Korean Job Discussion Forums

[copydeskadam]

Does anyone have any information about Wonderland Bucheon? I know the Wonderland chain is generally looked at negatively on this forum, but I also have read that it can vary widely from one franchise of Wonderland to another. Thanks.

[Holoholo]

A few months back I briefly met one of the Korean teachers that work there. They were looking for a native English teacher because someone had done a runner. Don't know any details because when I asked her why she thought the teacher ran off, she said she had no idea. I got the feeling she just didn't want to say.

[Octavius Hite]

If you take a job at Wonderland I want the mods to ban you from the site for stupidity. I know this is harsh, but if one more fresh fish takes a crappy job at a bad school despite the warnings I might scream.

This goes for the moron on the other thread talking about SLP too!

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[jadarite]

Does this Wonderland do business in other countries? I had an interview with a company called Wonderland in Japan, but I never took the job. It was only on a part-time basis, not sure if it's the same or a second company with the same name.

[CentralCali]

[waynehead]

I know two guys who work there, and they've only had positive things to say about it. One of them has renewed twice and the other renewed just recently. My feeling is that among the wonderlands, it's one of the better ones.

[CentralCali]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's a choice made by the hagweon owner as to which chain he wishes to affiliate with. If he decides to go with Wonderland, known for abusing its foreign teachers, then he has made a declaration to the public how he intends to treat his employees. "It's one of the better ones" is just as condemning as "It's one of the worst ones in the chain." That tells me that the chain itself is the problem.

Go elswhere and let the hagweon owner realize that slapping Wonderland or SLP or BR on his so-called school is not a good idea.

[smilesalot]

I'm going to back waynehead up on this one. I know the two guys he is talking about and they both really like working there. The other teachers I know there like it a lot too; I haven't heard anything beyond the "normal" complaints that all teachers have.

[garykasparov]

OP,

Ask these questions to foreign teachers, not the employer, at the school. If possible speak to two or three current foreign teachers and one former employee. It is difficult to speak to them over the telephone. Their employers tend to listen to converstations. Communicate with them via e-mail. Your recruiter should provide you with contact e-mails with current teachers and one (1) former teacher. If your recruiter refuses, gives you attitude, makes excuses, farts in the wind, then seek the services of another recruiter.

Questions to ask foreign teachers

Duties
1. What do you do that is not clearly defined in your contract?

Schedule
2. What are your daily working hours?
3. How many classes do you teach per day and how long are they?
4. How many hours of preparation do you work?
5. How many students attend the school?
6. How long is your break?

Wages
7. Are you always paid on time?
8. Does your employer pay you overtime wages if you work more than eight ( 8 ) hours per day?
9 Does your employer provide you with a pay receipt that clearly states taxes, monthly salary and all deductions?
10. Are you paid in cash or does your employer deposit your wages into your bank account?

Housing
11. Was your apartment clean and everything in working order when you moved in?
12. Were you provided with all the furnishings stated in the contract when you moved into your apartment?

Paid Annual Leave
13. How and when do you take your paid vacation?

National Holidays
14. Does your employer require/force you to work on Korean National Holidays?

Paid Sick Leave
15. Have you used a day of paid sick leave? If so, did your employer require you to work another day to make up for the hours you didn't work due to illness?

Airfare
16. Does your employer provide teachers with airplane tickets upon completion of thier contracts?

Health Insurance
17. Has your employer provided you with a medical insurance card?
18. Does your employer deduct the correct amount from your monthly salary for health insurance contributions and pay the contribution to the National Health Insurance Corporation?

Korean National Pension Plan
19. Does your employer pay his/her contributions to the pension office?
20. Does your employer deduct the correct amount from your monthly salary for pension contribution(s) and pay them to the pension office?

Income Taxes
21. Does your employer deduct the correct amount from your monthly salary for income taxes and pay the deduction to the tax office?

( http://www.nta.go.kr/eng/default.html )

Severance Pay
22. Does your employer pay employees their severance pay at the end of their contracts?

Employees
23. What are the English speaking abilities of the Korean Teachers and your employer like?
24. How many foreign teachers and Korean Teachers work at the school?
25. Is there a high turnover rate amongst the foreign teachers and Korean Teachers?
26. Is the director abusive towards the students or staff?

Financial
27. Is the school in financial trouble?

[babtangee]

[Katchafire]

I spent just over a year at Wonderland in Bundang. I really enjoyed it. The staff were fun, and enjoyed a good laugh. My only issue is with the two foreign co teachers that I leant money to at the end of my contract (in March) .. and have yet to see the majority of it.
Wonderland has a bad name, but there are some good ones out there. Just as there are crappy chains anywhere .. just as there are going to be crappy foreign people you work with.
Listen to the people that have WORKED at the Wonderland you're looking at ... if no one responds ... don't take it. If someone had a great experience, you'd hear about it .. just as you would if someone had had a really bad experience. No comment here might very well mean 'Dont sign the contract'.
Best of luck to you though.
Like many jobs here .. you're the one they want .. they probably arent the ones YOU wish you had.

[Holoholo]

I'm curious to know what the story was with the runner. If I recall correctly, I was told it was a female teacher.

[Cheonmunka]

I'd stay out of Bucheon. There's a guy with a new daughter to feed and he's gonna be chasing privates. If he sees you on his territory, there's not telling what he might do ...

[Octavius Hite]