Korean Job Discussion Forums

[C00LAS1CE]

I recently had a phone interview with Aclipse and subsequently received an email from them stating that I'd be a good candidate to teach for Chungdahm Learning. I haven't been able to find much information on Aclipse or Chungdahm Learning, most information I've found is just that people are generally saying that recruiters and chain schools are a bad idea because they take a cut of your paycheck and treat teachers as disposable employees. Another school called the Seoul Learning Institute (www.ivyinasia.com) pays significantly more ($33K) and I did get an email from the guy who runs it saying that I was a good applicant. I'm thinking of putting off employment with Aclipse for a couple months to see if I can go with them instead.

What I want to know is, aside from any personal experience with Aclipse or Chungdahm Learning specifically, what other options are there for someone with no teaching experience? Just fly to a foreign country and look for a job on your own? How would you go about meeting other Westerners? It just seems unrealistic without the training and accommodation you would receive from a recruiter.

I'm also looking for feedback on how people like Korea -- there seems to be a lot of animosity towards the country and I want to know hear from people who have lived in the country -- I'm not 100% set on Korea and would like to know better alternatives if there are any (Japan?). Saving money is important to me (most people say Korea is best for that) but if the quality of life is really as bad as some are saying then it's not worth it IMO.

[Street Magic]

[.38 Special]

There are mixed opinions of CDI.

Some say it's not worth the many hours, few days off, rigid curriculum, and surveillance.

Others say it is the best way for a newbie teacher to rake in more than 2.4 mil and pay off debts, and that the surveillance prevents false accusations of abuse and allows your supervisors to give you active criticism to improve your teaching.

In the end, however, it will depend on your needs and the quality of the management at the individual school. Branch schools (mostly in Seoul) are said to be more consistently administered, while franchise schools are said to be hit or miss.

Also, know that CDI April is for very young children.

It's not for everyone. It's also by far not the only job for green teachers available from your home country.

[CapnSamwise]

I worked with Aclipse, I am shipping to Seoul on Friday. This is my first teaching job, and they have basically gone to the ends of the Earth to help me prepare for this.

Aclipse is hired by CDL to find teachers, so they don't take a cut from your paycheck. I recommend them absolutely.

[C00LAS1CE]

[kpmth00]

I am actually in the middle of preparing the necessary documents to submit to CDI through Aclipse: video intro, application, med statement, etc.

I applied to CDI directly, but they still haven't gotten back to me after a week. Aclipse is more responsive so it was easier to go through it with them. Of course, maybe applying to both wasn't a good idea since perhaps only one would decide to help me, i don't know.

I might end up going to a franchise because the hiring season is over and all positions are filled up except for those branches that might need teachers, which in all likelihood would be a franchise.

[midwesty8]

I am in the middle of preparing my documents too. I applied to Aclipse and they offered me a position with CDI. CDI isn't my first choice b/c I've also read negative stuff about them. I'm especially worried about their first week of training. I've been told by my recruiter that it will be difficult, but do they really send you home if you don't pass?

Does anybody else have any experiences with CDI to share?

[Skill]

CDI has an entrance exam that you have to pass soon upon arrival. It is said to be intensive and difficult. If you pass you get hired and you get their very own certificate,
Failing it means you don't get reimbursed on your airline ticket.

[ptaza]

Hard to say - I definitely got mistreated by CDI and then when I laid out the lurid details - including the feces ridden apartment I was transferred into- the head office stopped responding.

This is the deal with franchises. Sometimes you get a friendly mcdonald's owner who is just a swell guy and sometimes you get the people with masculinity issues that will try to own you. You're always rolling the dice - best advice I can give is to get in touch with who you'll be replacing, though this can fail as well: sometimes changes happen after the established teachers leave and sometimes the outbound teachers are so eager for you to replace them quickly they'll spin you a wonderful fairytale about the place because it's better you than them!

CDI in general though is high on starting pay but after one year you will wish you were getting $200 a month less for a more liveable situation. Hope you like working every saturday...