Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pendragon82]

I am curious to know if anyone has any info. on the Boramae Kids College near Shillim station? I am interested in a position they are offering and couldn't find that branch on the board search.
Thanks a lot ^^

[wylies99]

Kids College is a hogwan chain that has a very bad reputation for cheating teachers out of pay and benefits. Be smart and find another place to teach.

[alabamaman]

Before you sign a labor contract

Talk to MORE THAN ONE of the foreign staff and ask POINTED AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS (*when the boss is NOT listening over their shoulder).

1) What are the hours? (start time / stop time / breaks).

2) How many classes per day, week, month? NOT hour many hours per month. 30 classroom hours can mean anything from 1350 -1800 minutes per week standing in front of the class. The difference can be up to 7.5 HOURS in front of the class EACH WEEK.

3) Do they ALWAYS pay on time?

4) Do they pay at the end of your month or do they have a hold back period (5-10 days after your month end) to prevent runners? (no=red flag 1)

5) Do they really pay overtime or avoid it with creative book keeping?

6) Do you get credit for classes on the national holidays or do you get the day off but still have to work your 120 hours before you get overtime? (no=red flag 2)

7) Do they have national medical (with the little booklet)? (no=red flag 3)

( 8 ) Do they pay into pension? (no=red flag 4)

9) What about the holidays? 10 or more WORKING days? (legal requirement here) (no=red flag 5)

10) When and how do you get your holidays?

11) What extra stuff do you really have to do - mentioned or not in the contract.

12) Then consider the quality of life issues - things that are important to you that aren't mentioned here (housing, furnishings, THE BATHROOM, access to recreational facilities, shopping, banking).

13 Do they take additional deposits in addition to the delay in payday? (yes=red flag 6)

[pendragon82]

Thanks for the replies so far, but I guess I should clarify a bit ^^. I'm not a newbie and have been working the hagwon circuit for a few years... I have already gone through all the Q&A stuff so far (as best as anyone can with a child herding facility) and am mostly looking for some first-hand experiences with this particular branch of Kids College.
I haven't found anything specific yet on that branch so I figured I'd ask on here .
My job goals basically entail finding a comfortable babysitting...err kindy teaching position where I get paid on time, have a critter-free studio and work days . (Ah, lowered expectations...)

[shifdog]

I would advise against working for this specific hagwon having firsthand experience with the director and her practices. Reference an old thread I started 'Doing a Runner'.

If you want details after reading it, PM me.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=80190&highlight=

[wylies99]

pendragon- I've been through he11 once already in Korea with a bad hogwan chain, so when I post a warning, please take it seriously. It could save you months of he11.

[Corky]

Wylies, do you have direct knowledge of this specific hakwon, as this teacher, who could very well be just as experienced as you, has requested? I know ECC branches and Wonderlands that treat their teachers just fine, yet tons of others don't. Your logic needs to be developed I think.

[wylies99]

Kids College? Yes. They have earned their bad reputation.
Go ahead, teach at a hogwan chain with a bad reputation for cheating teachers. You're an adult. Make your own decisions. I can only post a warning. Maybe you'll be fine, or maybe you won't. The potential downside could be a nightmare, believe me.
If you want to take that kind of risk when you could just as eaily teach for a public school, (and get your pay and benefits), then be my guest.

[pendragon82]

Thanks again for the replies ~ I PM'd you shifdog.
As for wylies98, I do appreciate your advice, but I must agree with Corky too.
When I first arrived in Korea, I had one of the worst hagwon directors ever (previous running teachers had nicknamed her 'The Lizard Queen' - if only I had known that prior to signing ) Anyways, during my time there I was farmed out to a great number of the other "evil" hagwon's. I can honestly say, that while some were absolutely terrible, others weren't. I found it just really comes down to individual directors rather than the chain.
I am certainly not looking for an amazing life-fulfilling job. If I were I would be back home looking for work in my own field. I just want to be paid on time and not have to look at antenna's wiggling at me during my r&r time.
As for the "classes", I am fine with getting covered with glitter or teaching a "cooking" class (loved the time I got to teach how to make popcorn). I am fully aware that I am not a "real" teacher and would never claim to be...
The kind of info. I am looking for is something like this: "I know that director Mr./Mrs.____, I worked there for 3 months and he/she stopped paying me, and let me tell you about that time I found a dead rat floating in my toilet".

[shifdog]

I can't send PM's only receive them, so I'm replying here. The director's name was Clara. She was also known to others as Kelly or Stephanie. She's very skinny too.

[shifdog]

thesphinxxx I can't send PM's, so PM me your email.

[TOMODACHI-KID]

Amazing! That director, or whoever she is, you know the one from KIDS COLLEGE with all those alias names, man, talk about trying to cover your tracks...

Anyone who has sense, would definitely not work for her, or any of the affiliated branches...

Remember the word: FORBODING.




Oh, yeah, and you can bet on an "evil director" connected in some way, even when the branches (schools) are different, so you say, from the others....

[wylies99]

Like I posted- it's YOUR CHOICE. If you want to work for a blacklisted hogwan, that's your choice.


BE MY GUEST. See what happens.

[Jordaning]

[Donkey Beer]

Bormae Kid's College (Shillim) is still looking for a new teacher. I received an offer to teach at their school yesterday.

Needless to say i passed on the "opportunity".