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chaz47
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
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 Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 7:57 am Post subject: CDI Busan? |
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I'm working on the writings for an application to CDI Busan. I'm sweating a bit over them as it's been quite some time since I've done an essay. I'm curious though, will it really matter? Is it one of those places that no matter how stellar my writing they're going to low-ball my salary either way.
I have about 5 years of experience in Korea, a 120 hour TESOL certificate and 2 years of university experience. I hear good things about the curriculum of CDI and wouldn't mind working for them just to brush up on my teaching skills and prepare myself for an MA in Applied Linguistics or TESOL.
Any other relevant information would be helpful.
(This isn't for the Haeundae branch.) |
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Peter258
Joined: 18 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 8:35 am Post subject: |
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If you already have 2 years of university exp why aren't you going for another University position?
Is CDI Busan supposed to be good(as opposed to all other CDI)? |
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chaz47
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 9:20 am Post subject: |
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| Peter258 wrote: |
If you already have 2 years of university exp why aren't you going for another University position?
Is CDI Busan supposed to be good(as opposed to all other CDI)? |
I am, don't get me wrong. I think university is the better of the two. There is a LOT of dog and pony at some universities at least as far as dealing with students thinking they can negotiate grades, show up late, not show up at all.
From what I've heard CDI attracts students that are motivated. The classes are small. The curriculum is sound. It is in a word "professional". At university there's a LOT of handholding and smarmy students which can be a pain... it really makes you appreciate the vacations but can make you bitter towards sincere students in the interim.
As I'm sure you know, all hagwons differ, especially franchise/branchise ones like CDI. Management style is really important. I've heard micro-management is the norm at the Haeundae CDI and just wondered if the rest of CDI Busan (which is owned by a different corporation... Injoong?) was that way as well. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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| The curriculum is sound |
Do you know what the curriculum is at CDI? There was another poster on here a while ago who said it was dull and pitched at too high a level. Do you have any details? |
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InDaGu
Joined: 28 Jun 2010
Location: Cebu City, Philippines
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| Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| chaz47 wrote: |
From what I've heard CDI attracts students that are motivated. The classes are small. The curriculum is sound. It is in a word "professional". |
You have been badly misinformed. Of the 4 hagwons at which I've taught, the CDI students were the least motivated. But then again, who can be motivated for a 3 hour class with boring material? The other poster was right when he alluded to the material being over the students' heads. You might be teaching a 3 hour lesson on some tedious natural science subject. And the reason that CDI students have high scores is because of their ridiculous grade scale - 15% is considered passing. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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On one of their websites they say
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We take teaching seriously. We highly discourage teachers from playing games in the classroom.
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This is not really in line with modern thought on the subject. Games can provide meaningful language content, to which the students will react positively, increasing motivation to learn. Additionally if the lessons are indeed 3 hours long as you say, some kind of break in the structure of the class would be vital when teaching young leaners. It's not exactly showing much 'compassion' for the students, as is claimed in their slogan, and seems to me more like a strategy designed to keep parents happy rather than a desire to be pedagogically sound . |
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InDaGu
Joined: 28 Jun 2010
Location: Cebu City, Philippines
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| Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
On one of their websites they say
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We take teaching seriously. We highly discourage teachers from playing games in the classroom.
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This is not really in line with modern thought on the subject. Games can provide meaningful language content, to which the students will react positively, increasing motivation to learn. Additionally if the lessons are indeed 3 hours long as you say, some kind of break in the structure of the class would be vital when teaching young leaners. It's not exactly showing much 'compassion' for the students, as is claimed in their slogan, and seems to me more like a strategy designed to keep parents happy rather than a desire to be pedagogically sound . |
100% true. Unfortunately, CDI is all for show. They have the reputation of getting the brightest students, but that is because they charge the most tuition and get the more wealthy students. They are indeed 3 hour classes, with a 5 minute break every hour. Each minute of the 3 hours is strictly planned out, and no deviations from this schedule are allowed. Teachers have no freedom to introduce their own personality into the lesson, it's more like a 3 hour lecture.
