Korean Job Discussion Forums

[big_blue_21]

Hey, so I've done two stints in Korea. The first one was at this really bad hagwon called Sejong, but I've been told they changed their name. Anyways, the owner is Jinyoung Park. It's right across the street from the Hyundai Department store. Don't work there! First of all, the pay wasn't even great when I worked there, and I've heard because of financial difficulties it's even worse now. Maybe 2.2 or so . . . I can put you in touch with other teachers who also had negative experiences there. Just PM me . . .

Also, personally, I was kinda scared to worked for CDI before I started there because I've heard so many problems with it, but it's honestly not that bad. I rake in close to 4 million a month (35 a hr., 24 hours) and last term (CDI is divided up into terms which is cool because you get new kids every three months and a chance to get new classes; for me, the director has pretty let me decide which classes I want to teach and what days I want to teach--although I think it's mandatory to teach at least one weekend day, but I'm not totally sure because I like teaching on the weekends so I've always volunteered for it) . . . so last term I was making well over 4 million because I was teaching 27 hours. They have the cirriculum already prepared, so, for me at least, prep time is minimal. I don't prep to be honest (Inchul you'd better not be reading this!.) I just arrive about a half-an-hour before class, make photocopies (one complaint: all the photocopiers are always breaking down!), and look over the material. They have answer keys and everything for the quizzes and even have the reading passages all marked up so you know which sentences are the important ones and which key words to draw the kids' attention to. I'm starting to suspect this is the best in gets in Korea . . . Even the director Inchul's cool, he's Korean, but pretty Westernized (he studied in London), so you can treat him like you would an American boss. First name is fine (in fact, I don't know his last name) and I just popped into his office whenever I have a problem and he listens and does his best to resolve it. Communication could be better, that's probably my second biggest complaint, but communication is a lot better than my previous experience. If you take the initiative of bringing concerns to your head instructor, the director (Inchul), or the other staff, they are pretty good about listening to you. Just remember, you need to take the initiative most of the time. But yeah, I'm happy there. And I am white so they DO hire white people! Most of the teachers are Korean-American, though, so maybe there is some discrimination. Anyways, if you want to know about either of these schools (the one run by Jinyoung Park, whatever it's called now, or CDI) . . . Good luck with the job search!

[braunshade]

I didnt think that CDI pays that much..........

[seoulsista]

Can you explain the differnce between what you are paid and what the ad says. The ads say 2.2-2.6 with housing. Yet you make 4, how?

[laogaiguk]

could be overtime?

[Pak Yu Man]

And the point of this thread? Brag about how much we make?

I make almost that much and I bet I work less.

[braunshade]

The OP does not have any benefits at all. NO housing, insurance, paid vacations. He is paid per hour. Many hourly CDI instructors bring home around 3.0 per month this way.

The salaried positons pays between 2.2 and maybe 2.5 includes a bad apartment and 50% of insurance (if you ask for it), ONE-WAY airfare, and 7 days vacation. NO national holidays or other vacations at all!!

Does not sound very good to me.

[jacl]

I've seen recent ads for 3.5 and key money for an apartment. That's pretty damn good.

[xCustomx]

My friend started working there about 1 month ago. This is her first teaching job, but she seems to spend a lot of time doing prep work, close to 2.5 hours every couple of days. She is korean american and on the hourly pay plan.....she was guaranteed 24 hours a week, but now they have given her fridays off for the new term, which puts her at the 24 hours a week. For the next 2 weeks she is only working 24 hours TOTAL,so her paycheck is going to be pretty low. For the amount of work that she tells me she has to do, there is no way I would work for CDI. Overall, she likes it though. It's a lot of work, but it pays fairly well

[big_blue_21]

You get paid between 25,000 and 35,000 a hour. I like it myself. Good points. I don't have to prep. Some teachers have to prep a ton--it doesn't depend on the classes you teach (a little, but not much--I teach the master's classes which require the most prep and don't prep like I said, Eagle Reading and Alba Reading also require a lot of prep--for some teachers) . . . prep is an individual thing. I find preps hurts him because I'm less fresh, less spontaneous, less entertaining . . . actually, by the time I'm teaching that class for the third or fourth time that week, my biggest battle is not not knowing the material, but how to keep it fresh and enjoyable for the kids since I'm bored to death with it. A

Also, another good point. During mid-terms and finals weeks (when most kids don't come to CDI--they happen two weeks a term, a term being three months) they will not guarantee you the 24 hours. Last week, which was the first week of mid-terms, I taught six hours (since I mostly teach upper level classes and the middle and high school kids are the ones that usually don't come) . . . also, I spend five hours at the school waiting for students to show up for my two classes that day (they're pretty good about finding out in advance if the class is going to be cancel, but somehow they didn't call the students that day to confirm, and they made the bad assumption that just because their parents hadn't called in with a notified absence, the kids were going to show up . . .) I've been at CDI two terms and that's the first time it's happened, though . . . so, yeah, one month out of every three months your paycheck will get slashed.

[big_blue_21]

Honestly, don't think I'm here to sell CDI. It's not for everyone. I know some great other schools that pay just as well. Hoyah for one. I know of at least two others I could recommend to you, just can't remember their names off the top of my head (but have e-mails to them saved inso I can give the names to you.

PM me is you want 'em . . .

[Bob O.]

[poet13]

donselma. Thank you for your replies, on the forum and private. What you have to say seems honest in that you discuss both the good and the bad. I have a question though, and no, Im not trying to flame. Do you get a fee for takers? If you don't, great, you're just sharing an experience that has been good for you. If you are, well, it would kind of taint my perception...
Please tell.

[big_blue_21]

yeah, i did go a little overboard . . .

no, I'm not affiliated with the school in anyway.

If I've oversold it, then let me say this: Don't get me wrong, not everyone is happy at CDI, even though for me, it was a really easy, really fun, REALLY well-paying job. Hope that helps . . . Feel free to PM me . . .

[big_blue_21]

The other schools I interviewed at and got good vibes were:

Hoyah (but have heard some negative, on this board and from teachers)

IBE Educaiton (got okay vibes)

ISA (which I think stands for International School Academy--got really good vibes there)

[spinario]