auto-pilot it (not that I think you should).

Over all I'm happy with it as it currently stands, much more so than my last job. If things stay the way they are, my girlfriend and I will probably resign for a second year, but that's a good 9 months away.

[RattusRattus]

sweet thanks!

[pattinsons]

I work for a April franchise. April is CDI elementary program. They have a strick program, and expect you to teach it and only it. I have no prior teaching experience so it is perfect for me. I have found they are so reliable. I started working on a wednesday by friday they had taken me to the bank set up my account, and paid me my airfare reimburstment, resettlement. Always get paid on time. Also I just hand any bills I get to a staff member and he pays the bills from my salary. I know I work at a franchise and not a branch so your experience might be different. One thing to keep in mind is that the training might seem intense, but don't let it cloud your judgement of CDI. Most things are drastically different at your specific branch from training. Most of the people that complain about CDI are their own worst enemy. Read about their complaints with a grain of salt, and you should be able to read between the lines.

[Kikomom]

Does your hourly contract include health insurance? Pension?

[pattinsons]

I am salaried which all of my co-workers are also. They deduct health and insurance from my check, but it is a pretty small amount.

My housing conditions are awesome, but I am salaried. So they pick up my housing. The apartment is rather spacious.

The Koreans that I work with are extremely helpful if I ever need anything. Working for CDI and CDI April seem to be two different things regarding hours and unpaid meetings. Every week we have a teachers meeting at 1:30. Most of everyone is in the building by then anyways. The intensives which seem to be omitted when they were telling me the details can be a bit of a drag, but I am getting paid overtime so I really can't complain.

To handle the working hours thing. Well compared to the US, where I am from, you are expected to work 40 as fulltime. People seem to complain about the working hours, but I am at my school from 1:30 to 8:30 m-f. First class is at 2:30 MWF. On tuesday thursday my first class is at 4:50 while last class is at 7:10, but I have to be in the building to 8:30. Plenty of work to do which would just have to be done at home.

The most important thing to most people getting ready to come to Korea blindly is a financial thing. CDI will pay you on time, and not try to change the agreed amount.

I can not say enough positive things about CDI.

[Micelf]

pattinsons-

Hey! I've just been offered a contract at April Chung Dahm. I've been trying to get some answers from staff there but apparently they are on vacation this week. Maybe you are as well.

What do you mean "salaried"? My impresion is that I was not going to be paid hourly as my contract says that I will be paid X amount of wan each month.
Mainly what I am trying to iron out is the housing. What can I expect? I've asked for some photos but like I said, no response.
April sounds and looks like a decent operation. It does sound like a J.O.B, but I guess that is to be expected.

[pattinsons]

Yes salaried employees get paid "x" for the month. Chang Dahm also offers a hourly wage. The hourly wage is more, but housing is not provided.

My housing and my co-workers housing is amazing. We all pretty much live in the same buidling. Very spacious, but I had a very small dwelling before. My place along with my co-workers had the following things provided for us. Bed, washer/dryer, air conditioner, fridge, stove top, bathroom with a western style shower (some videos on the net show a shower head, but nothing seperating the shower from the rest of the bathroom, and a drain in the middle of the floor), desk and a chair. I have broken my chair and a co-workers chair in his apartment.

Working hours I think are pretty standarized for April. I am obligated to be in the building from 1:30pm to 8:30pm monday through friday. First class is at 2:30. I normally get their between 1 and 1:15. Their is plenty of work to do before classes from printing tests, grading homework, journals, and various duties that seem to localized at your school.

I love my job, and the kids. A bit of advice I can give is that when they tell you either to do or not do something which seems pretty irrelevant just do it. Don't argue with them about it. Don't agree and continue to do what they told you not to do. Korean society is extremely influenced by confucianism. Which is all about interpersonal relationships. I would get a copy of Confucius Annalects hopefully with a commentary or notes with it and read it. I was a Classical Studies major in college. What little I know and remember about Confucianism is extremely helpful. My model is that the schools owner is the ruler, my director is the head of household, my head instructor is the eldest son, then my co-teacher. Make sure you have a good relationship with your co-teacher it makes all the difference.

If you go with CDI I hope your experience is as pleasant as mine has been so far.

[pattinsons]

if you don't mind me asking which branch? Have they given you a specific site.

[Micelf]

Wow. Thanks for the quick reply, and the advice!
The branch is in Gangnam. You?

[pattinsons]

Don't know much about that branch. I think it a nice area of Seoul. I could ask around to see if anyone knows about it. I work in a in Ilsan area. I would be more specific, but not sure if I should be giving out that type of information since I work there, and you are considering working there. I can't send private messages, or I would send you one with more information. Sorry I don't want to post personal information.

[Micelf]

I can not pm either.

[pattinsons]

got it