And while cameras in the classroom are pretty common these days, CDI actually watches these recordings weekly to make sure teachers are following the schedule. I should know, I was head instructor at my branch, and was charged with watching these videos every week. |
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chojieun
Joined: 23 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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| if you have that much experience why are you trying to get a job with CDI? you can get a much better job |
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Justsurfin12
Joined: 05 Jul 2009
Location: Sitting in front of a computer
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| Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 2:51 am Post subject: |
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To go back to what someone said earlier.... with CDI, it COMPLETELY depends on which branch you're at. I've been in Daejeon for the past year and it's been really great.
Yes, the curriculum is tough and very structured. I was a school teacher in the US for several years before coming here so I actually enjoyed having a structured curriculum to work with.
As to adding personality-- I can't speak for all branches, but here you're actively encouraged to make the lessons as fun for kids as possible. There's always discussions of little ways to make classes more exciting-- such as having the kids do races with memory, breaking them into teams (not just for the critical thinking project) to study different elements, etc. While the curriculum is mapped out time wise, as long as we cover all the material it is understood that at times different parts of the lesson may take longer (or shorter) than the time allotted so there's no problem there.
And... we're considered the 2nd most successful branch in the country (and pushing for first place right now). Our model here is actually being looked at by headquarters to tweak things done at other branches around the country.
The biggest negative of CDI, however, is very little time off. I'm taking a different position for next year, only because I'll get about 10 weeks of paid vacation. |
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Gnawbert
Joined: 23 Oct 2007
Location: The Internet
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| Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:20 am Post subject: |
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| Justsurfin12 wrote: |
To go back to what someone said earlier.... with CDI, it COMPLETELY depends on which branch you're at. I've been in Daejeon for the past year and it's been really great.
Yes, the curriculum is tough and very structured. I was a school teacher in the US for several years before coming here so I actually enjoyed having a structured curriculum to work with.
As to adding personality-- I can't speak for all branches, but here you're actively encouraged to make the lessons as fun for kids as possible. There's always discussions of little ways to make classes more exciting-- such as having the kids do races with memory, breaking them into teams (not just for the critical thinking project) to study different elements, etc. While the curriculum is mapped out time wise, as long as we cover all the material it is understood that at times different parts of the lesson may take longer (or shorter) than the time allotted so there's no problem there.
And... we're considered the 2nd most successful branch in the country (and pushing for first place right now). Our model here is actually being looked at by headquarters to tweak things done at other branches around the country.
The biggest negative of CDI, however, is very little time off. I'm taking a different position for next year, only because I'll get about 10 weeks of paid vacation. |
More or less my exact experience as well, minus the bit about being a school teacher back in the U.S. |
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anidoug
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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anyone have any comments on their experience with CDI April?
how is the vacation and their teaching methods? |
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Proustian
Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Location: penniless in Pusan
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:16 am Post subject: |
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CDI offered me a contract after I went through two interviews and wrote a few pages on why WW2 was the most relevant event of the 20th century - not joking, its one of their essay topics - and then had me wait for 2 months while they found me a position.
I ended up flying back here from Australia, went into head office, seized back my degree and CBC and took a different job. Talk about a waste of time.
Make sure they have a genuine position and aren't just filling up on warm bodies. |
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cert43
Joined: 17 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:41 am Post subject: |
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| Isn't CDI mostly F-4 employment? |
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different
Joined: 22 May 2003
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Justsurfin12 wrote: |
| I was a school teacher in the US for several years before coming here so I actually enjoyed having a structured curriculum to work with. |
What's the link between having experience in the US and enjoying a structured (but inflexible) curriculum? |
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chaz47
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 7:32 am Post subject: |
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Update:
So I was told I was a strong candidate. I was asked to write an essay which I dutifully did. I chose to explain and express my opinion on euthanasia. Luckily I have two friends who are editors for various publications who looked the essay over before I submitted it. The both gave it the thumbs up.
Now, two weeks later I have gotten no response. Has anyone else had this happen with CDI? I'd like to tell them I would like to be considered for positions in Seoul, Ulsan or Daegu as well but no one seems to be replying to my emails. I stopped trying after two attempts. Should I be more persistent? |
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