Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The Batman]

Does anyone know anything about Snappy English nearby Hongje station on the Orange line? I'm considering a contract there, just want to know the good and the bad.

[sarahbrach]

I worked with snappy over 2 years ago, I was 21 and it was my first contract here in Korea. I won't totally bash the place but I will let you in on what me and other teachers experienced. The whole time I was there there were always about 4 or 5 other foreign teachers, and me and one other person were the only 2 that finished out the contract.
Also, they real you in with the great lunch break and the finishing at 6.... but your hours will be 10-12:15.......1:00-1:40 and then 3-6:20 and often 7 : 05. I know these hours because i did resign with the school after a 6 month break in canada and for and 800, 000 won a month raise....I quit after 6 months (they promised me a release letter.....and instead got me kicked out of the country....and provided me a FAKE letter)
They will give you more hours....and you will have to work them, because they count every minute in the 120 hours a month deal. You will not get paid for breaks.
They also have ridiculously boring curriculum for morning kindergarden. They will give you one book, to teach the children to memorize for 1 month. You have to make it interesting for one month!!! Alot of the morning classes don't have materials or seriously lack them, which is difficult when u are required to teach 5 kindergardens a day.
The afternoon classes aren't so bad. Typical Lets Go series and a reading book. but again you will have 5 afternoon classes (they will give you more). I think when i quit i realized that working 10 classes a day was ridiculous, even for the high amount of money they were paying their teachers. Everyone hated it there. The owners are pretty nice, if you do what your told.....but watch out if you disagree on something. You also have to punch in.....and punch in at 2:30 to prepare.
hmmmm.........oh ya, they pay on time, they give you pizza for lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays and give you a snack at around 5:30........yes seems so generous.....but when your basically a slave to them from 10 am until 7.....you need that snack.

Remember summer is coming....at this job you will not see daylight, ever.

I tried not to rag too much, because they are not awful people, but with so many other jobs out there, this one is not ideal. Its just such a long day.
And if the foreign teachers director is still Daniel.....watch out he is the worst out of them all. He doesn't give a damn about the foreign teachers, he talks dirty, is lazy and will never help you with anything. PLUS forget about pizza day ........ he eats most of it.

good luck.

me

[The Batman]

Thanks for the advice, guess I will avoid that place.

[kimcheeking]

I also worked at Snappy my first contract in Korea. The schedule was just as bad in '97. But I also had to deal with the won tanking adding to my hardship and stress.

The contract said 7 vacation days, I fought and managed to get 5 so I headed off to Kosamui. While there, I had a motorscooter accident- messed up my leg and ended up coming back to Korea early due to an extremely swollen leg needing medical attention that the Thai's weren't providing. I could barely walk and Mr. Baek told me I would have to work anyway - even though i couldn't walk and had an appt at Yonsei severance hospital. I said no, going to hospital by taxi. He came into the apt, with his Key (didn't know he had one) and told me that I had the accident on purpose so I could extend my vacation. The Gall! I told him to f*** himself, f*** his job, and shove it up his a$$.

Don't work there!