Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rcd1649]

I have been offered a position at this school, any opinions out there? I have read alot of horrible reviews about Wonderland but this particular franchise has not been mentioned. Please let me know if any one has experience with it!

[reactionary]

don't do it, i'd say. wonderland has a bad reputation. daechidong has a reputation of very demanding parents because it is one of the nation's premier "education districts."

the school will charge students more because of the area they are operating in, and your pay will be the same as if you took a less stressful job ("the mothers are complaining") elsewhere in the city.

daechidong is also more expensive to live in as other parts of the city, but has few redeeming factors other than being close to COEX mall. i wouldn't live/work there again unless i found a job that paid well above average.

[rcd1649]

Thanks Reactionary I appreciate the feedback. I was given some email addresses of current employees by the Foreign director of the school so I sent those off as well. Housing is provided so that shouldn't be an issue. I'm really hoping to hear from some one who has taught or knows some one that taught at this Wonderland, I know Wonderland has a bad rep but I have read good reviews for some of them.

[ChopChaeJoe]

Man, I totally understand and have sympathy for someone who was eager to teach in Korea and ended up stuck in a Wonderland, but then come these people who KNOW about Wonderland's repuatation and are still considering it. Maybe THIS one will be different...

Sucker born every minute.

[rcd1649]

Chop thank you but I would like specific facts on this school if anyone has a first hand account. As for sympathy for someone with no idea, so you can feel for a person who does no research but someone who is trying to get some facts you think is a, "sucker". Regardless I'm not trying to start an argument, just hoping someone has experience with this school.

[reactionary]

There are hundreds if not thousands of English hagwons. This Wonderland might only have a few teachers, the chances of them reading your post (as if they have internet access in their dingy dungeons!) is low. Also keep inmind that Wonderlands tends to successfully recruit people who DON'T read Dave's. Either take your chances or don't.

[ChopChaeJoe]

So now it's facts you're looking for, not opinions? Let's say someone totally trashes the place, would you skip it? Then, let's say someone says they worked there and love it, would you sign? How could you have any grounds to trust the latter? They could be being railroaded by the company to find a replacement.

Jumping into a hogwan is a crapshoot. Why play with dice already loaded against you?

But if you sign, good luck. You're probably going to need it.

[rcd1649]

I have been perusing this sight for months, I have never seen anyone say man I loved my experience at "x" school. I realize the odds are slim on catching someone with personal experience at the school, but hey its worth a shot.

[PaperTiger]

As a place to live, Daechi blows big time. It's loud at all hours of the night (spoiled rich kids with their own apartment stumbling and screaming down the street, three different kinds of garbage trucks that only collect in the dead of night). The place is uglier than a mud fence...on the whole, Seoul is generally one of the ugliest cities on Earth...but man Daechi really takes the cake. It's like there's only one really bad architect in Seoul, and his closed-head injuries prevent him from ever addressing the glaring mistakes in all his horrible designs. Daechi is extremely expensive, so expect to have a very small and shoddy apartment.

Kimpo is prettier than Daechi...in the way that vomiting is not quite as bad as diarrhea.

[rcd1649]

lol I get it, not a pretty part of town. I am still waiting to here back from the teachers at the school. It is not my only option but I am keeping it in consideration till I hear what they say. Where is a recommendation to look? All of my other jobs are in gungnam, which I understand is a pretty standard area to start in. any opinions on that one? Thanks!

[reactionary]

daechidong is IN gangnam-gu. if you're in seocho-gu, near gangnam station, well, that's at least kind of interesting sometimes. on the whole i don't really like being south of the river, though.

[PaperTiger]

There's a really great school in Sinsa that should be hiring soon.