Korean Job Discussion Forums

[poof]

Apparently some guy who believes he can make a fast buck by opening his own language school - maybe some want to send him a few words of advice!!!

source:http://english.ohmynews.com/ArticleView/article_view.asp?menu=A11100&no=228477&rel_no=1&back_url=

Project Hagwon: Carving a Name Out
Come along for the ride as one Seoulite starts his own English institute

This is part 1 in a 3-part series. Look for part 2 in June to see the progress of CK's business venture.

Over Korean barbecue my friend asked me what I thought about the name of his yet-to-be-opened English institution. He said, "What do you think about 'Four Seasons English Institute?'" I said I liked it but I asked whether he could do that. He didn't know what I meant.

Explaining further about a famous hotel by the same name, he laughed and let me know there was no Four Seasons Hotel in Korea. He reconsidered and asked what I thought about him naming it "CK English Institute." You see, his name is Kim Chang Ku, CK for short.

He explained to me that it is popular among institute owners to name their schools after themselves. I said it sounded a little egotistical and he said his friends didn't like the idea either only because CK reminds them of a famous brand name. Considering how famous brand names are in South Korea I changed my opinion on the name and suggested he use it.

For those not familiar with the English institutes in Korea, the demand for these schools, called hagwon, is huge. Many people here want to learn English as a second language. Sometimes people are enthusiastic, most look at it as a necessary evil, a way to get a leg up on the competition when searching for a job after graduating from university.

As we sat, chatting over BBQ in the middle of the table on an extremely warm spring night, I realized it was not just a month ago CK e-mailed me asking for a favor. At the time, the details quickly unfolded. He told me of his plans to open a English institution in his own town of Jukjeon, right beside Bundang. What did he want from me? A foreign teacher perspective. He wanted to know what specifically he should be offering potential teachers, in terms of a contract.

The fact that CK was asking me, a foreigner, what foreign teachers would want and expect in a contract is a step in the right direction in my eyes. As an ESL teacher here in Korea, often the communication between foreign staff and Korean employers is a struggle. Whether that has to do with cultural differences or a language barrier or other factors, it's hard to say. With most things, it depends on the particular situation.

CK's main concern with the new venture is attracting the best possible teachers. He makes no bones about "being picky" because the teachers "are the most important part of the school." He has a clear idea of what kind of teacher he wants to attract, "teachers who like children, are kind and can easily understand the Korean culture." The institute will provide classes for kindergarten students and elementary school kids.

With any business, it's all about supply and demand. CK picked the particular location for his school because he feels he is likely to not have much competition in the early stages of building his reputation. Jukjeon is a new town and there aren't many English institutions there yet. This leaves a greater opportunity to etch out a name for himself in the community and he can "expect many new residents and students who will be looking for a place to study English."

Ideally he would like to open the institute in July but for that to happen, "everything has to go smoothly, including the hiring of teachers, class syllabus, advertising, interior design work and advertising, among other things."

CK feels the pressure of opening a new business but says that the idea of being his own boss and the potential of running a successful school keeps him going. As for his parents and friends, he lets me know he has "many wonderful supporters."

For example, his mom is his main financial backer. The greatest expense so far has been the leasing of the physical space for the school. Luckily, his mother was able to lease a space for a relatively reasonable price. His dad, although supportive, would have liked his son to get a job with a reputable financial company in Seoul.

However, CK isn't sidetracked by this because he is "excited about everything that is related to the new venture." He thinks "it is worth the risk." There is the possibility of this business being a success to the point where he could "earn more money than from an office job."

Of course, after finding out most of the details, I asked the question that I'm sure his father asked him. Why did you decide to do this? He came back quickly with an answer.

"The reason why I decided to do this job is that I felt this would be a good chance to run a more unique English institute compared to other schools out there."

He feels his direct experience as an ESL teacher working side by side with foreigners would be his strength, "a strength that most English institutes do not have." CK has made some great connections with recruiters and Canadian teachers at well-known English summer and winter camps supported by the Gyeonggi Province government. He wants to understand fully what it takes to build a successful and reputable English institute in Korea, from the contract details to the most effective teaching material available.

In search of answers he has tapped into those connections he has made in previous ESL teaching positions to really understand the needs of the students, parents and teachers. CK is focused on the future. He wants "to build a solid reputation for the school" by working with quality teachers and providing the best possible environment to learn English.

2005-05-26 22:26
©2005 OhmyNews

[hellofaniceguy]

If CK is serious about this...he needs to change his thinking for one think....get his mind out of his rear end...if that is where it is on this subject and start thinking that a hakwon...ESL hakwon is for education...not a business. Period.
Hiring quality teachers? What is quality? And by who's definition?

Looking at both sides of the coin...I have seen 100% foreign owned and operated schools in korea...operated by "western white" men...not kypos...and I have seen them become "korea" by doing just what they said they would not do and that is run the hakwon as a business.

