Korean Job Discussion Forums

reimund · Joined: 01 Oct 2007

It wasn't the pay that steered me away from CDI - hell, my pay was good at 30k. But honestly, it was just the work environment - I felt like my mind was going numb for the short amount of time that I've spent at their facilities.

I think cognitive dissonance is the word. The things they expect are unrealistic, at the cost of both their teachers and the students.

To illustrate, they tout the best English education for Korean students across the country, which undoubtedly requires the best teachers. So they recruit amongst 1) fresh-off-the-college-campus grads who have absolutely no teaching experiences for 2) their -90- campuses. Which doesn't make much sense, because 1) aren't the best teachers, and even if they did have the best teachers, they couldn't fill 2) with them.

So in order to fix this problem, they throw in CCTV evaluations to monitor teacher performance, and a super strict curriculum to make things easier for the teachers. But honestly, teaching is such a personal experience, that those things actually hurt real and honest growth for their teachers, and therefore, their students. Teaching requires a lot of improvisation and spontaneity, and I honestly believe teaching while knowing that superiors are watching diminishes a lot of that. And the strict curriculum doesn't leave much room for creativity or tailoring to specific classes, given the CCTVs. So I think they ultimately, serve against their goals of having the best teachers for all of their 90 campuses.

It's like they they want realistically unattainable things, and they mentally beat their teachers for it. Oh, and their trainers, their recruiters, their Faculty Managers, and their Branch Managers, too (everyone in the company gets surveyed and evaluated). So there's just this general atmosphere that everyone, especially the higher ups, are on edge, and are vulnerable to hostility. So, I pretty much GTFO'ed.

majesticmako · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

I don't know why people are so adamant against CDI. It's a matter of personal preference. If you like structure, security, and money, CDI is great for that. If you like to make your own lessons, improv, and vacation time, then you should probably go elsewhere.

Even still, CDI is far from dull. Instructors are encouraged to improv, make the lessons interesting, have fun, etc. I joke with my students all the time, play youtube clips/music, and play games. I am at one of the most strict branches, so it really isn't as bad as people have implied.

The example of the public school job given before is like comparing apples to oranges. You stated that she earned around 2.6 mil working 40 hours a week. Many CDI instructors can earn more than that (even with rent taken out) working 24 hours a week. That's a huge difference.

Yes, your example obviously has more benefits in terms of vacation, pension, health, etc. CDI is more for those seeking to make money though. If you want ample vacation time, it is not for you.

It all comes down to why you're coming to Korea. If you want to relax and explore while making a decent buck, go public or elsewhere. If you want to just work and save up money, CDI is a good choice.

Most branches do offer extra hours, by the way. Mine is just not one of them.

waltjocketty · Joined: 09 Oct 2006

I did it 2 years ago. I suggest you don't do it. It's not worth it, unless the other schools you're considering are equally strict and arbitrary in all of their policy decisions.

dexter · Joined: 22 Oct 2008

Yeah I'm not really into the whole 'big brother is watching me' thing. Can't imagine I would feel comfortable like that.

chemdah · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

bubba2007 · Joined: 26 Oct 2007

Does anyone know if CDI changed their salary structure recently? If I'm not mistaken they used to offer 2.7 or 2.8 for monthly instructors but from what I have heard they offer starting salaries below this level now.

Does your salary depend on what location you work at and whether it is a branch or franchise?

enns · Joined: 02 May 2006

It differs based on location. I've seen as low as 2.4 million for salary contracts, which isn't worth it, IMO. I think 2.7/2.8 or 30k an hour makes it a good set-up. You can even find higher than this, you just need to find the right branch.

catchshime · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:42 am Post subject:

kenbamd · Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Location: Seoul, Korea

[quote="Suwon23"]I am a salaried employee for CDI, and we were told that ALL of the hourly employees pay for their own rent. We also get airfare, pension, health insurance, and severance, so unless you live in a cheap city you'll have to work a lot of hours to make more money in the hourly route. But as others have said it's great for a first-year teacher.

The people who say it's a bad deal are probably old-timers working at Holy Crap University and getting paid in gold and virgins. What other job pays 3.0/month for someone with no experience and a degree in basket-weaving? The materials are very good, so you can go your entire contract without having to really plan a single lesson (if you want to just coast along- passionate teachers will do otherwise). My one bit of advice is...

Do not let them put you in a franchise. You must go to a branch school, i.e. a school owned by CDI itself. Then you have all the advantages of a large corporation (timely payment, leashed bosses who can't get away with murder, relatively low probability of unabashed fleecing). I work at a franchise owned by some dude with no connection to CDI headquarters. I might as well be working at a mom-and-pop what's-a-labor-law hagwon.

So yeah, good luck! Remember, young-yang-tang is really just bo-shin-tang.[/quote]

There is no way this teacher was getting 3.0 mil at CDI monthly with all the benefits.. this teacher was probably 2.3 max 2.5 monthly

Peter258 · Joined: 18 Dec 2009

Any updates from the CDI employees?

Anyone here work at/familiar with the Busan CDI branch?

bemusedone · Joined: 18 Jun 2009

Update for CDI Busan...

Now it's called Injoong CDL. They are having financial problems. We very CRITICAL of them. Wonder why they keep advertising for teachers? Only a fool would work for them! You can get paid the same at another school and get more benefits (airfare, pension, health care, severence, all red days, longer holidays...)

Also, Salary teachers work a full schedule (30hrs teaching hrs a week) while hourly teachers tend to get the minimum (24 hrs). This way the school saves money if they lack students.