Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Auslegung]

From what I can tell there are 6 divisions of YBM Pine. They can be ordered from most exclusive to least exclusive thus: Gifted and Talented Education (GATE), YBM International Academy (YIA), Learning Tree, Preschool Academy (PSA), Appletree. As for GPS, they're elementary/middle school and I am focusing on preschool/kindie, so I won't be considering them for employment. GATE requires a degree in either education or English which I don't have, but I think I most want to work there so I'm going to apply anyway. Please correct me if any of this is incorrect so far.

I want to work with young kids because 1) they're fun, 2), they're energetic, 3) their language acquisition skills are highest. So basically I want to see these kids have fun, but also improve significantly while I'm teaching them. With that in mind, what kind of advice would former or current YBM Pine teachers give me? Most importantly, what campus do you work at and would you suggest I apply there?

I've heard that YIA was intended to be somewhat exclusive, but over time they've become more or less a normal hagwon. I'd prefer 5-7 year olds, so PSA seems a good middle-of-the-road solution, is that accurate? Plus PSA's 9-4.30 schedule seems the most attractive. I know Appletree and Learning Tree are going to be babysitting to some extent, especially Appletree, though the idea is attractive.

With what little I know, my preference is 1) GATE, 2) PSA, 3/4) Learning Tree/Appletree, 5) YIA.

[fostergregd]

I will be following this as well. I have been offered a position at a YBM Pine "Leader's International Academy" and I am strongly considering it.

[danby_ll]

I work at PSA. I don't know much about the other PINE divisions, but I will vouch for PSA.

I love working there. The schedule is great. It's great that we basically make our own schedules with our co-teachers, meaning your choose your own teaching times. This year I only teach ONE 30-minute class on Tuesdays (not including my after school class, from 3-4:30) and two on Thursdays. You will most likely never have to teach more than four or five 30-minutes classes per day. That being said, there is a lot of "babysitting" as you're expected to stay with your class at all times, take them to special subjects, eat lunch with them, etc.

I love teaching young kids, for the reasons you mentioned. I taught 6-year-olds last year, and I'm with the 5-year-olds this year. There is a HUGE difference between the two. However, the rate at which they learn is amazing and very rewarding.

Be aware that PSA has large class sizes - maximum 20. I have 20 in my class. But there are 3 teachers per class (foreign teacher, Korean teacher, assistant teacher).

As long as you like young children (and don't mind being with them from 9:30 to 4:30 every day), I would strongly recommend working for PSA. The salary is higher than many other hagwons and they give more vacation time. Free lunch and free snacks twice a day. Field trips once a month. Large support group of foreign teachers. Birthday parties for every student where the moms bring tons of good food.

It's a very expensive school, though (parents pay 1.3 million per kid per month) so the moms can be very demanding, picky, and sometimes overbearing. Although as the foreign teacher, you won't have to deal with them very much. But management really cares about appearances and pleasing the moms so there's a lot of "showing off" at certain times - making decorations, open classes where we have to push the kids to regurgitate scripts, etc.

I like how the kids are allowed to have play time and basically have fun. I worked at another hagwon before where it was just all strictly doing book work - for 6-year-olds. Our students really love PSA, even though I admit sometimes they're pushed way too hard for their age (but that's Korea for you, I guess).

This is getting pretty long, but feel free to PM me or reply here if you have any questions!

[soviet_man]

When I worked at YBM ECC in 2005/06 (www.ybmecc.co.kr) the PSA (Pre School Academy) was taught between 10am-3pm with elementary and middle school at the same facility from 3-9pm.

So if you were to go to a YBM ECC branch, you could potentially do both kinder and elementary.

[danby_ll]