Korean Job Discussion Forums

JonDrinkwater · Joined: 29 Jun 2009

I have an interview on Monday for a job with the hagwon Talking Club in Busan and was wondering if anyone can help me out with any info they can tell me about any of their experiences there?

jammo · Joined: 12 Dec 2008

obviously it is a franchise so no two will be the same.

the books are ok-ish but lots of mistakes within them.

not much more to add really - any more questions feel free to pm me

make sure you talk to the current teacher etc...

good luck

cricketnut · Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Location: Changwon

you mean E_Bo_young right?

Books are pretty bad at younger levels..I worked for them for a year contract..I had some phonics classes where the falshcards used alot but not enuff in books. Then after phonics the first books we used were really annoying..the words focus would be all random and no "theme"
(eg today you focus on words angry, pilot, tall and help)...but I think they improved them as I was finishing. then after that the higher level books were REALLY GOOD and I enjoyed teahcing them alot.
Not that the books are everything of course! Other stuff about my school was ok..but really franchise only means so much...it's all power wonjangnim(learn that word).

Hey, one thing, eBY has some "standard contract" BS they try to sell newbies.... don't buy any of it. Change the crap in the contract that includes deliberately leaving blank the "date of pay", and also check out the vague airplane money clauses..but it appears you're in korea so don't worry bout that..

Other than that..I had a good experience at my school.

you can pm me too if you want more info from me.

JonDrinkwater · Joined: 29 Jun 2009

Thanks for all the info! Just wanted to make sure that some people have had good experiences with this franchise. Some of the others it seems like everyone says to avoid.

JonDrinkwater · Joined: 29 Jun 2009

oh I forgot to ask if they gave you your vacation in 2 full weeks or in just random days through out the year ? I've been offered contracts that seem like a set up for the director to pick all the days I get off. And did they make you do alot of overtime?

jammo · Joined: 12 Dec 2008

vacation is written into the generic contract as 10 days much like other hagwons. overtime is written into the contract as 'as agreed by both parties'

again, I wouldnt like to say yes or no. As stated before, Talking Club is a franchise and the boss of each one will be different.

jammo · Joined: 12 Dec 2008

yep the vacation was given to me in two 5 day chunks

mistermasan · Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Location: 10+ yrs on Dave's ESL cafe

i did not care for my EBY at all. yes, they are all franchises so it is quite hit or miss.

mine was a miss.

-"extra" class at 5AM. he paid me 5000 won per hour for that. 5 US$ per hour.

-there is an EBY official calendar that will have "red letter days" as to when one is "off". this was constantly abused and/or ignored. holidays were always cut to the barest minimum at the last minute.
-the EBY training seminar in Seoul is REALLY bad.

-the books for younger kids are quite bad.

-they had flash cards but they were so small as to be ineffectual in class because the students couldn't see them.

the previous foreign teacher had finished her contract. it was her last day. she was awaiting her end of contract bonus. she already had her flight ticket out. manager told her that she wasn't going to be getting any bonus as he was necessitated to use it to pay taxes.

yep, i did a runner on the guy when i saw how he treated my co-worker.