Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chris_J2]

I have been offered a job with KLS (Kangs Language School) in Kyunggido which I understand is just south of Seoul. Have any ESL teachers worked there? Favourable impressions? Does KLS honour the 12 month contract? I have sent the signed contract, & my BA degree, to Korea, & booked a flight for 14 May.

Thanks

[Wrench]

Maybe you should have done research on the place before you blindly signed a contract.

[chris_J2]

My question was, do KLS honour their contracts at this locale? (Kyunggido)

I had a qualified teacher, peruse the contract, before I signed it. I also researched living & teaching in Korea, before I signed the contract, & a google search found that there was only one unfabourable internet reference to KLS, in another city.

[soviet_man]

My first job in Korea was at a KLS and it was a disaster.

It was at a tiny four classroom school, nearly bankrupt, with very low enrolment and I was the only non-Korean teacher.

The hours were awful, the apartment unfit for human habitation and the general culture of the organisation can best be described as being highly unethical.

On paper when I signed up, my contract also looked good - in practice, it amounted to numerous false promises and outright lies.

It means nothing to have a contract perused. It really doesn't matter what is said in a contract with KLS. Because Kangs, like Wonderland, is a franchise. There are many branches in Korea and the Manager of each branch is free to run their little hagwon kingdom however they want.

So if things go wrong - and they probably will - you will have no one but them to appeal.

After 4 weeks working at Kangs, among many other highly dubious requests, I was told in no uncertain terms to (illegally) work at a second Kangs school under the table (at another school run by the Manager's brother) in some distant town 2 hours (each way) by bus. It was completely unacceptable.

I refused and quit because of this and many other problems. I flew out of Korea $2000 out of pocket in unpaid wages (I worked for at Kangs for 5 weeks and never saw a single cent in pay).

I've since returned to Korea and found a much better job.

So I'm not saying that *every single* Kangs school is awful. But in my dealings with these *two particular* Kangs branches (having subsequently worked at other schools in Korea) my overall impression is that Kangs is indeed a very very very poor choice.

[I_Am_Wrong]

Where in Kyeonggi-Do is it? Is this in Suwon. I know a director of a kang's language institute in Suwon and even did some part-time there. Pretty good guy who was really working hard to try and find a full-time teacher. Could potentially be a good position.

[chris_J2]

I_am_wrong: When were you in Suwon? That is the same town I found this unfavourable reference to KLS for (February 2005):

"Hi there i went to (Suwon) South Korea to teach in Kangs Language School. You are right it is a franchise. I was horrified as i was treated terribly and could not get anyone from the franchise to help me. consequently i fled the country and am now safely back home.

irene [2005-04-14, 14:56:00][ID: 1138-6551]


Source: http://www.englishschoolwatch.org/webboard_detail.php?topic_id=1138

[I_Am_Wrong]

I was in Suwon last year and I worked there part-time during my summer vacation. It is a franchise and franchises can very greatly. There are probably more than one in Suwon. Your best bet is to talk to at least two previous foreign teachers before you accept a job and take their word with a grain of salt. Also, anyone can say whatever they want on the internet, so how do you know that the person who posted the complaint wasn't just a loser that sucked at his/her job?

The Kang's language books are terrible; however, I used books of my choice and basically did special classes outside of their program.

Do you know which dong it is located in? Will you be the only foreign teacher?

[chris_J2]

The KLS job has fallen through, but I have received another job offer, from Cheongju Ewha.

Looks like Eric Kang found a teacher within Korea, & avoided paying the airfare.

[SOOHWA101]

[chris_J2]

Eric Kang told me on the phone that he wanted me to start work at the end of April. I booked a flight for the 28 th April last week, & later had a phone call from the recruitment agency, that Eric "didn't recall making any such request" in the phone interview. So I revised my flight to May 14. Eric has refused to answer any follow up phone calls by the agency, saying he's too busy. KLS has since been wiped by the recruitment agency, which will no longer work for KLS.

I initially figured that as payday was around the 10-15 May, if I didn't start work until 16 May, KLS wouldn't have to pay me until 10-15 June. I have sufficient funds to last me a month or 2.

I have had a new job offer from 'Cheongju Ewha' with 5 paid sick days a year, which KLS were not offering in their contract. I'd probably only take 2-3 days sick leave a year anyway, if that.

[soviet_man]

Good for you for not taking the job. (I am not being sarcastic).

When I was recruited to Kangs, I specifically remember dealing with an "Eric Kim". Seems he changed his name - but his lousy business practices continue. He recruited for all the Kangs schools as I understand.