Korean Job Discussion Forums

[heeheehee]

Taking into consideration this school is part of the infamous Wonderland chain, I have heard it is one of their most reputable schools in Korea. Is there anyone out there who can relate some experience to working at this particular branch or know of anyone else who has?

Once I take a look at the contract I'll have a real sense of what they're about, but the interviewer who is the supervisior there sounded really nice, particulailrly compared to other interviewers I've had.

Thanks!

[ttompatz]

[minorthreat]

Being "one of the good Wonderlands" is the hagwon equivalent of winning the Special Olympics. I worked for one, and my advice is to run away screaming.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[plokiju]

You should turn them down for the split shift alone. You should be able to find something without a split shift. The field trips and activities days which are part of the cirriculum are also a big headache as are tests, phone teaching, and evaluations. Unless they are offering you seriously good money, I wouldn't take it.
(I probably wouldn't even take it if the money was really good).

[heeheehee]

I don't remember mentioning anything about a split shift. Infact, that was one of the stipulations I outlined during the interview that I would be unwilling to work.

[bnrockin]

Yes, it is infamous and reputable...for being pretty crappy. As someone else who is looking for a good job in Korea, I strongly advise to stay away from wonderland.

Try talking to GIA consulting or something.

[plokiju]

If you agree to work kindergarten you will be working a split shift. I don't remember them ever using the word split shift. I was told I'd be teaching Kindergarten, get an hour for lunch, and then teach elementary students. Starting at about 10 and I'd be off some days by 5. Not really true. If you can get out of the kindergarten, which I don't see as being possibility, it might not be that bad.

Some classes (at my Wonderland at least) were a bit odd. Teaching math that was far too easy and it took them 5 minutes to do pages that were supposed to fill 40 minutes. There were also science classes which had directions that were unintelligible in English and I had to have the kids read the directions in Korea and try to explain to me how to do it. Usually they were quite messy and I remember one kid just bleaching the hell out of his clothes. I can't imagine his mother was happy when he came home with bleach stains all over his clothes.

The phone teaching, making tests and writing evaluations are time consuming and a waste of everyone's time.

Having said that I don't know anything about the particular branch you are talking about. If the current teachers are reasonably happy, then consider it. I think the vast majority of people though who sign at a Wonderland end up regretting it. Don't try to convince yourself that this branch is so much different than any other one. It's probably more similar than you would like it to be.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[jamielives2000]

ive worked for a wonderland.

i would NEVER do it again.

you shouldnt too.

[alabamaman]

Edited

[tonyobrien1]

i work for a wonderland and get on pretty well with everyone. the phone tests are painful. my boss and all the foreign and korean teachers are great though.(which i hear is rare) so i cant complain. but i hear alot of the other wonderlands are terrible though so it could be dodgy. i'm just letting you know their not all bad.

[Son Deureo!]

[cuckoococoon]

my experience wasn't horrible. I was paid 1.9 for being a first-year teacher (that was three years ago). I finished my contract and got everything that was coming to me.

BUT

I didn't do my research. The recruiter they used told me I would have NO split shifts and NO. I got there and found out that it wasn't true. I started at 9 and ended at 8. Kinder is hard, but I got pretty good at it.

No splt shifts: not possible.

I have a great job now. I worked there for a year, left Korea for a year and came back to the same company.

[Son Deureo!]