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samd
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
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 Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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Just in case you missed my thread about illegal penalty clauses, I'm currently working for CDI and regretting it.
I have almost 10 years of ESL experience in Asia, and should know better. I don't deserve any sympathy, but I was thinking similarly to you - I had heard CDI's reputation, but the recruiter told me this particular branch was good, the director was nice etc, and a friend of mine working there told me it was a good gig, the location and pay were in the acceptable range and I needed a job so I took it.
Since then they've royally fucked me. If I could go back I would hold out for another job, if I were you I'd pass on CDI.
It's not only the illegal shit that sucks, it's the lack of vacation time, the working on red days, the stupid tablet system, the hours and hours of unpaid admin duties, and worst of all, the way you feel after you tell people where you work and watch them try to control their reactions so they don't hurt your feelings. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 4:10 am Post subject: |
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| samd wrote: |
| Just in case you missed my thread about illegal penalty clauses, I'm currently working for CDI and regretting it. |
I didn't miss it. I'd like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the good manner in which you took my posts in that thread.
| Quote: |
| I have almost 10 years of ESL experience in Asia, and should know better. I don't deserve any sympathy, but I was thinking similarly to you - I had heard CDI's reputation, but the recruiter told me this particular branch was good, the director was nice etc, and a friend of mine working there told me it was a good gig, the location and pay were in the acceptable range and I needed a job so I took it. |
As you mentioned in the other thread, this is more of a chance to let others know the horrors of CDI. A key thing to remember is that the recruiter is not working for you, the job hunter; the recruiter is working for the school. In the other thread, I used the term vested interest. The recruiter has a vested interest in telling the job hunter that the school in question is not questionable, the teacher working there and desperate to get out without losing his shirt has a vested interest in getting someone, anyone, friend or foe, just any warm body to take his place.
| Quote: |
Since then they've royally fucked me. If I could go back I would hold out for another job, if I were you I'd pass on CDI.
It's not only the illegal shit that sucks, it's the lack of vacation time, the working on red days, the stupid tablet system, the hours and hours of unpaid admin duties, and worst of all, the way you feel after you tell people where you work and watch them try to control their reactions so they don't hurt your feelings. |
And the flacks will be back to say how wrong you are, how wrong I am, how rosy and wonderful and great CDI is. And they're just as much scum as CDI, IMHO.
The only person I hope that ever takes a job with CDI is nciervo. |
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Beeyee
Joined: 29 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 8:15 am Post subject: |
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| samd wrote: |
| It's not only the illegal shit that sucks, it's the lack of vacation time, the working on red days, the stupid tablet system, the hours and hours of unpaid admin duties, and worst of all, the way you feel after you tell people where you work and watch them try to control their reactions so they don't hurt your feelings. |
I'm genuinely interested in why you think the tablet system is 'stupid'. I have only ever heard good things about it from teachers, students and parents.
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Not only do they still manage to hire people but CDI still has a reputation for being the best/most prestigious hagwan around for kids. Not by me I hasten to add but a bunch of Korean teachers I was training once came out with it as a 'fact.' I don't know how they manage to keep that going if they're as bad to their teachers as you all seem to be making out. |
The answer of course is that it isn't as bad as everyone is making out. It's cool to hate on Chungdahm even though you've never set foot in one of its branches but you've read on the Internet that it sucks.
I also roll my eyes at people who sign contracts with Chungdahm and then complain about things like the training, the lack of vacation, the work on red days etc etc. If you don't want to do it then don't sign the contract. Simple. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 10:27 am Post subject: |
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| Like clockwork. |
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Beeyee
Joined: 29 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| Like clockwork. |
Except that I didn't say Chungdahm was rosy and wonderful and great did I?
Never mind, I guess I'm just scum  |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I'm genuinely interested in why you think the tablet system is 'stupid' |
What is the tablet system? I'm interested |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Beeyee wrote: |
| CentralCali wrote: |
| Like clockwork. |
Except that I didn't say Chungdahm was rosy and wonderful and great did I?
