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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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 Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 7:02 pm Post subject: Does anyone know about Pagoda Academy, Pagoda Tower, Seoul? |
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| If so could you fill me in on what it's like to work there? Thanks in advance for any help. |
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seoulmon
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 6:56 am Post subject: |
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Why don't you call them up and ask them if you can talk to some people working there now? That's pretty standard. Many people do that so they shouldn't have any problems giving you a number.
Chances are, the person you talk to will only have been working at Pagoda for a few months, maybe even a few weeks. Turnover is pretty high, much higher than say YBM or other similar schools. Nonetheless, the person you talk to can give you a pretty good idea of what it's like to work at Pagoda. |
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plato's republic
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Ancient Greece
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| Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Why is turn-over so high? That doesn't sound too good. I was under the impression that Pagoda was one of the better schools to work for... |
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FUBAR
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: The Y.C.
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| Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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| plato's republic wrote: |
| Why is turn-over so high? That doesn't sound too good. I was under the impression that Pagoda was one of the better schools to work for... |
The turnover rate isn't that high. On the other hand, after two months each teacher receives an evaluation from their students. Score too low on the thing and Pagoda will can them. |
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adventureman
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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I don't get it. A lot of people on daves all seem to think Pagoda is a shit place to work, the pay isn't that great, the hours suck, and the are management is stupid.
But yet, they still seem to be thought of as a highly decent place to work by the Korean people, have a steady stream of competitive applications, apparantly fire-at-will, and have the ability do most of their recruiting in-country.
What's the real deal with Pagoda? |
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unsung
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Location: busan
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| Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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| FUBAR wrote: |
| plato's republic wrote: |
| Why is turn-over so high? That doesn't sound too good. I was under the impression that Pagoda was one of the better schools to work for... |
The turnover rate isn't that high. On the other hand, after two months each teacher receives an evaluation from their students. Score too low on the thing and Pagoda will can them. |
I worked at a place that was near the Jeong-lo Pagoda and I got to know a lot of teachers who worked there. Some of them had been working for 5 or 6 years. I was really surprised when I heard this. That's a long time to work for a company. A lot of loyalty too. I can't think of another hog-won with that kind of track record
From what I hear, Pagoda is no longer run by the same management. Something happened to the owner. Now it is run by a lady who has no management or educational experience. Longer termers are no longer considered loyal. They are "lazy" and "inexperienced' , "spoilt" and "negative." I've been hearing a lot of stuff about Pagoda that really surprises me. It's like it's not even the same company. Is the turn over really high? Hard to say, but from what I've heard, I wouldn't rule it out.
Last edited by unsung on Mon May 16, 2005 11:07 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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| From my chats with Pagoda some of the problems are split shifts. Long hours. Low pay. Which is why I dont work for them! |
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Bozo Yoroshiku
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Location: Outside ???'s house with a pair of binoculars
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| Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 12:37 am Post subject: |
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| unsung wrote: |
| From what I hear, Pagoda is no longer run by the same management. Something happened to the owner. |
No, same woman that owned the company from the beginning. Why she changed the management paradigm is something you'd have to ask her yourself.
| unsung wrote: |
| Is the turn over really high? Hard to say, but from what I've heard, I wouldn't rule it out. |
In Jongno (a staff of 28 teachers, give or take), 10-11 teachers have been let go or have left voluntarily in the last 3 months (many are senior teachers with 3 or more years experience). Take from that what you will.
--boz |
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Squid
Joined: 25 Jul 2003
Location: Sunny Anyang
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| Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 7:03 am Post subject: |
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Nothing to do with the recently introduced penalty clauses?... (if a student leaves because they dislike an instructor then that instructor is liable for refunded fees to the student.)
Heard on the grapevine, and bound to boil Grotto's blood 
This thread has been canned before  |
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seoulmon
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 9:03 am Post subject: |
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| FUBAR wrote: |
| plato's republic wrote: |
| Why is turn-over so high? That doesn't sound too good. I was under the impression that Pagoda was one of the better schools to work for... |
The turnover rate isn't that high. On the other hand, after two months each teacher receives an evaluation from their students. Score too low on the thing and Pagoda will can them. |
Evaluations are NOT based on students. They are based 50% on students, 50% on managment. At any rate, this is a change that occured a little before midnight on a Friday. The management wanted to act quickly so people couldn't consult a lawyer and they could be intimidated. Teachers were given an ammendment (to the contract) and they told to sign by Monday or they would be released at the end of the month (Feb 2005).
PS Don't bring this up if you want a job at Pagoda.... |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for all the advice ... if second or third hand. I'll be sure to ask for references from foreign teachers if I take it. As it is I hardly have time to look through all the offers I've had since I started sending off my CV yesterday morning. |
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Bozo Yoroshiku
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Location: Outside ???'s house with a pair of binoculars
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| Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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| seoulmon wrote: |
| Evaluations are NOT based on students. They are based 50% on students, 50% on managment. |
Actually, under the new system, the evals are based 35% on students and 65% on management.
--boz |
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