Korean Job Discussion Forums

[plato's republic]

Has anyone ever worked for this company in Seoul? Does anyone currently work at a YBM/ECC school in the Seoul area? What has your experience been like? Would you recommend working for this company? Why or why not?

[rmparent]

I worked at an ECC for 1.5 years. I want to emphasize that I worked for a company-owned ECC, not a franchise. There's a big difference because franchise ECC schools run by their own rules and the YBM-owned ECC all abide by the same contract and everyone who works there is paid through direct deposit by the head office.

I never had a problem at my school with regards to pay or anything like that and neither did my friends at Songpa ECC, which is also a company-owned school. Another friend, on the other hand, works at a franchise ECC in Kyunggi near Shiheung and he is constantly getting screwed by the boss there. They make him work these ridiculous hours (10am-9pm!!). They pay him in cash meaning they're not paying into the pension fund; something from my understanding that all corporate schools do, and they've been late with his pay a couple of days for the past 3 months.

With regards to actually teaching there, it wasn't that bad at all. I worked only 90 hours a month but I think the YBM standard is now 95 a month now. While the pay isn't that great (1.8 for starting teachers), it's still good in that you know that you're going to actually get paid and you're not required to work as many hours as other schools, and you get a nice fat pension refund when you go back home (I got a little more than $1,500 CAN ) YBM produces their own curriculum and books so you're pretty much told what to teach everyday. They only expect you to show up an hour before your first class to prepare but it usually took the teachers only about 20minutes or so.

YBM ECC are good schools if you want reliability IMO. Also good if you want to avoid unreasonable and crazy hagwon owners and all those other headaches. Again, I'm talking about company-owned schools. There's about 100 ECCs in Korea and only 30 of them are owned by YBM. All of the ECCs I see on the blacklists are not company-owned because I found out that they only show the corporate ones on their website.

The only bad thing I found working there is you have to pay 200,000 won as a deposit for the first three months just in case you dash on the bills. Got it all back though with my severence at the end of the contract.

[Picotrain]

I'm only new to Korea (I've been here 2 months) and I am working at a company-owned ECC. Having nothing to compare it to, I'm not sure if it's better or worse than the average teaching gig, but it's surely not like the horror stories I hear on here sometimes. The average teacher works about 25 hours/week, which some feel is quite, though I myself feel it is acceptable. The manager has changed since I have been here, the new one seems very nice, though I have no complaints about the old one, I'd spoken to her only twice the whole time I was here. I am living in a shared apartment, that was my preference because I didn't want to be alone all the time. I do get paid more than was suggested by the previous poster, I get 2 million a month. That's about average according to Dave's regulars. The pay is always on time, and I don't notice any problems thus far. All things considered, I wouldn't change where I am working. The biggest complaints that I hear from other teachers are about hours (some work almost 30, which to me still isn't too bad) and a lack of communication between the majority of the Korean teachers and ourselves (that's a large problem, but I think you'll find that in many schools).

[plato's republic]

Thanks for the replies.

Do you get single housing thrown in if you ask for it? I was also wondering if an experienced teacher would work for this company, considering they don't pay more than 2.0million a month. My friend works for a YBM franchise in the Gangnam area and gets 2.1 plus single housing. He seems to like it so far, plus he's got a cushy 2pm-8pm schedule.
What are the shedules like at the company-owned YBM schools?

[Mr. BlackCat]

I work at a corporate owned ECC and this is my first gig in Korea.

The pay is lower than I was offered elsewhere, the standard 1.8, but its secure and I get paid on time and all that sort of stuff, which was my biggest concern coming here. In general, after hearing other stories, I think ECC is a good first time gig. Now that I'm here I have met people and learned things, so I would consider going somewhere else for more money next time.

I asked for no kindy, was told that I wouldn't have any, or maybe one or two for a month or so. But I have kindy. I also have shared housing, which is fine with me. I'm sure if I would have pushed for it I would have had a single.

As for hours, I and one other teacher at my school have pretty crappy half kinder half evening classes, so we're there either 10:30-7 or 11:30-8 with big breaks. Kinder teachers have 10-6 schedules, Academy teachers have a cushy 3-8 time slot.

We've also been asked to do quite a bit outside of teaching hours. Like make lessons, which is not bad at all but takes unpaid time, attend seminars and events, practice various things with students and things like that. None of this is paid or optional. I've even heard of ECCs making their teachers move their schools for them on weekends and holidays.

I think corporate ECCs are really stable and a good bet for newbies like me. There's standard books and materials and prep doesn't take too long. The Korean teachers at my particular school are cool. Its not bad.

If you consider this company, make sure you confirm, then confirm, then confirm again any guarantees. I don't think ECC is alone in trying to slip one by you in Korea, like making you teach Kindy when you expressed a deep concern about doing so. The difference in hours at work (not necessarily teaching hours per se) can also cause frustration between workers, but I'm sure its different from school to school.

