Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PowerSlave]

After all the bad reviews and shady answers from the recruiter, I've eliminiated CDI. That leaves me with 3 choices, one of which there is virtually no info on.

1) YBM Premiere: I've read the blogs here and I'm leaning heavily towards accepting this offer. I previously worked for YBM Seoul English Village and had a relatively good experience. I'm a good Korean speaker seeking to become fluent, so I will take advantage of the tuition benefit (50% off). After teaching at a public middle school the last two years, and children b4 that, I'm itching to teach adults for a change.

2) Polyschool: Most of the reviews here have been favorable, but the hours seem daunting. 9-7:30. But 2.9 mil sounds good, and no weekends. I like the staff I've spoken too, including the HR person. My only concern is burning out. 10 classes a day will take its toll on my voice and sounds stressfull.

3) NYP Language School (New York Pie): no one seems to know anything about this place. On paper the pay and benefits are good. I've gathered that its not a franchise, just one location privately owned in the richest part of Seoul. But I have little info to go on. Saturdays are optional overtime. They seem to be secretive bunch who don't say much about the job other than the pay and benefits.

[ThingsComeAround]

3) Secrets are bad.

2) No matter how much cash they offer, it isn't worth losing your time/health is it?

1) If it feels good, then you should do it.

Hope that helps

[butter_opera]

[alistaircandlin]

My two cents worth:

The hours are way long at Poly and as already mentioned you've got to watch you don't just burn out.

The Korean tuition at YBM would be a big plus point for me too..

I taught some adults as part of my first job in 2004. One of the pros is that you can relate to the experience of guys your own age more than kids. It also means you can network and start to make social connections with the students. I was teaching this really nice guys from Woori Bank and they used to come out for dinner with us.

A friend of mine taught adults in China and got on so well with his students that he ended up being taken on at their company. He's been working in management for a big multinational in Shanghai, Amsterdam and the UK for about the last 10 years solely because of that job. I'm not saying that's going to happen but it's gotta be worth making connections and keeping your eyes open.

[BoholDiver]

I'd go for #3. YBM and others are very corporate and have a lot of extra work and things that will also grind you down.

Poly is good for someone who is ambitious and wants to make money. YBM is split shifts, more than likely. Those smaller schools are hit and miss, but if you hit, it'll work out well.

[Slowmotion]

10 classes a day? Geezus.

Try a public school.

The most I ever have to teach is 5 classes, and thats once every two weeks, plenty of 3 class days.

[alistaircandlin]

Boholdvier has a point. 3 could be great / could be shocking - can't you speak to some of the existing foreign teachers?

[amcnutt]

Yeah, I would try to find out more about 3 (it's either a really good kept secret or that no one has heard of it for a reason because it is not so great) or go with your gut and take number 1

[Smee]

I'd go with #1. Seems like the safest, securest bet, and has some nice benefits thrown in.

That said, will you be working a split shift there, as some adult hagwon have their teachers do?

[furtakk]

Are you in Korea at the moment? If so, why not check out #3 on your own? If they object to that, then that's quite an obvious red flag. If there are no other foreigners working there I would also be a little worried.

[Xuanzang]

[goodguy9]

hey man,

reagarding YBM premier....i had an interview with them last week. They sent me a contract saying that they wanted to hire me. The following reasons are why I did NOT accept the offer of employment.

1) Split-shift hours are not listed in the contract. Hours should be listed in a contract. Period.

2) A housing allowance is provided at 400,000 Won per month.

3) YOU (the teacher) has to find the housing. You will go with a member of the YBM premier group to find something that you like. YBM operates in nice parts of Seoul, so finding something that the 400,000Won per month will cover is not likely.

4) YOU (the teacher) will have to pay the real estate fee associated with the housing. yes....YOU have to pay this.

5) (this is where I began laughing while reading the contract) The housing will come UNFURNISHED. You are responsible for providing everything in the apartment and removing it when you're done.

6) You have to pay the first TWO months RENT (400,000 x 2) out of your first paycheck!!!!! Even though you are provided a housing stipened, you must pay two months rent during the first month.

7) You are paid 120,000 Won during the first week ....training , orientation....etc. when you start teaching you will start getting paid like a teacher.

Also during the first three months, you have to pay 100,000Won extra per month for bills that you might accrue after you leave. Nevertheless, this is ANOTHER 100,000Won out of your check for the first month


Basically, your first month's check will have 800,000WON plus 100,000Won deducted from it. That's 900,000Won!!!!! Do they expect you to come to Korea having enough money to live for two months before you can get a decent paycheck????? This is all stated in the YBM Premier contract!!!!!!!!!

IF this sounds good to you, go for it. I sent back an email with a BIG HELLZ NAH.

[nfld_chingu]

I have to agree with goodguy9. I also turned down a YBM contract last year because of the crappy pay and the housing stipend, and the split shifts (although I was hesitant because I did really want to teach adults).