For one thing...teachers at hakwons should not teach over 4/5 50 minute classes a day. No split shifts...6am...10am....3pm....8pm...etc. That is stupid. Teaching takes a lot of prep time as well as energy. If a school owner really cares about QUALITY...teachers would teach no more than 4/5 50 minute classes a day. Pay them ON TIME...if payday falls on the weekend...pay them on the Friday before. Don't cheat them or screw them around, lie, etc...

Teachers should be prepared for class...no coming to work 10 minutes before class...running copies of the copier and calling it a lesson.

Be professional, dress accordingly and do your best. Be prepared for class!

If the teachers is not following the rules/guidelines, etc...document the problem....have a pep talk with the teacher and let them know...they could be out the door if they don't correct the problem(s).

I am sure many others could add to this...but I wanted to keep it simple: school owners should be paying a DECENT salary, DECENT housing, DECENT vacation, don't micro manage, be fair, etc.... if he teacher is not working out for you, let them go within the limits of korean law...not your law. It's a two way street....

Schools have to remember this...teachers are the ones who are making you the money. NOT YOU! Treat them fair and you'll be rewarded...get rid of bad teachers...but don't screw them over just because you don't like their teaching method.

[Ya-ta Boy]

With Korea's declining birth rate, the slices of the pie are getting thinner and thinner. Adding to the problem are the growing number of government programs (GEPIK, EPIK).

If CK is going to be successful he is going to need an innovative educational program that will be hard to sustain with revolving door teachers.

Good luck.

[Teufelswacht]

I wish CK luck. He's going to need it - in bucket loads.

I realize the focus of the article will probably be the director - teacher (aka foreigner) relationship . I will be interested in whether the article addresses where CK's real headaches will come from in the future. Such as:

1. As soon, or before, he opens the door he will be pressured to join the local hogwan owners association. It is they who will direct how much he can charge in tuition, when and how many vacation days he can take, etc., etc.. If he does not join the association he will find himself ostracized and will find himself out in the cold as far as relations with, and information from, the local education administration, immigration, fire department, tax office, insurance, etc. goes. If he thinks he will have complete freedom on how to operate his hogwan, he is sadly mistaken.

2. CK had better plan on at least 20% - 30% of the parents of his students not paying tuition in a timely manner each month. He had better be prepared to financially "carry" a number of students until their parents decide to pay. Should he kick out those students whose parents refuse to pay tuition - in some cases for 6 months - he will get the reputation of being "mean" and only interested in money and this will hurt his reputation in the community. Illogical? Yes. True? Yes.

(3) CK had better have a backup plan when his hogwan van driver gets too drunk to come into work or quits with no notice. He had better know what to do when he gets phone calls from irate parents (many times the ones who haven't paid tuition) about little Min Soo not being picked up.

4. CK had better know what to do when his receptionist or other female member of his staff has a fight with her boyfriend on her ever ringing handphone and decides to leave because she is too upset to work. And then will get pissed off if CK decides to hire another receptionist. CK will just love being accused of not being an understsanding boss when he fails to understand why the receptionist had to disappear in the middle of the day to go wipe the butt of her immature, lazy, piece of human garbage boyfriend.

5. I hope CK has the money set aside when the local education administration and other government officials suggest a night out at the local Dala Joo Jum to discuss CK's "problems" that came to light during the last "inspection." Of course, CK wil have to foot the bill for the inspector and the inspectors friends night out with the ladies. Hence the need for money.

6. CK will need to be prepared to handle the education "experts" - aka mothers - who saw a new English teaching "fad" on TV and then call or visit to question why he isn't doing the same thing. After all the program with the shiny new books with fuzzy bunnies on the cover must be a better a better English program. It was endorsed by a movie star!

7. He should be prepared to field emotional complaints and other such crap when a mother doesn't like the fact that her lazy child was reassigned to a lower, more appropriate class. After all, the children of all the other mothers in the ajuma group are in class "A" so why can't little Bee Bim Bap be in the same class. And CK should be prepared for little Bee Bim Bap's mother to pull him out to go to another hogwan because CK was insensitive about his self-esteem (more accurately, the mothers) by putting him in a lower class. Oh yes, and Bee Bim Bap's mother will probably owe 4 months back tuition when she leaves.

8. CK should be prepared for phone calls complaining that his teachers are giving too much homework - and after hanging up - will get a phone call complaining that his teachers are not giving enough homework.

9. CK should be prepared for unannounced visits from immigration and the police in response to anonymous tips from a "concerned parent" about illegal teachers or other such garbage. The concerned parent will more often than not turn out to be another hogwan owner trying to cause trouble for CK because of his success or willingness to buck the "hogwan" system.

I'd better stop I'm getting pissed off just writing this.....


Yeah, I'd like to sit down with CK over a beer or two and discuss the real source of his upcoming headaches.

[deelej]

hey poof, do you happen to comment on gyopo blogs here and there i think i recognize the name.

anyways, thanks for the link. i was expecting some harsh comments after i posted the article. i will be sure to pass on the comments to CK. although most of the comments are negativo and harsh i think there is loads of valuable advice for him in there if you scrape away all the self-pity and anger and who better to give feedback then the front-line, the teachers themselves.

later
denise