Korean Job Discussion Forums

petitshallot · Joined: 25 Jan 2010

Hello, I'm doing some research for a friend who is considering taking employment at this hagwon. Does anyone have any first hand experience of the place? Your input would be appreciated if so. Thanks.

Sector7G · Joined: 24 May 2008

Sorry, I have no first hand knowledge of Ding Ding Dang. But I do remember a previous thread where someone made a pretty funny comment about putting Ding Ding Dang on a future resume. It may be worth a search as I think some posters on that thread did have first hand knowledge!

DrugstoreCowgirl · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:20 pm Post subject:

I know someone who used to work there. He finished the contract but I don't think he liked it much.

petitshallot · Joined: 25 Jan 2010

Oh really, was that quite recently? I've heard some rumours but they were from a few years back so I didn't know if the place had maybe improved since then ... what kind of gripes did your friend have?

DrugstoreCowgirl · Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 12:12 am Post subject:

It was very recently. I don't really know why he didn't like it, just some Facebook statuses about being happy to never have to work there again.

air76 · Joined: 13 Nov 2007

petitshallot · Joined: 25 Jan 2010

that's really true... hence why i'm trying to get as much info as possible. it would be a shame to turn down an good offer ... but at the same time it would be awful to get to work and it be terrible and not worth the journey. drugstore cowgirl - i wonder if you could pass on the contact details for your friend if they didn't mind?

Manuel_the_Bandito · Joined: 12 Sep 2009

As a rule of thumb, the sillier the name, the worse the hagwon.

air76 · Joined: 13 Nov 2007

A friend of mine works at Ding Ding Dang and they've been great to him...but this is a different branch so that means nothing.

You can't really judge a hagwon by its overall reputation, you really have to talk to someone who works at that particular school.

Basically the rule is this...don't work for a hagwon unless you talk to the current teacher first, if the recruiter can't get a phone number or email for you, then don't take the job.

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

I worked at Ding Ding Dang and it didn't work out. Most of the schools work with really small children. When I was interviwed I was asked very few questions about my teaching experience and hired on the spot. I was replacing someone who had been at the school for a long time and had developed a great reputation. I was expected to fill his shoes Bali Bali.

If you take this job you will really have to try hard to Edutain. They also insist you learn all the students nicknames after the first class and address them by their nicknames while teaching. You are also expected to sing and be really animated when you teach. This obviously means dancing and acting like a clown. I was also scolded for sweating while teaching. Something I have no control over sorry I can't turn off my sweat glands.

petitshallot · Joined: 25 Jan 2010

Fish Soup - was it the Suseong-gu/Machon branch in Daegu that you worked at? I think the chain of schools will vary from branch to branch.
So you felt more like a clown than a teacher and they told you off for sweating? Doesn't sound cool.
What about the accomodation they provided and the condition of the school and the learning materials?

air76 · Joined: 13 Nov 2007

EVERY hagwon where you teach children will make you feel more like a clown than a teacher...every single bloody one...so if this is an issue then don't go work at a hagwon.

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise...a hagwon does not a real teacher make.

They can be easy jobs and there are a lot of benefits to working at one for the right people (for example night owls and folk who want to party a lot and not wake up early, or folk who are looking for a lot of legal OT)

petitshallot · Joined: 25 Jan 2010

i get your point air - everyone concerned has worked at a hagwon before though, we just want to know if this one in particular is one to stay clear of as it has appeared on black lists in the past.

air76 · Joined: 13 Nov 2007

Why don't you talk to the current teacher? Or the teacher who just left? If the recruiter doesn't have the contact info then the school will....if the school won't give it to you, then absolutely don't work there.

missmodular · Joined: 12 Apr 2010 Location: Austin, TX

I have no information for you about this school, but I laughed out loud when I read the title of this thread. Does anyone know the "Ding Dong Song" by Gunther?

Sorry for being off-topic...