Korean Job Discussion Forums

jklunder · Joined: 10 Mar 2011 Location: US

Hi Everyone,

I will be a first-time teacher in Korea. While I am currently very satisfied with the offers I have so far, for the sake of referring correct information to my friends, I would like to have a list of the "best" hogwans to work for in South Korea.

Could you guys recommend either the schools (i.e. CDL, Edumost, etc.) or recruiters that link to these schools?

I define "best" hogwans as:

1. Offering the best pay (given the amount of hours worked)
2. The best benefits (i.e. extra days off, etc.)
3. The best treatment of employees

Luckily, all my friends either have Ivy League degrees or 5+ years of teaching experience.

Thanks for the consideration.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

I would change the definition of best.

1) meets or exceeds the minimum requirements of a labor contract as mandated by the Ministry of Labor and labor standards act in regards to hours of work, overtime pay, severance, annual vacation, etc.

2) enrolls the teacher in the national pension plan (NPS) and national medical plan (NHIC) as required by law.

3) withholds and submits taxes to the NTS as appropriate for an employee (you are not a subcontractor).

4) Meets their obligations as stipulated and agreed to in the contract.
(you can bet your butt they will certainly hold you to yours).

If you want better pay, get qualified and spend your time getting experienced.

Even a "fresh off the boat", "green as grass" newbie in a PS can earn close to 2.7 mil with a few extra classes (still be less than the 30 required by a hagwan), still be home at 5:00pm and still have their 6 weeks of annual paid vacation AND not have to worry about pension, severance and medical.

.

RMNC · Joined: 21 Jul 2010

ttompatz is right as always. And the best hagwons are the ones that are NOT chains. Chain hagwons are rarely good places to work and I can't think of one (besides WSI) that would be worth it to work for.

sarahsiobhan · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:49 pm Post subject:

Just to give perspective, I work at a GnB and it's fantastic. Great coworkers, great boss, pay has never once been late, gorgeous kids....not all chains are bad.

Except Wonderland, obviously.

Louis VI · Joined: 05 Jul 2010 Location: In my Kingdom

Many hagwons don't do pension and don't want to honour sick days off (no one to cover, so it's discouraged). Some of these places are otherwise awesome and run by some nice people.

My criteria of a good hagwon:

1. Pays the salary every month on time (waiting until Monday if payday is Saturday is no prob)
2. Has a history of paying severance (no screwing out the guy who's going out the door)
3. Leaves one alone to teach without meetings, reprimands or micromanagement tips on how and what to teach
4. Has a good photocopier and no one minds one going off assigned book and using extra materials half the time.

THOSE matter the most to me, and I have been happier than a clam Smile

for over eight years in hagwons here (except for that four month awful job where pay was late, criticism over teaching happened and the director had a history of not paying severance I found out).

heckoutofdodge · Joined: 21 Jan 2011

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Slowmotion · Joined: 15 Aug 2009

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

ThingsComeAround · Joined: 07 Nov 2008

Best hagwons to work for...

Don't Advertise

Weigookin74 · Joined: 26 Oct 2009

akcrono · Joined: 11 Mar 2010

jklunder · Joined: 10 Mar 2011 Location: US

Hi Ttompatz (and others),

Would you be willing to recommend some ways to get with the best schools (as I truly believe I am high-quality material, with my educational background and experience)?

Perhaps the best way is just get my foot-in-the-door for the first year, and then find an ideal school once I get there.

Best,

Joe

rollo · Joined: 10 May 2006 Location: China

Good post and responses. yeah the chains and franchises often mean trouble. The best are often Mom and Pop places , that do not advertise and also have little turnover. I worked for five years at one, never had the least problem the owners are still dear friends of mine. One Canadian woman has worked for them for 13 years. Of course she is more than just a teacher now. She basically runs the place and makes bank.

It takes a lot of digging, and research and luck. Research is the key!

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

I explained why I liked my own gig so much, over here in a different thread:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=200653&highlight=

6th post down, and new hires only get 4 weeks vacation to start, not the 6 I have....