Korean Job Discussion Forums

jj_ · Joined: 20 Apr 2004 Location: Planet Korea

Can anyone tell me about ECC?
Is it a good company?

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

They are a large franchise. Some of their schools have had problems. It depends on which branch you will work for. If it is a branch owned by the corporation, that is always safer.

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

try here:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=6651
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=8062
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=9799
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=18594

Lots more here... just do a search for ECC. YBM threads are also relevant.

Toby · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: Wedded Bliss

On a personal note, don't go there.

But. having said that, I know people that have had/are having a good time with them.

PEIGUY · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Location: Omokgyo

Zyzyfer · Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 6:58 pm Post subject:

I did a year of ECC in Cheonan. I guess the general consensus is that the contracts aren't as good as other schools, but I had a couple of great pals to hang out with during that year, and I didn't really notice too much. One big thing I was recently thinking about, though...all of the foreign teachers, except myself, took an extra bit of vacation time. Every single one of them took a huge pay cut because of it. Every day that you take off is subtracted from your base salary, so you could stand to lose 300-500,000 won for a week of extra fun in the sun or going back home for someone's wedding. I also didn't get pension, and the main bosslady started dicking me around towards the end. What's funny is that she usually enquires as to when I'll be able to change jobs whenever I bump into her. Confused

marcy · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Location: Seoul

Have known quite a few people who work at the ECC in Ansan and had a great time. A lot of them have come back for a second year.

Squid · Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Anyang

I worked there for a year, in "sunny Daerim", unfortunately misrepresented on their website as Yongdungpo, which is about 20 mins. away on the bus. The suburb is an absolute disgrace, a total dump, but the staff at the school were top folk, the boss was ok, and the flatting easy and mostly everything taken care of for you.

I miss being paid on time, every time, though not the amount. ECC will not do you any favors money wise, and their "holiday" conditions really do suck the fat one.

Expect not much change out of 1.2 million Won in your hand each month if, like me, you're picky about sharing with a stranger and take a flat to yourself.

Choice is yours, though I expect many experienced teachers here would look at an ECC contract like it was something stuck to their shoe. I do.

Homer · Guest

ECC can be a good first job.

I would also stay away from the franchise schools and stick to the schools that are owned and operated by YBM itself.

ECC has some advantages for a new teacher with little or no experience.
They have a decent curriculum, they pay you on time and honor their contracts.

The above mentionned criterias do not hold true for franchise schools where really its a roll of the dice.

rok_the-boat · Joined: 24 Jan 2004

EEC or other big names can be good, especially for starters. They are organised, have a curriculum set up and ready to go for the teachers, and generally organise things quite well. They are used to having a lot of foreingers and know all the issues.

JaphieR · Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Location: Bundang

I posted the contract ECC offered me the other day. I wasn't sure I could trust them even if they revised it. One of the teachers sent me an email that basically said "eh"

paisleyavenger · Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Location: Korea

ECC isn't any different. being a franchise doesn't give them immunity to having stupid asshat owners.

ok, i work for an ecc school and i'm happy as can be. they pay me well, they treat me well and all the foreigners here are happy. i work for one of those schools where education is real, we're expected to teach well, and we're taken seriously.

in return, most teachers at my school stay on and do 2 or 3 contracts. there's 3 people in my school on their 3rd or 4th year.

there's 5 of us on our 2nd year (including me).

most of the first contract teachers are keen to stay on longer.

BUT ... as i said, this is because our owner is a professional business woman who works hard and is honest.

there are ecc schools out there that will treat you badly because they're run by lying, cheating morons. it doesn't matter if the school is privately run, a franchise or whatever ... if the owner is a dipsh*t, then the school will be bad too!