Korean Job Discussion Forums

djkelly01 · Joined: 06 Dec 2010

Forgive me if I should have put this in a thread somewhere, I am not very familiar with the board.

I am looking to teach in Korea. There are three main schools/programs that seem interested.

The EPIK program.

Chungdahm Institute (CDI)

Wilshire English Korea in Busan

EPIK offers the lowest pay at 2.0, Wilshire is offering 2.1 and Chungdahm offers 2.5, otherwise all of the contracts I have been offered seem similar, saving that with CDI or EPIK I don't really get choice of placement or grade level, where as with Wilshire I know I will be teaching adults and I know the hours, and I know the location, Busan. Can any one guide me as I make this choice?

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

this really depends on you

EPIK is BIG program. You can wind up anywhere. The less experience you have, the less likely you'll get your preferred spots and grade levels. If your only getting 2.0, you've probably got a year or less right? Do you really want to play the lottery?

And with Wilshire, have you talked to any of the FT's there? Present & Past? Find out how the management is?

The pay's not bad, but I don't know what the deal is. How many classes a week? Saturdays too?

djkelly01 · Joined: 06 Dec 2010

For EPIK I applied to teach in Seoul, and they had me fill out a Seoul application, so I imagine that is where I would go?

I talked to someone who was teaching at Wilshire, he said it was a great place, with great management.

What about CDI? Any thoughts?

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

morrisonhotel · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Location: Gyeonggi-do

Judging by the contract (I've reviewed it on the sticky), you'll be teaching roughly 40 hours a week at Wilshire. There's no mention of vacation leave or sick leave. The contract itself is quite poorly worded. Pass on it.

meaghan · Joined: 24 May 2009

Whoah. 40 teachings hours??? Stay far away...

I've heard that CDI is a fairly unpleasant working environment, but they do pay on time.

I'd go with EPIK. Yes, location-wise it's a lottery, but since you're new to Korea (I assume?), you've not put down roots anywhere yet anyway. Have you had your interview with EPIK yet? I heard they were finished accepting new applicants (but that might just be a rumour).

trixied · Joined: 26 Sep 2009

A friend of mine interviewed with a CDI branch where I live. He was told he got 3 vacation days, no sick days, 2.5 million a month. But classes are 2 hours each with a 3 minute break. One of my students goes the institute and enjoys it. Oh, and his classes were back-to-back. He didn't take it.

As for EPIK, I'd rather go with a hagwon. Not because of the money but everything else that goes into it, from what I hear from friends. Plus side is you get paid on time. Also, depending on what qualifications you have, you could make more than 2 million. I know two people pulling in 2.7 a month.

djkelly01 · Joined: 06 Dec 2010

Well I've emailed Wilshire to clarify the contract, they said that for every class over 5 a day I am paid a sum of 21,000 won overtime pay, that I'm not required to teach more than 5 classes, but most teachers do around 8. The apartment is furnished and they reemburse my airfare when I arrive and pay for my return ticket.

I've heard that CDI is a bit rigid, but has a good reputation, aside from being a bit rigid, do they have any other complaints lodged against them?

With EPIK I have had the interview and I am now in the document gathering stage. Same with CDI and Wilshire.

Damn this is hard.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

djkelly01 · Joined: 06 Dec 2010

So the consensus is to keep looking then?

wiganer · Joined: 13 Jul 2010

EPIK is your best bet. Depends where they place you though.

djkelly01 · Joined: 06 Dec 2010

well, they said Seoul, but I understand that could mean I'm in some village on the outskirts of Seoul?

meaghan · Joined: 24 May 2009

It could, potentially. Also your job isn't for sure until they've received and approved all your documents. Of your options, EPIK is probably the best though so I'd get to sending that paperwork stat if I were you.

djkelly01 · Joined: 06 Dec 2010

They have everything except my FBI check, which as we all probably know takes quite a while to process.

Morticae · Joined: 06 May 2010

I'm in EPIK.

I put down all Metropolitan cities and got in to one of them.

When I spoke to the coordinator here, the person who places everybody within the schools, she said that:

1) Most people will get their #1 choice (Elementary, Middle, or High School)
2) Some people will get their #2 choice.
3) Nobody will get their #3 choice.

So, I can't speak for any of the other cities, but my city seems to take your teaching preference seriously.