Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tamtar]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to these parts, and I was wondering if anyone had any information on the YBM Sisa ECC school in Kimpo? I've been offered a job there, but I'm a little freaked out, as I haven't heard good things about the YBM franchises.

Also, I'm not so sure I'm thrilled with the contract. Basically, it's 1.8 million for 24 hours a week (minimum) but it also says they can ask you to take on an extra 8 hours per week. They also want to take 200 000 won per month for 3 months for the housing deposit. There is no set working hours (which makes me think it's going to be split shifts all the time) and it's Monday - Saturday. Air fare and housing is paid for, which is pretty much the standard, right?

I just don't want to jump at the first offer that comes along if I could do better, and I suspect that I could. However, if it is a good place to work, I don't mind bending a little. Does anyone know anything about it?

[Grotto]

Thats kind of crappy.

In any contract get it specified what constitutes an hour. Get it in writing. An hour should be 50 minutes. Get set class times 2-8 Monday to Friday or you will be dancing to thier schedule all year. Also make sure your contract stipulates how many classes a week you will be teaching. If you work 24 hours a week you could still end up teaching 29 classes a week.

The housing deposit has become somewhat standard over here lately. YBM is a pretty big company and I dont think you would have trouble getting the funds back if you paid all of your bills and didnt wreck the apartment. It is illegal for them to ask for this deposit though.

[tomwaits]

Hi---I was offered a YBM contract before and it was in fact splits. 9-11 and then come back at 3 or so.

Sats would be a deal-killer for me, especially if you like to go out at night.

When I visited the teachers seemed to be LITERALLY running from class to class. On the other hand there were some long-termers so I guess some are happy there.

[ghostshadow]

Well from the looks of it I do not recall that they are headed by the Head office, so you will not have the total backing of the head office, most likely they won't be able to help you at all. This is both good and bad as you can get a better or worse contract then the ones by the head office. In other words it's a gamble like going into any of the small schools around here. As for the schedule it's really hard for them to know what it will be as seasons and students change they always will have to adjust. Just an FYI they will mark the working hours by the minute, therefore if you teach a class for 50 min, then it's counted as 50 min most of the time. Try not to be too picky with the schools, but if you don't think this is what you will be happy with then look for somewhere else. YBM is a big name in Korea but at the same time the one you mentioned is not part of the company owned schools

Good luck

[prairieboy]

[inkoreaforgood]

Yeah, go with Prairieboy on this one.

I hate working Saturdays, even the thought of others doing it makes me uneasy. Plus ECC schools aren't THAT great really, in my own experience. Although I would say the same about any school like that.

Good luck with it all.

[Lizara]

This might be more like venting on my part than an actual response to your question... but anyway, I work at an ECC (not the one you're asking about) and mostly the working conditions are okay, but the hours can be brutal. Mine were pretty good when I started but right now I'm up to about 170 40-minute classes a month, and so are all the teachers, and that's kind of a lot if you want to do things like have time for life outside of teaching, or prep for your classes. Supposedly the overtime is voluntary but that's stretching the truth quite a lot.

[Tamtar]

yeah, the contract says :

-minimum 144 classes per month (40 minute classes) but they can ask you to do up to 48 extra classes per month. (that's definitely a lot.)

- you also have to agree to take attend any meetings, orientations, training periods and workshops with no extra pay.

- overtime is paid 15 000 won per class.

the thing is that its not like i'm afraid of doing work. i did split shifts at the place that i worked at during university all the time and it wasn't that big a deal, but i also realize this is a bit different than making bagel sandwiches.

i'm just worried about ending up working 6 days a week, crazy hours, and being miserable.

[inkoreaforgood]