Korean Job Discussion Forums

[djns]

Hi, I've had a job offer from PIS Canada near Pyeongchon station in Anyang but can't find much information online. Does anyone have any experience here?

Thanks!

[wonkavite62]

The first time I went to Korea, I went in with only the information the recruiter gave me. It would be a good job, with lots of games for the kids and an active social life. Well, he was right about the social life. While it was not the worst hagwon in Korea, there were real issues with the school's methodology and a very high turnover of western staff. People got fired every 4-6 months, or broke contracts. So I did not complete my contract there.
Nowadays I like to get detailed information from a western teacher who works at the school now. After all, they are already doing my job. You may have to ask the school directly for this information. . Getting information from a foreigner-not Korean-who is working there now will be a great relief and help you decide whether you want to work in that team. No school is perfect, but it's about excluding the non-viable ones, the ones where there's trouble. you may get one of the following replies:(a) "Er-he had to leave...he's not in Korea right now, please come quickly!" or (b), "Why are you asking me so many questions? I want to check YOUR credentials. I want MORE references from you!" (c) "We don't give that kind of information. Our teachers need privacy." or (d) "Sure, no problem. Here's his e-mail and phone number." Of these replies only (d) is acceptable to me.
Here are some questions to ask the school directly. How many western people will be working at the school? Will you be the only one? What is the accommodation like? What are the school rules? Does the school have any equipment and materials? Or do you have to make and buy everything yourself? (This isn't a problem everywhere in Korea, but it has been known. More detailed questions can be listed in an e-mail for the school to complete.
If you want you can check out the "Hagwon Blacklist" which I think is still running.

[Coltronator]

Just to add to Wonk's very useful advice. Something even better than a current employee is someone who used to work there but doesn't now. Current employees, even ones about to leave often don't want to rock the boat. So if you are put in contact with a current employee then further ask that person if they can put you in contact with one of their former co-workers.

[wonkavite62]

I tended to think that past employees would be out of the loop and no longer know what's going on, but actually your comment is useful. I forgot about how current employees might not want to upset the boss. So, if you do get feedback from a current employee, make sure the hagwon boss is unable to see or hear what is said.

[DaeguNL]

[djns]

Thanks for the comments!

I have actually turned down the position for a number of reasons. First of all when I asked to speak to one of the foreign teachers they provided me with an email address and when I requested a brief Skype chat I didn't get a response. My recruiter emailed me the next day to say the teacher just wanted to communicate via email. I explained that having a conversation by Skype or over the phone would be better in order to get an honest opinion of the school. The teacher eventually wrote me back and told me she wasn't comfortable giving me her Skype details and she would only talk to me at school using the admin's computer. She gave a narrow window for us to Skype (30 mins at 4am where I am) and again said she'd rather communicate by email. I thought this was all a bit suspect, but partly because of something I was told during the interview.

When I asked how many foreign teachers there are I was told there would be 7. I asked how long the teachers tend to stay at the school and was told that PIS Canada are replacing ALL of their native English teachers this coming semester. This sounded a little strange to me, but being an interview I didn't linger on it. However, I suspect the reluctance for the teacher to speak to me by email may be due to this. I also wouldn't be surprised if the teacher they had arranged to speak with me wasn't even one of the foreign teachers, but I'll never know that.

My recruiter told me that lots of other candidates had simply accepted the job without requesting to speak with a current teacher and basically implied I shouldn't be asking for a Skype interview. Knowing people who have taught in Korea and having done lots of research I felt there was something they weren't telling me.

The guy who interviewed me was really nice though and the school sounded good. The location was another factor that influenced my decision, so I've now found one in a different area which has much better hours and a week's training before I begin teaching (this is my first time teaching in Korea). PIS only offered one day for orientation.

It's difficult to tell if there was anything genuinely wrong with the school, but I would say it's a definite red flag if there is a reluctance for a current teacher to speak with a prospective employee.

[Haibrok]

I also recently rejected an offer from them for similar reasons.

I wish I could have responded to this when you first posted but the site was dragging its feet activating my account.

The location is great. But the contract is a downright joke.

They were all smiles, asking me to please email them with any questions. I did, they gave me a long response.

Well, then I ask for contact info of foreign teachers. I then get something from my recruiter saying they said not to contact them anymore because they are too busy.

The contact---what a joke. And the recruiter kept trying to lie and mislead. Because I turned down the contract, she then sabotaged two other interviews she set up for me, after going incommunicado.

She gave me a sample contract for one of the other schools I had an interview with. The contract looked decent but lo and behold, she promised paid airfare, and the contract gave reimbursed airfare. Makes me not trust any school that uses that recruiter.

Terrible.

This place deserves to go on the blacklist if any place does.