Korean Job Discussion Forums

[alabamaman]

I originally posted, "Is there any forum member with first hand knowledge of Berlitz Korea?" Here is the information that I've recieved for future teachers to use in the future.

[Mark7]

Sup dude,

I some recruiter to try to get me a job there. Like you, I don't know squat about them. Anyone else have any ideas?

Also, anybody heard of Good English recruiting?

[ttompatz]

[Muffin]

A friend of mine worked for them, admittedly a few years ago. She didn't recommend them. Long shifts (beyond what they tell you when they recruit), split shifts, and problems with severance pay. But as I say my info is about 3 years old, they may have improved.

[mindmetoo]

Conditions are so bad with Berlitz Korea the teachers unionized. Low pay, long hours, no housing. Don't let the recognizable name fool you into thinking this is a class act.

The important thing to do is when (assuming you do turn down the job), turn it down saying everything you've read about the school from ex teachers has been overwhelmingly negative. It's really the only way to get them to clean up their act.

[alabamaman]

Here's some information I received on Berlitz which may/may not help future teachers.


Our History

Berlitz is the world�s oldest and largest organization devoted to language teaching and related services. We teach languages in response to a full spectrum of student needs and to a full complement of student types. Since our founding in Rhode Island, USA, in 1878, our name has become synonymous with languages, and for good reason. The Berlitz Method, which has been refined and enhanced by over a century of research and learning technologies, is founded on these basic principles:

Goal oriented, lively, student centered instruction
Maximized student participation
Exclusive use of the target language
Focus on listening and speaking, supported by reading and writing
Grammar is taught as a means of communication

Berlitz in Korea

Berlitz Korea opened in October of 1995 and we have grown steadily since then. We opened our fifth language center in Seoul in June 2004 and we have plans to open more in the coming years. We employ approximately 55 Instructors of various nationalities at our Samseong, City Hall, Yeouido, Kangnam and Kwanghwamun Language Centers. The English Instructors are from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK and the US. Our other Instructors are from Peru, Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, France, Germany, China, Taiwan, Japan and, of course, Korea. Our Instructors range in age from 22 to 60. Most are single and a few are married. It is a nice group to work with and there is a very pleasant working atmosphere.

The hours of the Language Centers are 6:45 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturdays (rotation). We are closed on Sundays and Korean National Holidays.

Salary � The salary is dependant upon the number of classes an Instructor teaches. For each 45-minute unit that Instructors teach (40 minutes of teaching with a 5-minute break) they receive 12,500 Won, which works out to 18,750 Won per contact hour.

Instructors teach on average of 6 hours a day. Should an instructor work 8 units a day ( about 5 and a half hours of teaching) for a period of 22 working days he/she can expect to receive 2,200,000 Won (excluding the monthly housing stipend of 300,000 Won). Instructors can expect to earn over 2.0 million Won per month with an average salary being around the 2.5 million Won mark.

Salary � The salary is dependant upon the number of classes an Instructor teaches. For each 45-minute unit that Instructors teach (40 minutes of teaching with a 5-minute break) they receive 12,500 Won, which works out to 18,750 Won per contact hour.

Instructors teach on average of 6 hours a day. Should an instructor work 8 units a day ( about 5 and a half hours of teaching) for a period of 22 working days he/she can expect to receive 2,200,000 Won (excluding the monthly housing stipend of 300,000 Won). Instructors can expect to earn over 2.0 million Won per month with an average salary being around the 2.5 million Won mark.



1-12=Units Per Day (12,500 Won Per Unit)
40min-480min=Teaching minutes per day
275,000-3,300,000=Monthly Salary in Korean Won
(based on the assumption of 22 working days)

1: 40min @ 275,000.00
2: 80min @ 550,000.00
3: 120min (2 Hours) @ 825,000.00
4: 160min @ 1,000,000.00
5: 200min @ 1,375,000.00
6: 240min (4 Hours) @ 1,650,000.00
7: 280min @ 1,925,000.00
8: 320min @ 2,200,000.00
9: 360min (6 Hours) @ 2,475,000.00
10:400min @ 2,750,000.00
11:440min @ 3,025,000.00
12:480min (8 Hours) @ 3,300,000.00


A severance payment of one-month�s salary for each year of employment is given to all Instructors who successfully complete their contracts.

