Korean Job Discussion Forums

[edwardcatflap]

[shanana.og]

[PatrickGHBusan]

[shanana.og]

Hey PatrickGHBusan: If you don't mind, could you shoot me a PM with the rundown on which hagwon branches (Haeundae and surrounding) have decent reputations??? I'm guessing you gotta know a thing or two yeah

AND CAN WE PLEASE STOP INSULTING EACH OTHER OVER A JOKE?!

[PatrickGHBusan]

Sure I will pm you shanana

[oldtrafford]

Do not work for SLP, I repeat do not work for SLP. I have a mate who works there and some days he works from 9 till 9.

SLP is an anagram: SLAVE LANGUAGE PROGRAM

He makes 2.1 and he also does telephone Englisheeeeee

But on a lighter note he lives in Heundae!!

[Mr Lee's Monkey]

Hi OP - I work at one of the schools you mentioned you've interviewed with for a job in June - there aren't any jobs open in June unless something pretty hinkey is about to go down where I work. Are you sure you were told that Yes Youngdo, Avalon, and YBM ECC all had openings in June?

[shanana.og]

Hey there! Nope, one of them was a May position I'm sure you can guess who

[brooker]

[bbud656]

You would probably have a better time being close to your friends but far enough away to make some of your own. Don't get trapped only hanging out with people you already know here. Busan is a cool city. Im moving near there next year, but part of the reason I am moving is to meet new people, see new places, etc. The beach area has the worst traffic ive ever seen in korea. I love taking cabs here, but its out of the question at certain times a day in that part of Busan.

[shanana.og]

[TheUrbanMyth]

As regards the debate about SLP here are things I picked from a standard SLP contract (you can see it on the contract sticky thread)

21x80 minute classes...longer than a typical good schedule of 30x40 minute classes. Most textbooks that deal with teaching English recommend a 40-50 minute length for maximum learning retention.

2.5 hours of unpaid prep every day...simply excessive.

Multiple Saturdays without pay.

OT of 30,000 for 80 minutes...contrast that with 20,000 for 40 minutes. That equates to 15000 won for 40 minutes which is a OT pay rate from the last decade.

If you have morning classes you are expected to be there by 9:30 AM and you leave at 8 PM.

Plus they state in the contract that health insurance is not mandatory for foreign teachers which is an outright lie.

And to top it all of you get your severance 45 days after the end of the contract...or so they say. There is no reason why it can't be paid at the end. Some branches will likely just "forget" to pay it...if you are back in the West you're not going to fly all the way back just to collect it are you?

Now this does not apply to all SLP branches nor is it actually Slave Labor.

But it's still pretty bad...hence the joke.

[happiness]

I lived in Haeundae in about 2005 or so for 15 months. Not many foreigners at that time. They had just started building those officetels in Jangsan then.
I had a nice school that were nice to me (K-coworkers were kind of nasty, but meh). I had an ocean view from my window. It was lovely.

[CPJ]

Living in Haeundae or Gwangalli is awesome! I think 99% of the people in Busan would live there if they could.

Haeundae is a big area. There is Haeundae that is near the beach but also haeundae that is far from the beach.

When it comes to schools in Haeundae, you have to be careful. Many are good but many are also pretty bad. They know everyone wants haeundae so they can easily rip teachers off without much worry about finding a new teacher.

Schools in haeundae that you DO NOT want to work at. I know people that have worked at or are working at these schools.
Haeundae SLP. The have 20 teachers and half are always doing midnight runs. You work too much for the pay. The director is a crook.
Haeundae CAIS, Haeundae Solomon. They lie and cheat teachers. The director is a crook.
Haeundae Corem. Far away from the beach and they will treat you like shit. Almost as bad as SLP. Surprise! The director is a crook.

[different]