Korean Job Discussion Forums

wayofdan · Joined: 29 Mar 2009

Hi,

I'm graduating from college this May and thinking about teaching at CDI. I have friends who are currently teaching in Korea and have relatives living there. Some are telling me to steer clear of hagwons in general and opt for public schools. I hear of stories where if a student is not performing well on his/her homework and exams, then the parent of the student places blame on the English teacher. Sometimes this leads to the firing of the teacher. How big of a problem is this at CDI? Do the parents push the English teachers?

Kikomom · Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject:

CDI has cameras in their classrooms. They know who's performing. And the students know it too.

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

Go PS job...the only downside is that it's random where your placed....If your place sucks, just quit and find a better job on the ground which is easier once your here.

CDI requires alot out of you....I can't speak firing at CDI, but getting fired from a hagwon job isn't something to worry about....they want you more than you need them.

Luciddreamer · Joined: 31 Mar 2009

danseonsaeng · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Public schools require a MAX of 22 teaching hours per week (that's 45 minute hours, mind you). Sure, you're required to be there from 8:30-4:30 Monday through Friday, but you'll find ways to use your 'desk warming' time efficiently. Also, consider the days off for testing, field trips, and other random events...

All in all, working at a public school is much less demanding than working for a hagwon.

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

Luciddreamer · Joined: 31 Mar 2009

Luciddreamer · Joined: 31 Mar 2009

Ukon,

You mentioned you make 2.7 million. I'm assuming that this isn't your first year teaching in Korea. Or, did you have significant experience in teaching before making 2.7?

I'm about to graduate from college with a BA in a non-related field to education. My salary can range only from 1.8-2.0 million at a pub school. I'm inclined towards a hagwon, like CDI, because the minimum salary is 2.3 for someone like me, or around 30,000 KRW/hour.

I understand that public schools gives you much more freedom while giving you a decent income. However, if I am looking to make extra money, would you still recommend against CDI? I like to work and wouldn't mind working Monday through Friday, teaching 30 hours and enjoying the weekends to myself. But, I won't get any holiday's or vacation days, but at least I'll be paid for working those days, right?

What is your take (or anyone else reading this post) on whether a future college grad should teach at a public or CDI?

Frankly, I'm looking for someone who currently works at CDI or former workers there to tell me that they don't make their teachers their slaves!

nycgrl99 · Joined: 11 Jun 2008

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

enns · Joined: 02 May 2006

It comes down to what is more important to you.

If time off is your priority, then work at a public school where you can get 2 months vacation, but only make 2+ million. If money is your goal, work at CDI where you can net over 3 million/month working hourly(plus intensive months and extra classes, which can bring you in well over 4 or 5 million for some months).

I've really never had a parent problem at CDI, nor heard of other teachers who have had one. With CCTV in every classroom, if there is a problem the video can clear it up quickly anyway. There may be a parent's week every 3 months where parent's pose questions to you, but mainly they just want to know how to improve their kid's scores to move them to a higher class.

Looney · Joined: 23 Dec 2008

Luciddreamer · Joined: 31 Mar 2009

Thanks everyone for the feedback -- the different perspectives of people working at a pub and CDI were really helpful.

nycgirl -- That's great you can teach after school classes. I'm guessing you requested that since you said it was an opportunity, right? How many additional teaching hours can you get that doesn't include the base teaching hours of about 22 hours/week from 9-5pm? Is that with just your school, or do you think there are additional teaching hours at most public schools? If I can find a lot of opportunities to teach after class in addition to making 1.8 million/month, then maybe I do want to teach at a public. As I mentioned, the only negative perspective I have about public schools is that you are physically there for a long time, whereas at CDI when you are at the site you are teaching for most of the time and therefore making money. In no way am I a workaholic and care solely about money, but if I am working in Korea I want to make the most out of my time and the teaching hours at CDI from 4-10 pm seem to do that. What do you think?

enns -- It sounds like you work at CDI right now. Would you mind me asking you a few questions about your experiences? I would pm you about this, but I still haven't reached the 25 minimum posts to pm.

But, I still don't understand why the people who do not favor CDI over public schools seem to describe the hagwon as making teachers work very hard for the money they earn, in comparison to public schools. At CDI, if I am teaching the average of 30 hours a week, then I would essentially be working for 35 hours/week that includes preparation for class. At the hourly plan of a minimum of 27,000 won, I would be making roughly and at least $3000/month. I realize that CDI requires teacher meetings, the training week is intensive and unpaid. I also understand that under the hourly plan, CDI does not pay half of your medical insurance and not a dime towards your housing. Nevertheless, wouldn't the lucrative hourly wage balance that out. So, with taking into consideration the cost of housing and medical insurance, I would still be netting around $2300, compared to $1800 at public schools.

Any other feedback or suggestions?

Your guys' responses were really helpful, thanks! Any other feedback would tip the scale towards working for a public or private![/i]

Golem · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Location: Seoul

I worked at CDI, and I actually quite enjoyed it. I ended up working 6 hours a day there 6 days a week for a total of 36 hours a week. It was quite rare for me to have time off. I was making 28,000Krw/hr at that time. If you do the math you can see I made a lot of money there but I also had to work hard there. I didn't find having my classes taped or getting feedback from the head instructor too difficult. I found they were very professional. Working at CDI is great for your resume if you want to continue teaching in Korea. CDI is not a good job if you like getting feedback about how you teach and if you don't like being held to a high teaching standard.

Right now I work at a public school in the mornings. I get paid 35,000Krw for every 40min class I teach. I teach something like 15-16 classes a week (it depends on the week). I always teach in the morning and when I am not teaching I don't have to be there. This is by far the best teaching job I have ever had.
Strangely I still want more money and am looking for another job. I am thinking of talking to CDI because its been harder to get the really high paying elite Hagwon jobs as of late.