Korean Job Discussion Forums

brewsterbear · Joined: 22 Dec 2007

Hi,

I've been trying to move over to Seoul for a few months now, and after an agonizing wait for paperwork, I am finally able to apply for a Visa. I have had several offers while I waited for my documents, but lost them due to the delays.

I've now got an offer from BCM Educational Group in Seoul, and I'm really interested to know if anyone has some experience or knowledge of them. On first appearances they look and sound very professional... but maybe I'm naturally suspicious? I don't know.

http://www.bcm.co.kr/

I'm an experienced TEFL teacher, and have been through the job hunting from afar before, so the more info I can get, the better.

So please, if anyone has any info please let me know as you'd be helping me out a great deal.

Thanks

BB

mateomiguel · Joined: 16 May 2005

There are 3 big hagwon chains which are big enough to have their own office buildings in downtown Gangnam, and BCM is the smallest. The largest one is Pagoda, they have the tallest building and supposedly the best deal. The second is YBM, I think they focus on children but I'm not sure. The third is BCM, stands for Min Byeong-chul, the owner of the hagwon. They're definitely legit, and you should have zero problems with getting paid or having access to books. They publish their own books and are corporate and semi-efficient and have regulations and everything. You can trust them to be a real business.

They have a lot of different programs going on, so your experience can vary greatly based on what you're going to be doing.

They do have institutes scattered around the city, and before I got my job in the main institute I interviewed at two of the smaller satellite institutes. They looked pretty grungy, actually, and I turned down both jobs because the owners said there weren't that many students these days and they were asking me too many questions about how much I respect contracts. I wasn't really interested in working for a contract lawyer type so I said no thanks. Of course this was 3 years ago, so maybe there has been a BCM renaissance.

I ended up working in the main institute in Gangnam, which also had attendance problems. About 20% of the classes were offered and then canceled because no students signed up for them. I asked some questions to my students and found out that BCM was the 3rd choice. First everybody applies to Pagoda each month, and if they are not accepted they go to YBM. Once all of YBM's classes are full, the latecomers resign themselves to signing up for a BCM class, which always has vacancies. But, hey, once again, this was three years ago. Maybe its the opposite now?

I also worked for an after school program for them, at the same time, which I found out later wasn't exactly legal. Also, the program was set up with the dodgy practice of me opening a bank account in my name and turning it over to BCM. The elementary school would pay that bank account, and then they would transfer a percentage to my real bank account. I think its to kinda dupe the school and make me pay taxes twice? Not sure.

They gave me free housing while I was working at the main institute, and I made quite a bit of cash while I was working basically two whole jobs, one at the institute and one at an elementary school, so I don't really have hard feelings for them. But eventually they were having to cut back at the main institute due to lack of students and "let me go" first. It was not a big deal though, because I was still working for them, heh.

All in all, I'd say there's nothing wrong with working for BCM as your first job in Korea. You'll probably have a pretty good time.

yeremy

I worked at a BCM chain for two years and I was glad to get out. There are far better jobs out there. If you have teaching experience then you should apply for SMOE to get into a public school job.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

teacherlisa · Joined: 17 Jun 2007 Location: Suwon,Korea

I had a very positive experience with BCM. They got me my Ajou University job when I was still in the US. I arrived in Korea in September and the job's been going really well.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

I used to work for a crooked company that rented classrooms from BCM in Kangnam. I also once had a friend that took them to court. He lost. That is all.

Larissa · Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Location: Lake Placid, NY

teacherlisa · Joined: 17 Jun 2007 Location: Suwon,Korea

I didn't work for them. They placed me in my job, which is at Ajou Univ. The recruter I worked with was Helen Kim.

mr. positive · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Location: a happy place

They are only good if you want to get crappy pay and teach the infamous split shift (6am-9am then 6pm-10pm) with mediocre materials. I couldn't stand it after four months.

If you have ANY experience, you can do much, MUCH better.

lastat06513 · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:29 am Post subject:

BCM is the smallest franchises in the city out of the big-3.
And from my dealings with them, they gave more independence to their franchises compared to Pagoda and YBM (the main YBM buildings in Gangnam and Jungno are where adult students learn).
So, to work for them, it really depends on the franchise, and I think the same goes with most other big schools as well........