Korean Job Discussion Forums

a friendly pioneer · Joined: 24 Aug 2009

I'm trying to find an alternate road in if EPIK fails me. There is a lot of information about bad hagwons, but very little about good ones. I know there are threads about this kind of thing on here already, but it seems like no one is ever willing to part with the name/names of these places.

My preference: none. I'll live anywhere. I just really want to get over to Korea with a decent company willing to take me in. I have solid references, a good resume and a little experience backing me up.

I've gone with the recruiters, but I don't really like how pushy most of them are. It'd be cool to just contact the school on my own if at all possible.

mongolian spot · Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Location: Seoul

The words 'good' 'friendly' and 'hagwan' should never ever appear in the same sentence.

Sorry to burst your bubble newb but set hopes more on a place that doesn't screw you out of money and/or doesn't show constant disrespect becvause your not a mongol

a friendly pioneer · Joined: 24 Aug 2009

There are good ones.

I might be a newb, but I know people that are making the change from public to hagwon or know people in convenient spots.

Thanks for the condescension, though.

Maybe a better way to phrase my thread or post would've been, "What's a Hagwon that isn't known for bad contracts, etc.?"

Or, "Is anyone here currently working for a hagwon and happy with the position?"

Let's adjust the thread to that.

Also, I don't mind the idea of working for a business. I don't have this fantastic idea that teaching English in Korea is some meaningful expenditure of my knowledge and that the children will be captivated by my American aura. I just like the idea of doing something that utilizes a skill set I have and that gets me out of the country for a while.

So please, let's tone down the negativity. I'm aware of the positives and negatives of both private and public schools. All I want is to see if someone can guide me in the right direction without the assistance of a pushy recruiter who gives me any hagwon that crosses his desk and claims, "OH YEAH, THIS PLACE IS AWESOME!"

Is WILS any good?

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

There are lots of great hogwans out there. I work at one now. The last one I worked at I had a few issues but nothing insurmountable. Last year there was another employee at our school who didn't fair so well but I would have to say that 60% of her problems she brought on herself and lots of it was baggage she brought with her. The current guy, her replacement is doing just fine. Most of the people who have had "bad hogwan syndrome" here that I have had firsthand knowledge of were usually a big part of the problem. Too much pride, coupled with an inability to maintain healthy working relationships with people back in their own countries let alone mentioning how they fared here. Words of advice, learn to negotiate with Koreans. This takes practice but I can say that attitude gets you nowhere.

mongolian spot · Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Location: Seoul

mongolian spot · Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Location: Seoul

seonsengnimble · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:17 pm Post subject:

There are definitely decent hagwon gigs out there. Mine is pretty good, but I found it through a friend who was working here. There are at least three things to keep in mind if you're applying from outside of Korea:

1. Contact foreign teachers who work there.

2. Go with a hagwon that has been around for a while. New hagwons may be ok, but chances are they will be much more disorganized and likely to have financial difficulties.

3. If it's your first gig, working for a school that's part of a chain rather than a franchise is a bit safer.

RedRob · Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Location: Narnia

So I take it that yr not in the ROK yet? If you can afford it, get yr ass to Seoul, book into a cheap goshiwon and hunt from the ground up. It really is much easier + you get to view the accom etc. A good school will let you sit in on a lesson, view the resources, and generally have a good poke around. If not, they are hiding summink- so you can blow 'em off. Easy, no?

Murakano · Joined: 10 Sep 2009

though I work in PS, I have many friends who are working/have completed several contracts in very good hagwons and have had very little problems.....just they don't have the need to post on here and rant like the majorty of posters on here Wink

Some of the contracts I have seen posted on here are terrible yet there are always people who end up signing them and consequently often the ones who inevitably end up on here ranting and blowing off steam when it all goes wrong.

creeper1 · Joined: 30 Jan 2007

If you are looking for names, I worked at G1230 (hagwon) in 2007 - 2008. I had no problems there at all and the campuses they have are all mainly in the affluent areas - Bundang, Ilsan although they are also in Incheon.

I recommend G1230 as a decent place to work for.

Ramen · Joined: 15 Apr 2008

You want names? Tops three are:

1. Wonderland
2. SLP
3. KidsU

geldedgoat · Joined: 05 Mar 2009

What would be your definition of a good and bad work environment?

My first hagwon experience was terrible. I worked at Korea POLY School in Daejeon, and was unable to finish my year because my employer broke my contract to fire me. All of the students were wonderful. The workload was a bit much, but not unbearable (especially considering the monetary compensation). 90% of the foreign coworkers there were atrocious (the hacks you find here that treat their job experience here as an extra year or two of college parties)... but it was fairly easy to avoid them. The real kicker came from never being able to ever take a sick day, no matter the severity of the illness (on two separate occasions I was forced to work with a sore throat so bad that I could not produce any vocal sounds other than a gurgle and a groan), and then being fired when I put my foot down and refused to not be granted a contractual sick day... I think that would be the last straw for anyone. So... Korea POLY School in Daejeon = VERY BAD.

My second hagwon experience was much better. I worked at a GnB mom and pop place in Gwanjeodong in Daejeon. The students this time around were much worse. Their behavior was much poorer and their English skills were abysmal. However, I was given free reign to tailor the lessons and material any way I saw fit (something I couldn't do my first time around). While I did have a couple disagreements with my boss (but never my coworkers), nothing serious ever arose, and in the end I was able to finish my contract without any money ever being wrongfully withheld from my pay check. In my opinion, that makes GnB in Gwanjeodong, Daejeon a good hagwon.

But of course, both of those rather long-winded descriptions could be useless if you value the English skills of the students over a decent boss, if you value drinking buddy coworkers over skilled and educated coworkers, or if you value a higher salary over the ability to receieve all of the benefits in your contract ("frills" like sick leave).

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

My last hogwan honoured all of the contract and I never had any problems with them. I stayed there for two years.

The hogwan's name is GDA Junior. They have a campus in Seocho-dong, Seoul (which is where I worked) and another one in Bundang. I think they also have a new campus somewhere near Sinchon but I don't know anything about the situation there.

Here is their website: http://www.gdajunior.com/e_main.htm

Beeyee · Joined: 29 May 2007

The hagwon I work at now is very good.

I get 3 million won working 2.30-8.30 and my boss lets me do whatever I feel is beneficial. There are no cameras in my classroom and I always get paid on time. Hell my school even pays all my bills for me, including phone.

There are decent gigs out there, you just have to do a bit of hunting.