Benefits � Eight days of paid vacation are provided in the first year contract. From the second year contract, Instructors receive 13 paid vacation days and one more day would be added every year, thereafter. Instructors may have the opportunity to take unpaid vacation time as stipulated in the company policy. Medical insurance is also provided with costs split between the Instructor and the company.

With our housing support we aim to satisfy two important preferences of our Instructors. These are having the security of a place to live from the time they come to Korea and secondly having the freedom to choose the apartment in which they are going to live.

In order to satisfy this first need we provide unaccompanied Instructors with either a company apartment or a private room in a travel hostel from the time they arrive in Korea. The company apartments have two bedrooms. This housing is located within a 30-minute to one-hour commute (depending on the traffic) by bus or subway from the language centers. Provided in the apartments are basic furnishings as well as heating and air conditioning. The hostel is a 20 to 50-minute commute (again, depending on traffic) to the language centers. Instructors in the hostel will receive their own room, which contains a bed, TV and private bathroom facilities.

Recognizing that people need some time to get on their feet financially we provide these accommodations rent-free for up to 3 months. In reality, almost all of our Instructors are able to move out well in advance of this timeframe. In the majority of cases they choose to do this within 2 months.

When Instructors are ready to move into their own apartments they are able to choose the best location for them. For most people, their living situation involves a lot of personal preferences and we believe it is best if people make this decision for themselves.

We have a staff member who is available to assist Instructors in dealing with local real estate agents and arranging a lease. Instructors are given full support by the company in finding accommodation that best suite their needs once the 3 months are up. For Instructors in their own housing, Berlitz provides a stipend of 300,000 won/month to help offset the cost of the rent. In addition to this, up to 5 million Won for a deposit on the apartment can be borrowed from the company.

For our current Instructors who are sharing apartments, the average rent per person is 320,000 Won per month. For people living on own, their average rent is 425,000 Won. While this would mean paying between 20,000 and 125,000 Won over the stipend for one�s apartment, in speaking with the Instructors here I would say that they are very satisfied with their accommodations because they selected these themselves.

Reimbursement for a round-trip airplane ticket from the Instructor�s point of hire is also provided. Instructors hired locally receive a round-trip airplane ticket to Japan in order to secure a visa.

All Instructors receive working-visa sponsorship. As the visas are valid for one year, only those applicants who can commit to this length of time will be considered for the positions.

English Instructors who are interested in studying any of the languages that we teach (Korean, French, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese) receive a reduction in their tuition fees, whereby they only pay for the Instructor's time.

Instruction � We have individual, semi-private, group and total immersion classes at the language centers and we go out to companies and teach groups and individuals. Classes may meet 1- 6 days a week. The maximum number of students in a group at the language center is 12 (6 in children�s groups). Charter classes (closed company classes) vary according to the needs of the customer. Classes vary in length with most students taking at least two 45-minute units per day. The students range in age from 4 to 64, with the majority being in their 20's and 30's.

Instructors are assigned one of two types of schedules, either block or split based on performance, experience and preference, during the Language Center hours of 6:45 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Block shifts available are morning and evening consisting of 13 units with an instructor guaranteed a 2 unit break during a block. Split shifts consist of two 6 unit shifts, beginning at 6:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. followed by a break before beginning again at 4:30 p.m. through till 9:00 p.m. Instructors may also choose to be available to work anytime during the Language Center hours in an open shift.

Instructors must dress professionally. Men wear shirts with collars and a tie. Jeans are not permitted as teaching attire except on Saturdays. It is our expectation that our Instructors will be clean and neat at all times.

Working-Visa Sponsorship

Berlitz Korea will sponsor all of its Instructors for an E-2 Working Visa. For English Instructors to be eligible for visa sponsorship, applicants must come from an English-speaking country recognized by the Korean Immigration Office and must also have graduated from a university in one of these countries. These countries are Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. (The E-2 visa is not necessary for Korean nationals. As well, those people with Korean ancestry may obtain an F-4 Visa which will allow them to work in Korea. Information on the documents necessary to secure this type of visa is available through the nearest Korean Consulate/Embassy or through the Immigration Offices in Korea.)

