Korean Job Discussion Forums

shanghai skye · Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Location: china

Does anybody know anything about YBM ECC?? Cant find out much info about the company. Worked for them in Japan, and they werent too bad. Interested in applying for them in Seoul this year. Should I avoid this company or are there some better options out there???

Neil · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: Tokyo

There's hundereds of them, up and down the country. Some are good and some are bad.

Find the exact location of the one you're interested in and I'm sure there will be someone with firsthand experience.

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

Working for ECC is like getting raped in prison...one man in a hundred will like it. (I never actually went to prison)

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

tomato · Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:16 am Post subject:

My first job was in a YBM ECC school.
Since then, I have seen better, I have seen worse.
Before you sign anything, compare their pay and working hours with that of any other job offers.

Also, take a look at the books which they use.
At that time, most YBM ECC schools used Parade, published by Pearson Education Inc., in some of their classes.
It is impossible to teach out of that series.
I made a chart which recorded what topic was covered in what pages in the other series.
Then, whenever I was to teach a class which used the Parade series, I ran the appropriate pages through the copier and used those pages instead.

One time, the director caught me using the copier for that purpose.
He yelled at me, threw the copies down on the floor, stamped into the office, and slammed the door.
Then I picked the copies off the floor and used them anyway.

The publisher has since come out with another series which is just as bad, but I can't remember its name.
They probably changed the name because their reputation caught up with them.
Better look through the school's textbooks before you sign anything.

Homer · Guest

It is completely ridiculous to bash the entire company as they own hundreds of schools.

You need to find out about a particular school for yourself (i.e. talk to teachers there). My first job was also with ECC and it was fine for a newbie gig.

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

No homer, you are wrong. The number of bad schools with the YBM and ECC name justifies a complete lack of faith in the franchise. Why take a risk when you don't have to? The schools have the one of the worst reputations in Korea. The overwhelming number of complaints drowns out any small number of happy people. Most people who have posted that they liked the franchise eventually post again in a few months saying how they were eventually screwed around by them.

Lizara · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Location: Seoul

Homer · Guest

Of course Bellum...of course. Ever consider that most happy people don't post about it? No, you must be right..99% of YBM schools are hell on earth. Laughing

OP: do your homework. Talk to teachers at the particular school you are considering (if you are considering it). It can be a decent first year gig.

chicagorick · Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Location: 1060 W. Addison

I'm scheduled to start in May with a YBM-ECC school in northern Seoul. They're paying my flight, giving me free accomodation, plus a relocation bonus, this is all in my contract. Everyone I've talked to at the school has worked there for a couple of years and have nothing but good to say about the management. What do you think?

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Have you checked for the school on the various blacklist sites?

There are plenty of schools under that franchise name, so it's hard to be sure unless you know the specific branch/location.

Try www.englishschoolwatch.org

or

Do a google search for 'Korea blacklists' and check through the various sites that come up.

It's better to spend the time now (even if it gets tedious), rather than wait till after you get here.