Korean Job Discussion Forums

klauridsen · Joined: 03 Jun 2006

I have just accepted a job for YES Youngdo in Bundang-Sunae and was wondering if anyone had any experience with this campus? Anything that anybody has to share would be great!!

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

Usually it's a good idea to ask about a school BEFORE you agree to work for them.

klauridsen · Joined: 03 Jun 2006

Thanks for being so helpful.......

I have done my reasearch....I was just wondering if there was anyone with recent first hand experience.

seoulsista · Joined: 31 Aug 2005

I worked for Yes Youngdo Jeongja and my b.f. worked at Sunae. We both had typical first year in Korea experiences. Needless to say we didn't even consider resigning with Youngdo. Since you have already signed the contract I'll tell you things that will make things easier for you:

1. You are not a teacher you are a sales clerk. Meaning it is not your job to teach, discipline, assure homework is done. It is your job to keep the mothers coming back and paying for more classes. This can work to your advantage if you want it to. Example: You are supposed to assign two essays a week for about half your students. DON'T DO IT. Remember competence doesn't matter! Being friends with your boss and having "inner harmony" are the most important things. Also you have to make most of your own grammar tests - don't kill yourself - write ten examples on the board and call it a test. Report cards - they're carbon copy which is nice - just give them all A's and write "Great Student" at the bottom. Nobody really cares what you think and you'll only get in trouble for giving kids what they really deserve.

2. Do not complain about anything. Your place is a dirty dump and everyone else has an officetel suck it up. If you complain about it you'll be on the shit list before you even know it and that will only make your job harder.

3. Don't listen to anything the managers tell you. Every week they will introduce a new policy. Generally one that means more work for you and more homework for the kids. Don't bother enforcing it because if a mother complains the whole situation will turn into "some mothers are complaining about you." Despite the fact that they instructed you to do this.

4. Be prepared with an excuse as to why you can't come in unpaid on Saturday. This one's pretty straight forward. Don't be caught off guard by "Director wants you to come tomarrow" during the five minute break.

Bundang on the other hand is beautiful. So hopefully you will find some good friends and have a fun year despite all the Youngdo b.s.

Carole Anne · Joined: 04 Oct 2005

Seoulsista, I disagree with you on many points. I work for Young-do right now. I think your comments must be prefaced with "it depends on what campus you work for".

I think it is poor advice to tell this person to go against everything their boss tells them to do right off the start. I can't think of a better way to get in the "bad books" faster. You are setting them up to fail and to have a bad experience.

At my campus, every report card is read over, especially the comments, to see if we know our students, what they succeeding at, and what they need work on. I give C's and if I'm asked why, I have a genuine reason and I tell them that. So yes, I assign the needed number of essays and writing assignments. That way I can prove why this student deserves that mark. I never change my marks or grades. They just want an explanation why. Of course, they want students to resign, but I have never felt that I am only a sales person.

As for apartments, well I am very lucky where I am. The staff have been great about things that need to be fixed, which hasn't been much at all. The reality is, the closer to downtown Seoul you are, the crappier the apartment. It's the same in any city, less bang for your buck, as it were.

As for not listening to your managers, well that just goes back to setting this person up to fail. They need to feel it out for themselves and see what works in their branch. Just refusing to do what they are asked is stupid and detrimental to their position.

I do agree about the Saturday comment. It is not in the contract and there fore should not be an expectation.

Everything else is about what kind of job you are signing up for. No this isn't your working holiday job, where you can play games and never mark anything. But I think that is made very clear in the add and you should be prepared for the work when you get here.

Just my opinion, and I'm sure many of you will disagree. Flame away.

discostar23 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004 Location: getting the hell out of dodge

A couple of my friends work at Sunae branch and they say the manager is pretty slack.They like it there.

I also worked for Youngdo and I agree with Seousista (different branch than sunae) But instead of the managers being a problem the other teacher were. Telling the managers things behind the other teachers backs just to make themselves look good.

Everyone n thier dog have an opinon on Yes Youngdo. In my experience it was way too much work for me and the hours are long. Sometimes your classes will be three hours long and during intensives you can be at the school for up to 12 hours. Also because of the time of day that you will be working, you will find a lot of things closed after you get off work. So advice shop before you go to school.

seoulsista · Joined: 31 Aug 2005

Carole Anne, I am happy for you that you work at one of the functioning branches of Yes Youngdo. However, the OP asked about the Sunae branch which I have intimite knowlege of being that I lived with someone who worked there for a year.

I know exactly what the manager there expects. The manager of the individual branches in Bundang have very little to do with how the schools are managed. The manager of the Bundang branches is a man named Mr. Lee. He doesn't speak English and has no background in Education. He made some money and knew the Choo's and invested that money with them to open 2 new schools in Bundang which in effect made him the manager. He along with some other people at head office set the policy for the Bundang and Suwon schools (in reference to Suwon: this is something that changed after I left).