To apply for the E-2 Working Visa, we require:

Signed copy of the contract
2 photocopies of your passport showing number and picture. (Your passport should have at least 18 months validity on it.)
Copy of your resume (clearly showing the dates you attended university)
Original university diploma
2 copies of your University transcripts in envelopes sealed (NB: stamped on the back cover flap) by the Registrar�s Office
Two passport size photpgraphs.

Please ensure that you have easy access to this documentation. Delays in providing the above documents will result in delays in bringing you to Korea.

More information on the visa application procedure can be given after the interview.

Training

Instructors are fully trained in the Berlitz Method before they begin teaching. The initial training consists of 6 full days. Instructors begin teaching regular classes after they have completed this training. The initial training is unpaid training.

Applicant Information

Name:

Current Address:

Current Phone:

Days and times available for interview:

Time Zone you are in GMT (+/):

N.B. How did you hear about the position (if internet, which site):

Country your passport is from:

Native language(s):

Available to start:

References (Please list any professional references. As a condition of processing this application, Berlitz requires at least one valid and contactable reference from a previous employer. In the event that you do not have a working history, then we require at least one personal reference.)


# Name of Reference Company and Tel/Fax Number Position or
Relationship E-mail Address
1
2
3
4

Optional: Sex: M F Ethnicity: White Black Asian Hispanic Other


Pre-interview Questionnaire

What do you think are the elements that make a good lesson?

What challenges do you think you may experience when teaching and how will you deal with them?

How can you make a lesson �customer-focused�?

How do you think an Instructor�s high level of enthusiasm for the subject matter effects student motivation?

Please list the following in order of importance to you and explain why. Work environment, Training/Learning new skills, Compensation, Stability, Challenge.

Why should Berlitz offer you a position? What skills could you bring to Berlitz?

What personal skills do you feel you need to develop to become a good Instructor?

What professional skills do you hope to learn/gain from working at Berlitz?

If your lessons meet customers� needs are you doing a good, a very good or an outstanding job?

If your manager told you that your lessons were not meeting customers� needs, what would you do?

Are you interested in teaching conversational English� at companies? (YES NO NOT SURE (if �NOT SURE� why not?)

To children ages 4-12 in groups of up to 6 students? (YES NO NOT SURE if �NOT SURE� why not?)

Besides language, what do you think will be the most difficult thing about living and working in a foreign country?

How does a person living in a foreign environment demonstrate cultural sensitivity?

Please give an example of where you have been given responsibility and the initiative you took in that situation.

Are you able to commit for a minimum of one year?

Any final comments you would like to make?

[mindmetoo]

[Mark7]

I noticed when I gave a reply to them, giving them my picture and resume, they didn't respond back. (I'm Asian-American)

Tough love.

[alabamaman]

[Mark7]

Ho, missed that detail there. Thanks man.
Oh well.

[OiGirl]

Has anyone taught children with Berlitz Korea?

[Nok Yong]

About four months ago I was stalked by a recruiting manager for this company. He had sent me (via email) a copy of their contract offer, which I politely rejected.

Apparently, a sincere "no" was not going to deter this loser from badgering me into signing their crappy contract. He continued to send emails, stating the company had changed, and the contract conditions had improved. Why was he overdefending his position? I gave no reasons for my refusal to sign there.

If the emails weren't enough, the drool bucket commenced on a series of incessant phone calls to BOTH my home phone and cell phone numbers. (He had gotten my resume from a job related website, on which I had posted several months earlier.) The first time he called me I told him that I wasn't interested in working at Berlitz, that I had better job offers, and that I didn't wish to speak with him again.

For the next couple of days he continued to call my phone numbers every hour or so until 1:00 am. I unplugged my home phone and turned my cell phone to vibrate mode, screening his calls.

My wife returned home two days later; so, I had to plug the home phone back in. Almost immediately, the phone rang. I explained to my wife not to answer it and why. An hour later, the twit called again to our home phone. My wife, extremely p'd off at this a-hole's temerity, answered the phone and shredded him for about 20 minutes in Korean. FINALLY, he stopped calling!

If Berlitz is THAT desperate to get people to sign a contract, I would have to say that's a gargantuan red flag, equivalent to a 50 megaton H-bomb exploding in your face, not to work there.