Korean Job Discussion Forums

Oona · Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Location: Canada

Any teachers currently working for Berlitz?

I did a search and found several negative comments from one poster. I'm hoping to get some opinions from several different people with more recent experience.

I worked for Berlitz Mexico for one year, and currently work for Berlitz in Canada and have had very positive experiences with both. I'm thinking of Berlitz Korea.

My preliminary research shows me that I could probably earn more at another school, but I'm not wondering if a lower salary is a small price to pay for the stability of knowing that I WILL be paid.

I also like the fact that "staying" with Berlitz makes my transient resume seem a little more stable.

Any opinions/advice?

mishlert · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun

If Berlitz Korea offers 1.8 million, with apartment, then do it. Anything less than that is not worth it, as most hogwons now offer 2.0 million(avg) and apartment.
Whatever you do, good luck

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

If you have taught at one Berlitz, you have pretty much taught at them all. You know you have that. Did you teach kids or adults?

Oona · Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Location: Canada

I've taught both, but mostly adults. Ideally, I like to teach a mix of both. I find teaching kids fun (and exhausting!) but if I only taught kids I'd miss some of the more intelligent discussions that take place in an adult classroom.

Berlitz offers an apartment for three months, and then pays 300,000 towards rent on your own place.

The salary varies. 11500 per 40 minute teaching unit with a guaranteed minimum of 120 units = 1.38. But most instructors teach between 160-210 units per month which would be 1.84 to 2.41.

So, the minimum is way low but I would probably want to work around 200 units. The problem in Mexico was demand, but I don't imagine that would be the case in Korea.

So the disadvantages I see: salary on the lower end, split shifts, possibly housing

Advantages: pretty confident I'll get paid and won't have contract problems, nominal fee for classes I want to take (I'll want to continue studying Spanish while I start learning Korean)

I was just really hoping to connect with some instructors so I can get the straight goods on what the work environment is like, and such.

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

6:45am start !!

9:10pm finsih.

SWISS CHEESE SCHEDULES!

(2 classes, 3 breaks, 1 class, 2 breaks 3 classes, etc.)

*They have beds at school for teachers to sleep in between shifts.

Not the way to go, IMO, Oona.

They do a lot of illegal things like getting teachers to travel for outservices, no severance pay, and have hired illegal teachers.

For a litte more info:
http://berlitz.generalunion.org/

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

PS -

TAIWAN Berlitz is, according to instructors I've talked to here (current/former) a bad place to work also.

Japan would be the better of the 3 IMO (Korea, Tawian, Japan).

Oona · Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Location: Canada

I must be the only person in the world that doesn't mind split shifts. In Mexico, I always used my free time to have long lunches with fellow teachers, prepare my classes, take classes, go shopping, or even catch some rest at home.

I'm confused though. Why is it illegal to pay for travel? In Mexico, we wanted to be assigned "travels". You would be paid at least double that of what you were paid for a class in the centre, and if you were lucky often the company was located closer to your home than the school. The compensation for the travel was always far higher than the actual cost of the travel.

So, for most of you teachers with fixed schedules, I assume you are teaching children and adolescents??

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

Berlitz scheduled instructors for travel even though it was against the law.

When I worked for Berlitz in the lat 90's, they did not amend the work visa. Totally illegal.

kiddblount · Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Location: Seoul

On one hand you'll be teaching mostly professionals (with the occasional kid in the summer), on the other hand, they give the teachers no respect. Amusing how the students think the teachers had superb educational backgrounds since the school charges so much, but they're not much different than any other hagwon. If you ended up teaching there I hope you're not at the Myeongdong location . . .

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

I was at the Myongdong branch duing my time with Berliz.

First language school that I ever saw that had Bunk-Beds for the teachers to sleep in... aha, aha!!

Should have been a warning sign...

6:45am to 9:10pm - The 'Swiss Cheese' Schedule

My Berlitz experience was an absolute nightmare!

Warning: Stay Away!!