This sounds like a so-so review, but in general I just think you could get more money somewhere else for the same thing if you are willing to take the chance of getting screwed over. I like the job and find it easier to have fun here without worrying wether I'm going to get paid or not.

[iamdugmoore]

It is OK for new teachers with no training or experience. If you have training or experience, shop around IMO. If you have a proper teaching certificate (can teach at a school in the UK or America) go for an international school or even a university.

They do pay on time, and the check is good. They give you health insurance, a free ticket, and a place to stay.They also don't mess around with your visa, they take care of it.

I had a so-so deal with the school for almost 2 years. A lot depends on your boss. At the school I worked at (a company owned school) it wasn't enough to do a good job. You were expected to hang out with the boss and her "friend" until the early hours of the morning. If not, you fell out of favor with the boss. There was a consistant amount of drama surrounding the boss, their lover, fights over it, fighting in the office, crying in the office, screaming, and nonsense that I haven't seen the like of in my life. It was a bit stressful to be around at times, but no job is perfect and it didn't have much to do with me, but it was a bit strange after all the good things I had heard.

On the other hand I know a lot of people at the other YBM company owned schools that liked it OK and had good bosses. They seem to get on well and most have been able to do their job without anything like I had to see.

The Songpa ECC school is supposed to be really good, and there are several around that are OK as well. There is another school near Songpa Gu that is smaller, and the teachers are doing anything to get out of there. Do your research, and good luck.

[plato's republic]

Thanks again for the replies. Does anyone know anything about the Yeongdeungpo YBM/ECC company-owned branch? How's the situation there?

[Mr. BlackCat]

Wow, iamdugmoore, I thought my ECC was the only one with stupid drama (or maybe its the same one...?). I don't feel comfortable getting into it here, but I am somewhat glad that the situation at my school isn't unique.

Right now its ridiculous at our school. I like the job but feel really uncomfortable at work. It really does depend on your supervisor and the people you work with. Most teachers in Korea are cool, but some come here either because they've been rejected back home or are trying to play some sort of game here to 'get ahead'.

Anyway, I'd just like to say that I agree and advise you try to get to know the situation at the particular school. That'll be hard, cause everything always seems great on the surface and in the first couple of months. I don't know about the particular one you asked about, though.

[plato's republic]

Mr. BlackCat,

You are a fountain of knowledge
Actually I do have quite a bit of teaching experience though no certificate so I'm not sure whether this would be the ideal job for me. If I were to accept such a position I would be taking a pay-cut aswell. I just noticed that YBM are recruiting at the moment for company-owned schools in Yeongdeungpo/Seokchon/Junggye and Ssangmun. At least one of those schools has their teachers working on a Saturday, which is a BIG no-no for me. I don't work weekends.
I'm also intrigued as to who decides what schedule you get. Can the teachers request to teach a specific schedule or is it basically just pot luck? And what is an Academy teacher? That 3-8pm schedule sounds more like my cup of tea.
Feel free to send me a PM if you would prefer to keep this confidential. Cheers!

[bellum99]

ARE YOU INSANE?
There has never been a good ECC or YBM school. There are the odd few good reports about isolated schools that may be livable, but really they suck. If enough people say that the schools are bad, maybe people will listen...but they never do. I have seen so many people get screwed over by these schools. There must be a million negative experiences and still people will come on here and ask if it is a good idea.

Here is my answer: NO! They are not okay.

A response to the person who will say " My school is great and I have been here 3 weeks now." --Wait till you finish the contract, then post.

[plato's republic]

Bellum99,

Are you talking about the franchise YBM/ECC schools or company-owned ones?

[bellum99]

To be honest with you, they both have enough negative responses to warrant a serious "no". I would not sign with either of them. The number of complaints is astounding and this about both company owned and franchise. I would be very careful signing.

I say" Why take the risk?".

[plato's republic]

Bellum99,

I see what you're saying but I guess we should also take some of these complaints with a pinch of salt. No doubt teachers have been screwed over in the past but so have teachers of just about any major chain or franchise school in Korea. That list includes YBM, Pagoda, CDI, Wonderland, Oedae, Berlitz, Kids Club, Kids College, GnB, ChildU, GKI etc etc. There seem to be very few decent, honest employers in this country and perhaps also few decent, honest teachers to go with them. Makes for an unstable situation.

[bellum99]

True.

[ifa79]

Are ECCs still holding classes on Saturdays?
I had to do Saturdays when I was there in 2002-03. That was miserable.
I think they were one of the last hagwons to give up on Saturdays.


Other than that, the job was good enough for a first year in Korea.
Best points are that you can trust the school to pay you on time, and there is virtually no prep after the first month or two once you know all the textbooks.