Never mind, I guess I'm just scum |
No, you're just defending or glossing over their illegal behavior. And you've done that before on this board. You tout the one place where you've worked for a few years and another franchise where you "know the teachers". You pretend that those two places are more representative than what so many other people have experienced. You dismiss the incredible weight of evidence against the CDI chain.
Yes, you are a shill for them. |
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Beeyee
Joined: 29 May 2007
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| Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 7:30 am Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
You pretend that those two places are more representative than what so many other people have experienced. You dismiss the incredible weight of evidence against the CDI chain.
Yes, you are a shill for them. |
I do no such thing. Instead I speak about what I actually know and have experienced. I'd wager that the vast majority of people who crap on Chungdahm have literally no experience of working there. They instead hear complaints by teachers who, assuming they can read, actually signed up for what they then complain about. It's bizarre behavior to say the least.
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| What is the tablet system? I'm interested |
Chungdahm uses Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 tablets instead of books. All students have one and the teacher has one too. The teacher's tab is mirrored via wifi to a display at the front of the classroom. Students follow along with the teacher and work on the tab. They produce Powerpoint presentations, do video editing, graphic design and so on. Teachers can also use the tablet to show media relevant to the lesson.
As I mentioned before, I see no reason why anyone would describe this as 'stupid'. It's great for students and teachers alike. |
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hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
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| Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 8:48 am Post subject: |
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having technology is good, i now teach at a place where all the students have iPads and its wonderful.
Teaching at CDI though is another story and you don't have to teach there to know how bad it is there. Besides the lawsuit, I know cdi people who were forcibly quarantined because of the swine flu scare a few years ago just because they were foreigners |
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wooden nickels
Joined: 23 May 2010
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| Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Beeyee wrote: |
| CentralCali wrote: |
You pretend that those two places are more representative than what so many other people have experienced. You dismiss the incredible weight of evidence against the CDI chain.
Yes, you are a shill for them. |
I do no such thing. Instead I speak about what I actually know and have experienced. I'd wager that the vast majority of people who crap on Chungdahm have literally no experience of working there. They instead hear complaints by teachers who, assuming they can read, actually signed up for what they then complain about. It's bizarre behavior to say the least.
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| What is the tablet system? I'm interested |
Chungdahm uses Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 tablets instead of books. All students have one and the teacher has one too. The teacher's tab is mirrored via wifi to a display at the front of the classroom. Students follow along with the teacher and work on the tab. They produce Powerpoint presentations, do video editing, graphic design and so on. Teachers can also use the tablet to show media relevant to the lesson.
As I mentioned before, I see no reason why anyone would describe this as 'stupid'. It's great for students and teachers alike. |
Having technology in the classroom can be a good thing. Having a roof on the building on a rainy day can be a good thing. Having a heater in the classroom on a cold day can be a good thing.
Just because CDI has tablets, a roof, and a heater doesn't necessarily make it a good place to be at. You can find all three of these items in a prison. It doesn't make the prison a nice place to hang out for a year. |
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EZE
Joined: 05 May 2012
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| Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 3:24 am Post subject: |
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| hogwonguy1979 wrote: |
there are three (maybe 4) chains that have shafted so many people out of so much money over the years it is now recommended that people avoid ALL branches of these schools nationwide
1) Chungdam
2) Wonderland
3) SLP
Whats amazing to me is I was recently rereading "Prisoner of Wonderland" and even almost 14 years later they are still pulling this stuff on people. HTF do they still manage to hire people, same with CDI. |
Wow, if Chungdham is higher on the shitlist than Wonderland, it must really be a piece of work. 
As a midnight runner from Wonderland myself, I have to say that it is important to take the reputation of the chain into account before working there. I've worked at three hagwons. I'd rate both the first one and my current one as A+++. Wonderland was an F---. I was a damned fool for signing on when I had been warned. Some people listen to others. And then there are people like the OP and me who apparently just have to touch the fire and get burned. |
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