Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mdsb87]

Hi all I have an interview coming up for this crowd - they seem to be a good option ! has anyone any experience with them - good or bad ?

[bennyboy111]

ah my link is dead... move along..

[northway]

They fail something like a third of the people who they bring over to do their ridiculous training program, then their reputation as "the best" prevents you from being hired if another hagwon director finds out you failed. My buddy was on probation with them for like five months after he was hired because he failed the training, even though the school he was hired by ended up needing him and kept saying he was doing a fine job. I wouldn't sign with them.

[mdsb87]

So you are assessed on your english and teaching ability? they can arbitrarily fail you and this fail will stick on you because you have to have them give you a letter of release am I right - sorry now complete newbie and my eyes have been widely opened by this forum on how bad things can be !

[northway]

I don't think they have to give you a letter of release, I honestly don't know. I just know that my director didn't sign a guy who had exceptional marks across the board and a year's experience teaching kindy in Korea because the recruiter told her that he'd failed CDI's training program, and she went on to say that she would never hire someone who she knew had failed. This woman was educated outside of Korea for the most part and generally doesn't buy into their BS, also, which made it particularly surprising to hear something like this coming from her. If someone like that is saying it, I would assume that most reputable hagwon directors, at the very least, are really going to shy away from someone who fails their program. I can't speak to public school.

[Gnawbert]

Here are a few of the dozens of threads about CDI that are on Dave's. By now it should be it's own forum.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=169993

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=1937028

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=177107

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=2365456

I worked for them for a year and enjoyed it for the most part.

Pros at my branch: Good pay, very little dress code (heard it changed), very flexible with how we taught the curriculum, little to zero CCTV observation, very smart students over all.

Cons: no vacation time, occasional saturdays, intensives twice a year (paycheck was a total pro) and some students were literal zombies who were burnt out from having their childhood wasted away in a dozen academies.

Training was a breeze. Some people freak out during the mock teachings. Someone in our training group failed a drug test. Most people pass. Either something else is happening or you have to be a pretty big mess not to pass.

All in all it was a good year and it certainly helped me land a better job after it. I just got burnt out from the lack of vacation time. Something about working Christmas felt worse than I thought it would when I signed the contract.

[northway]

[Gnawbert]

[jon_blaze]

Chungdahm Learning is pretty varied. Depending on the location you get it sent you, it can be strict as all hell or very loose with the rules. Without knowing where you are going, it is difficult to tell you as most of the CDL locations are franchises not ran by the headquarters.
And if they failed a 3rd of the group...then wow. The training just makes sure you remember basic middle-high school English, if you can't do that then you shouldn't be teaching.

[InDaGu]

Weren't you the guy looking at another school in Daegu? If this CDI is in Daegu, avoid at all costs (actually, I would avoid anyway). I worked at one my first year in Korea, and ended up intentionally getting myself fired. I'm also familiar with the other branch, which is owned by the same people. They are an absolute mess. You will work every Saturday, and the Head Instructor will definitely monitor your CCTVs. I should know, I was HI at my branch.

I am still in contact with people who work at both branches, and nothing has improved. They told me just recently that they haven't been getting paid on time.

For info on CDI as a whole, look at those other links.

[mdsb87]

ya I was the guy susing out the place in Daegu - I dont think it looks great - I'm trying to play the field on it as much as I can - I really am afraid of getting shafted by hagwons over there - I will no doubt be posting more if I can secure anymore interviews for my girlfriend and I. According to my agent with Chungdahm I have to flexible on location or they won't even proceed with interview - preferences will be taken into account appearently(?)

Glad to hear it here that they may not be the best option than to find out after arriving - cheers !

So disappointed at how my current offers have panned out !

[jon_blaze]

[youtuber]

Avoid.

[mcviking]

Working for CDI is like a bad reality show. The first week of training is ridiculous and unpaid. Lots of last minute changes. If you don't impress the corporate vampires for whatever reason (the only one in my training group that passed was the hot girl...surprise) They say they pay you more they don't. They have a lot of power and you are just another replaceable waygook. I worked for them for a few months before I got screwed by them. Worst part was is I picked them over a public school job in Busan...I would avoid. Working on ALL holidays is stressful and the intensive periods were awful (and since they brought on a new teacher in the middle of it, they found a loop whole to pretty much screw us out of all that overtime, so much for boss pay check) AVOID AVOID AVOID.

[Peter258]

they told me in my interview that 4% fail the training.

That's like 1 out of 25 applicants