Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Francis-Pax]

A friend of mine from South Africa participated in an interview. He was offered a position but he turned it down because he thought that he could not be a creative teacher in CDI's teaching envoirnment. He was very turned off by their rigid approach to teaching.

Last summer, I taught at a summer camp for some public schools in Seoul. One of the material developers (Korean) for CDI was teaching at the camp during her vacation. She told me that she liked working for CDI but she also confirmed that CDI has a very rigid system.

I have no personal experience of CDI. There are only thing I have heard from other people.

[plato's republic]

Just to give my two wons worth on this debate, I'll add that a friend of mine recently had an interview at a CDI branch in Seoul, Gangnam I think and even though he's been teaching in Korea less than a year and has no previous teaching experience, he was offered a head teachers position at one of their branches just outside of Seoul
Now that doesn't say much for the company.

[seungwun]

Ok, before I start talking about CDI, who the hell is The Great Toad? Is that English he's typing? About ten words into his post I had to stop cause I was getting a headache. Is he trying to be funny, or is that the extent of his English? Anyways...about CDI

I have been working for CDI for about six months now. And I have to say that the OP is largely mistaken and his post is pretty much worthless. Do you want to know more about CDI? Ask someone who actually teaches there, like me. Reading the OP's post, it's not that difficult to understand why he didn't get hired. So, is CDI all that it claims to be? Yes and no. It is a great institute with a new approach to English education in Korea. Its students are extremely bright, probably the best in Korea, and the work is rewarding. But it's not all rainbows and sugar-plums. It is highly structured and very rigorous. They will instruct you in exactly what to teach and how to teach it. A lot of instructors complain about the lack of control and creativity, but from what I've seen so far, about 80% of those making that complaint are only complaining because they actually HAVE to teach in CDI, and are not allowed to just stick a DVD in the DVD player and show the kids a movie for two hours. Don't get me wrong, there ARE excellent teachers who are extremely skilled in teaching and wants to be creative, but most are just lazy bums who are upset that they actually have to work for their money.

Even though the job is very demanding and rigorous, the pay makes up for it. Though there are no fringe benefits, not even housing, the pay is far greater than most hagwons. So if you're willing to put in the work, you'll be very pleased with your pocket full of money and class full of bright students.

As far as the head instructor comment goes, maybe your friend is THAT good? Are you saying that he's a lousy teacher? Besides, even the head instructors have their own supervisors who continually trains and monitors the progress of the instructor, so maybe they saw potential in your friend.

Just my 200wons

[jacl]

4 million. That's a pretty safe salary, eh. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

[ForceOne]

It's no joke, I average 4mill a month at CDI too.

[plato's republic]

Exactly how many hours a month do you have to work in order to pick up 3.5-4million won? I also heard most teachers have to work weekends there too. All in all, if you're in it for the money and don't mind the hard work then go for it, otherwise if you want some free time in which to travel and do other weekend activities I guess it's not the best option.
And no, my friend is perhaps not a bad teacher, though he was fired from his previous job.

[Francis-Pax]

For those that already work at CDI:

Is it true that they have a rigid teaching structure? I heard that you have to stick to their lesson plans and that there is very little room for personal creativity.

Many teach in Korea just for the money; however, some of us are also very concerned with the quality of our teaching and the flexibility of the administration we work under. Most serious teachers would not enjoy having to stick to a prefabricated lesson plan. And, I highly doubt that they would want to teach for a school that monitors every move on a camera.

All the talk about a high salary is fine. I am concerned about the reality of the teaching envoirnment.

Please respond.

[seungwun]

You usually have to work at least one weekend day (either Sat or Sun), but you get a weekday off as well, so sometimes it works out to be the same. For example, I get Fridays and Saturdays off. And for the 4Mil, I work 4 to 10pm five days a week plus maybe 1 or 2 substitution, for a total of 120-130 hours a month. But like I said, I get paid a little more than the average instructor. During breaks (winter, summer, and spring) there are also Intensive classes, which are in the mornings, that you could volunteer for.

As for the structure, it is quite rigid. They give you what you must cover in each lesson. But within the boundary of their requirements, you have some flexibility. But this is not a school environment, and increase in comprehension is the key. All the students are there to learn and improve. It is a hagwon, afterall. So there really isn't anytime for fun games, or just messing around. It is sort of high-pressure get-it-done environment. But in return your students learn a lot, so it's very rewarding.

But like I've said in my original post, it's not for everyone. But if it fits for you, you'll be well rewarded.

[krnabroad116]

"Oh no!! A hagwon that actually wants to teach students comprehension and the ability to understand the gibberish that comes out of our mouths!! Run for the hills!"

In all seriousness, CDI has its good and bad but then again so does every other hagwon in Korea. As Seungwun pointed out, CDI is very structured, but as he also stated you have some flexibility in that structure. That doesn't mean we get to play any games but then again I have asked my students what they remember playing games and it is the fun, not the lesson. CDI is definitely not for those who just want to come here, read from some random book and then expect the students to understand what you are saying. Many of the people that I have talked with in Hagwons complain that it is a babysitting job rather than EFL teaching. While CDI does not have room for games, we actually have students that come who *gasp!* want to learn English. I can't say that the hours are the best, especially with the fact that many hagwons give all the Korean Holidays off while CDI you get only two and there are times where you want to give the kids a break but you can't because it is structured lesson plans; but not having to babysit, dealing with parents or having directors who try to screw you over balance things out. As seungwun says, it is not for everyone, but if are willing to try and not judge the company totally on what others have to say (especially those who have never worked for CDI or 'know' people who 'know' people that work at CDI) it can be rewarding not only with a competitive salary, but also the fact that your students actually increase their English speaking and comprehension.

One last thing, many people bash the CCTV, yet some hagwons have turned to using them as well. It is for the protection of the teachers as well as the students and the parents never get an opportunity to watch it. There is 'membership' they can get to log in and see their children. What total rot.

[gochubandit]

from what i've heard, it's got its pros and cons.

pros:

- above average pay. most of us ARE here for the money rite?

- structure. don't have to bother with making up materials. less prep in my opinion.

- big and flexible location. don't like the ppl? don't worry. 3 mos in, request a transfer and get the f*ck out of dodge.

- reliable. no worries about being shafted on pay.

- great training program. much different from the here's-a-book-go-teach-u-white-man-u mentality. even get a chance for improvement/advancement.

cons:

- endless meetings. not paid for either.

- cctv. it's the all-seeing eye of mordor, for some. depending on your level of paranoia.

- structure. gotta teach the materials they give ya. if you don't like the material, you're SOL.

- gotta like gyopos. cuz they're full of em.

- open 363 days a year. no such thing as a real vacation.

so it's goes both ways. gotta sacrifice some for the added benefits i say. but don't knock it til u try it.

[big_blue_21]

I myself easily haul in over 4 million a month at CDI, working 27 hours, and there's none of that usual unpaid 5 hours of daily prep. I leave for CDI at 3:15, finish my classes at 10 and get home around 10:25. That's it.

The rigidity did bother me at first, but they've become flexible about it because they realized it was hampering a lot of their teachers in the classroom causing their teachers to not be as effective . . . Know yourself as an educator, but be firm in doing what you need to to be the most effective teacher you can. When I disagreed with them on policies, I told them and always we ending up agreeing to a good compromise or to exactly what I had advocated.

[ella]

Arer there CDI locations outside of Seoul?

[gochubandit]

[Cheonmunka]

Isn't that Mithridates avatar?

[Kimchieluver]

Isn't this thread a little old???