| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
cert43
Joined: 17 Jun 2010
|
 Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 6:00 am Post subject: GKI Hagwon |
 |
|
Any-one have any experience with them?
I checked the threads,but all the posts are over two years ago. I also
see that they hire EVERY month and the biq question is why? I know they
have over twenty-five foreign teachers, but if these high renewal are
really in existence ( like I have so often heard), then why would they feel
the need to keep bringing in teachers? Granted I don't have the renewal
% in hand,but Iam the only one that thinks this sounds a wee bit fishy in
it's context? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
tamaralynn
Joined: 04 Apr 2011
Location: Canada
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
I've been offered a position with them, as well, and I can't seem to find any reviews on them. The director gave me three email addresses of current teachers, but I am still waiting for a reply...
Did you end up taking a position with them? Any comments or advice?
Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cedarseoul
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Location: nowon-gu
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have a friend who works at GKI (at least, I think it's GKI...kind of southern Seoul, right?).
He's had very positive things to say about it in the past. Kind of a smaller company...I believe they have a religious affiliation? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tamaralynn
Joined: 04 Apr 2011
Location: Canada
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 6:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Yes, I think they are a christian school. The emails I've received from the director all have a quote from the bible as the 'signature'. But they haven't explicitly said anything about having to be christian to work there or anything...
I don't mind 'upholding christian values' (whatever the heck that is supposed to mean...) as long as they don't make me go to church! lol. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cyui
Joined: 10 Jan 2011
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 8:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
The job seems to have alot of consistency behind it. Sure it will be ok if it is a Christian School.
We all need postive restructure in our lives'. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Vox_Populi
Joined: 04 May 2009
Location: Seoul, South Korea
|
| Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 3:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
Most people that work fall into one of two categories:
Long-timers, primarily those who've never worked at any other schools in Korea and so don't know that there are THOUSANDS of far better schools out there.
or
Those dreaming of leaving because they realize that GKI is not a great place to work.
If you want anything more detailed from me, you'll have to PM me.
PS I work at GKI and am dreaming of leaving SOON. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chet Wautlands
Joined: 11 Oct 2008
|
| Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 4:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
| If you are not Christian and are planning on working at a Christian school in Korea, be prepared for weekly conversion attempts. GKI might be fine (and current teachers will be able to you tell you this), but it's not fun having a religious debate with someone who doesn't speak English fluently. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Vox_Populi
Joined: 04 May 2009
Location: Seoul, South Korea
|
| Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 4:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Chet Wautlands wrote: |
| If you are not Christian and are planning on working at a Christian school in Korea, be prepared for weekly conversion attempts. GKI might be fine (and current teachers will be able to you tell you this), but it's not fun having a religious debate with someone who doesn't speak English fluently. |
I can't say that I have any great fondness for GKI. However, I will say that nobody is forced to pray or do anything that they might find offensive from a religious standpoint. In fact, about the only time we're ever exposed to it at all is on kindergarten graduation and opening days as well as recital assemblies when the owner's wife comes and leads a prayer with the assembled parents. The prayer is in Korean, NOT English, and nobody cares if you participate or not. Nobody will try to convert you to Christianity at GKI. It's really just a non-issue.
Other "Christian" schools, sure. I'd be wary of them. And I probably wouldn't recommend GKI to teachers or prospective teachers, but it has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with high levels of stress and a lack of caring and respect from the management.
Oh, and someone else asked why the high turnover. Well, the place is a pit of stress so few people want to renew. Even those that do want to renew are often not allowed to by the tyrannical manager who has been known to fire people with little or no reason (or sometimes reasons that are clearly unethical and border on illegal).
Anyway, I don't think I'll say more in this forum. Too public. PM me if you want any more details. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
revspook
Joined: 15 Feb 2010
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
I worked for GKI in Mok-Dong (sinjeong2dong, more precisely). This is a franchise school, so I know nothing about the other GKI schools. They could be awesome.
All I have to say on the matter is this: even if you've physically boarded the plane for ICN, it's not too late (likely you'll be waiting at the airport for a few hours for pick-up anyway) to get on the A'REX, head into Seoul and find another job. If you are currently working at this specific school, I have a good lawyer I can hook you up with. You could easily find yourself fired halfway through the contract, shorted money, on the streets, with the director calling immigration on you. This isn't an exaggeration, but the tip of the iceberg. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Vox_Populi
Joined: 04 May 2009
Location: Seoul, South Korea
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 9:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| revspook wrote: |
I worked for GKI in Mok-Dong (sinjeong2dong, more precisely). This is a franchise school, so I know nothing about the other GKI schools. They could be awesome.
All I have to say on the matter is this: even if you've physically boarded the plane for ICN, it's not too late (likely you'll be waiting at the airport for a few hours for pick-up anyway) to get on the A'REX, head into Seoul and find another job. If you are currently working at this specific school, I have a good lawyer I can hook you up with. You could easily find yourself fired halfway through the contract, shorted money, on the streets, with the director calling immigration on you. This isn't an exaggeration, but the tip of the iceberg. |
Wow! Well, the GKI branches in Songpa and Guri aren't that bad. I mean, it's not exactly the IDEAL situation, but lots of people stay for years and it's not an issue.
Lately (I don't know if I mentioned this previously), the management at Songpa, in particular, seems to have decided ONLY to hire female teachers. The director has been letting the male teachers finish their contracts and then makes up some silly excuse for not renewing them. I suspect he may keep on one or two male teachers just in case someone decides to complain of discriminatory hiring practices. Even when I started there in '09, it was alreay about 75-80% female. Now there are only 2 or 3 male teachers left and I know for a fact that at least one has been told that his contract will NOT be renewed.
So, if you should decide to accept an offer from GKI, beware. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
revspook
Joined: 15 Feb 2010
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 10:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The Mok-dong school had people on multiple year contracts. Mostly, these people worked like dogs and weren't paid straight for their overtime. I'm not sure why anybody would sign a second contract, but it takes all kinds and if you're the kind to be taken advantage of, you might have a steady gig, provided the management doesn't run the place under or have to make anymore cutbacks.
It's a hell-school to work for. The M.O. is to burn people, then pressure them into leaving the country quickly in hopes they don't go to the labor board.
The contracts there are more worthless than the paper their printed on. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mpsy925
Joined: 06 Dec 2011
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
Oh no, I've just gotten an interview from GKI school in Mok-dong as well. I'm a little nervous now from the posts I've read in the thread.
Any updates from that school atm? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
revspook
Joined: 15 Feb 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| mpsy925 wrote: |
Oh no, I've just gotten an interview from GKI school in Mok-dong as well. I'm a little nervous now from the posts I've read in the thread.
Any updates from that school atm? |
Same shady owner, so nothing to update.
Find a reputable school. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
reeldeal
Joined: 01 Jan 2012
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 4:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Keep this thread going - GKI is hiring again now. Current teachers, please chime in. Sounds like songpa isn't as bad as mokdong. Any new developments? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Xanetos
Joined: 23 Jul 2013
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 10:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Anyone have any current information on the Guri location? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
