Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mr. BlackCat]

Some ECCs have Saturday classes, but from what I know most don't anymore.

plato's republic:

I don't need to get into any of the soap opera action, just watch Neighbours or the Days of our Lives, or find an overdramatic acting troupe at a local theatre. Better yet, watch Ricky Lake. In any event, I'm sure this problem isn't unique to ECC or even Korea. I've just never personally experienced anything like this.

If you have previous experience you can get more than 1.8, but probably not more than 2.0. Depending on said experience you could likely get more elsewhere and you can handle being thrown into a class so prep probably isn't as much of a concern.

I just had a bad day (yet another here in Operatic Soap-land) so right now I don't feel like defending ECC. Actually, I wouldn't anyway. I don't know enough about any other school, although I've heard of much better deals (housing, income, hours) elsewhere.

In the way of hours, "Academy" just means you don't teach kinder and have more involved classes with junior high aged kids. ECC will tell you what you want to hear to get you here, then it'll be, "Oh, the schedule will change in a month and you won't have Kindy after that" and then 6 months later you have twice as many kindy as before. Sorry, like I said I had a bad day.

I told them Saturdays were a deal breaker, and that worked out (though probably more likely it just happened that way). It seems as though its random who gets what schedule upon arrival, but it does change twice a year. It is at that time that you hear the opening music of "The Days of our Lives". But it depends on your supervisor, I'm sure there's some professional ones out there.

Wow, this let's me complain in the guise of offering help. Man, just know that each ECC is different, but the company is stable. I've said too much already (cue James Bond music).

[Homer]

Worked for an ECC when I first arrived and it was a positive experience.

As for passing a verdict on YBM itself, that seems rather impossible to me. They are a huge company with many schools (both adults (ELS) and kids (ECC)) all over Korea. They also have franchise schools who do not necessarily follow the company line.

This means a lot of differences between actual schools so it is hard to pass a categorical good vs bad judgement. So, its good the OP included the "Maybe" option in the poll.

On the plus side, the ECC I worked at offered a solid curriculum base and was fairly well structered. For a newbie ESL teacher it was (still is) a good place to work. They had (still have) clear work contracts that were honoured to a tee. The drawbacks was the schedule (sometimes heavy but overtime was always paid) and the slightly lower pay (then again you are paid on time, everytime and work in a stable school).

You can also negociate with them (I did with my ECC school before first arriving). I re-upped the next year and got a much improved contract that was also honoured to a tee. Moved on after that because I lined up a better job but I would hjave no problem recommending my former school to a new teacher.

[Milwaukiedave]

Just FYI, someone from YBM DOES read through messages on this board. I can't say how I know, just that I do know that for sure.

[iamdugmoore]

I wouldn't worry about it too much(people from YBM reading the board). They have other things to worry about, at least I hope they do.

There are a lot of teachers, a lot of schools, and a lot of jobs out there. Granted, some do not live up to the contracts they offer, but most ECC schools seem to. As another poster mentioned, any company as big as YBM will have good and bad things going for it. You could do worse than ECC as a new teacher, that's for sure. Aside from petty nonsense that can happen anywhere, they did have a lot of support in the form of materials, flashcards, a copy machine that worked, art supplies, audio tapes for singing / chanting, internet & printers, so they do help you out with that. Some schools don't even offer all of that.On payday, the money is in the bank with ECC / YBM. For most of us, that's where the rubber meets the road.

I would check around though if you have experience and a teaching certificate from your own country. You could do worse, and you could do better. You never know unless you check out as many options as possible.