Just to give you some insight into how the Bundang branches work: in November we were informed that the grading scale had changed.
A = 80 - 100
B = 60 - 80
C = 40 - 60
D = 0- 40

Each of the statements I made were derived from my own personal experiences and those of the people I worked with. Of the 22 people that I went through training with (all going to the four different Bundang branches) 2 resigned. I understand a person's desire to defend their school if they have been treated well. However, the OP asked about Bundang-Sunae and that's what I responded to.

mongoliapunk · Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Location: USA

what about their financial matters? did they pay on time or were there hassles about that? did they pay up severance and home airfare?

seoulsista · Joined: 31 Aug 2005

Always paid on time (well a few hours late a few times but no biggie). Recieved every penny I was entitled to. However, don't count on the overtime. Only 3 out of ten teachers got it at my branch during the summer.

Other people I know were not so lucky. However their circmstances were a bit unconventional. One girl's mother died and she went home for a week and half so they wouldn't pay her the severance.

One teacher ratted on two other teachers regarding some extraciricular activities and a fake degree which is shameful but so was Youngdo's response. They sat on the info. for two and half months waited until the last week of their contract and then didn't pay their last months, severance and plane ticket and kicked them out immediately.

Another one, they screwed up on his visa (100% Youngdo's fault) and when he tried to leave for a vacation immi. took his ARC card. They told him to finance his own visa run or leave.

So yes you will always get your paycheck. If there's any problems your on your own. But again that is typical Hagwon m.o.

mongoliapunk · Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Location: USA

za. after reading all of the boards and such... i think my expectations have lowered to the point (as far as the jobs are concerned) that if i find a place where they always pay you on time, don't "force" you to work weekends, and your apartment isn't a complete pit, that i can handle the other stuff. of course, i have no idea as i've not taught in korea yet. thanks.

seoulsista · Joined: 31 Aug 2005

With this particular employer (Youngdo- Bundang), you will never be forced to work on a Saturday. You will however be asked fairly often and be pressured to do so - unpaid. Just to give you an example :

3:55 pm (class starts in 5 minutes)
staff: Mr. $$$ wants you to come in tomarrow to talk to the parents.
my b.f.: I'm sorry I can't come.
staff: Oh, Mr. $$$ is going to be very unhappy.
my b.f.: Well, i'm sorry about that.

4:45 pm (5 minute break)
staff: Mr. $$$ said that some parents have been complaining about you.
my b.f.: Really, when, who? Why is this the first time I am hearing about this?
staff: I don't know.
my b.f.: Okay can you tell him to come talk to me about it on Monday.
staff: okay
issue never revisited

You may end up in a nice place, you may end up in a dump. Ask to speak to at least two teachers, about working condirions and the branch manager. When you get the branch manager on the phone ask about the apartment. If they won't tell you...well your gamble.

I was told we would get a one bedroom because we were a couple. However, when I got there we were in a single. I complained about the breach of contract and was told (indirectly) that we would get a W400,000 a month to compensate and that if I persisted my b.f. and I would both be fired. Later, under the direction of a different manager we were given a dumpy, dirty but larger than 3 X 3 meter place.

Another couple was not so lucky and they pulled a runner.

If you are patient and speak to current teachers (not just one) and the manager and go with your gut you will probably be okay.

I took a gamble by signing on with a new branch and I came out..

klauridsen · Joined: 03 Jun 2006

I agree with mongoliapunk, but then again I have never been to Korea to teach either. I guess my question is if YES is any different (better or worse) than any other hagwon to work at. Because from all that has been posted, nothing strikes me as that awful or unusual.

If you have taught at YES before did you recieve a plane ticket home (or compensation in lieu of)? unused sick day pay? severence pay? on time??? And are they filing the pension properly so that you can reclaim it when you leave??

What are the holidays like? (if there are any) Did you have the times to see the things that you wanted when you weren't working?

If YES isn't a good place to be then where is? Any reccomendations?

That being said, what is the overall experience that you had during your contract? Were they helpful in getting you set up and established once in Korea?? Do they pick you up from the airport?? What was your first week like??

Anything that anyone has to share would be great!!!

seoulsista · Joined: 31 Aug 2005

pieman1981 · Joined: 19 May 2006

hi,

I decided to take up a job offer with YES at Bundang, Jeongja. Having posted some topics about various chain schools, its seems that everyone has something bad to say what ever one you choose. Having spent one year teaching at a large chain in Taiwan, the way I see it that if you dont mind being told what to do and following a set cirriculum, and understand you are working for a business which stays afloat and therefore pays your wages on the profit made, you shouldn't have a problem. So I bit the bullet and signed for YES. The telephone interview was certainly the most taxing to date (actually asked questions about me!), and the accomodation looks really nice and modern. There is no mention of any YES on the black list, and not one person has said they dont pay on time, which is good enough for me.

I arrive in Seoul on 24th August, so anyone else arriving at this time, PM me.