Korean Job Discussion Forums

blos2om · Joined: 28 Apr 2011 Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Hi everyone

I am thinking of taking up a contract with the school given in the subject heading. It is in Uijeongbu, Seoul. I would love to hear your thoughts about the school and also about what your experience has been in the area.

Thanks Cool

sallymonster · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Location: Seattle area

Uijeongbu is not part of Seoul. It is a city north of Seoul.

blos2om · Joined: 28 Apr 2011 Location: Auckland, New Zealand

I am sorry for that mistake. This is what I've been told.

Do you have anything else to say about the city?

SeoulNate · Joined: 04 Jun 2010 Location: Hyehwa

where in uijeongbu? It is quite large.

BigBuds · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Location: Changwon

Topia is a hagwon chain not just one school. They are all over Korea and each one will be a bit different.

horton1 · Joined: 29 Apr 2010

Topia is like any other big chain, a lot of clases , a lot of marking, and a lot of hassels if you underperform. All for about 2.1 mil a month, right?

blos2om · Joined: 28 Apr 2011 Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Horton - yeap. How many classes and students did you have on a daily basis?

Thank you everyone for your comments. Much appreciated.

horton1 · Joined: 29 Apr 2010

On average you will teach between 26-28 55 minute classes per week. Each class will likely have an average of 12 students. Mon, Wed, and Fri you will likely teach 6 classes per day with a short break in between. Tue and Thurs you will likely teach 5 classes per day with 1 class as a spare. This may vary depending on the campus, but expect those numbers. You will be busy with marking during your prep time, if you are not careful it can really get ahead of you.
Topia is an ok starter school for a teacher with no experience, this is because the classes and material are all prepared for you. Planning is very easy.
Would I work at Topia again, no. Would I recommend it to others, perhaps.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

There are reviews of several Topia franchises at reliableteacher.com, including one in Euijeongbu. Not sure if it's the same one you're looking at or not, but here's a link:

http://hagwon.reliableteacher.com/topia-english-zone-elementary-school-uijeongbu-shingok-dong-gyeonggi-do/

jsper · Joined: 03 May 2011

Hey!

I was offered a contract in the same city, when were you thinking of going? I tried to look online for reviews of Topia an I actually came across a few complaints of teachers being fired and not receiving severance pay - these Topia schools were in different cities though...

blos2om · Joined: 28 Apr 2011 Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Jsper - I am heading over sometime near the end of this month. When are you going? Cool

zig1234 · Joined: 12 Jul 2010

I worked for a Topia in Ansan. It literally was one of the worst hagwons in Korea. The teachers were getting paid half their salaries for months and the owner got mad when we quit. Maybe the one in Uijeongbu is different (it can't be worse!) but I wouldn't recommend working for any Topia.

squirrelbait · Joined: 16 Jul 2010

My fiance and I worked at the Incheon, Yeonsu Topia branch from September 2010 to the end of August 2011 on a 1 year contract. We did not get our severance, pension, complete vacation time, or even the type of housing and furnishings stated in our contract. However, Topia did pay on time each month.

The owner, Mr. Lee, and the President, Jun, promised again and again to pay our severance and pension (they hadn't been paying into the pension system, but we thought they were) at the end of our contract. Then they said they had to take out bank loans to pay us. It wasn't until we got an excel sheet detailing over a million won in bogus deductions that we realized that in fact our bosses, who had pretended to be our friends, were actively trying to reduce their liability and inevitably not pay us what we were owed. Until that point we were upset, but we just thought they were not very good at running a business. We didn't realize that they were actually never planning on paying us.

We had no recourse so we begged and pleaded until we went back to the US seriously broke and seriously scarred.

It is also important to note that Topia headquarters ignored repeated cordial requests for assistance. If I had it to do over again I would not work for any Topia branch since they do not support their teachers and they look for every way to cut corners. And they do it all with a grin and a free bottle of soju so you think you are among friends.