Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DRY]

This writing is intended for any prospective teacher coming to Korea for the first time to teach English at an English Academy. Also to share with any prospective or current KNC employee.

KNC Hyun jae Language School

Working at any Korean hagwan can be a challenge of a foreigner. The hiring staff will let you talk with a teacher that they feel will give a glowing reference, considering you are speaking to them in front of Korean hiring staff.

If you are considering working at KNC, here are a few words from me, who you will probably not speak to on the phone; as I refuse to talk to perspective teachers (because I tell the truth and that hurts business). I am almost done with my contract, whew!!!

With that said, I apologize, but as I said, I tell the truth as I see it.
So, let�s share the basics. KNC is not unlike most small hagwans. The staff is friendly and honestly tries very hard to keep an English environment. They are not shady like most small hagwans. They strive to treat their foreign teachers well, but with a Korean mentality. Therefore, if you work here, you must think like a Korean to appreciate your work environment. They provide adequate housing, salary, work space, tools, and assistance�but again, you are not in Kansas anymore, you are in Korea.

A life with bullet points is always the way to go, so, let�s have it.
So, as life should have it, we should start with some positives. Every day should start with a positive outlook.

� KNC pays a competitive wage
� KNC provides adequate housing
� KNC gives you a classroom as opposed to you migrating from room to room
� KNC provides textbooks
� KNC provides technical assistance

But, at what price to you?
� KNC pays a competitive wage
o Yeah, if they stay to their word
o If they pay your bonus
o You get a pay-stub on a recycled piece of paper that makes the bank think you are being dishonest
o Paying taxes that do not exist
� KNC provides adequate housing
o Roaches anyone? If you like insects for snacks, you will love KNC housing
o It is the summer, my USED AC does not work�can you fix it? Two months later�damn, it is hot in my house (never bothered to fix)
o Used furniture, complete with bugs are provided�mmm, nice, try explaining why you have crabs to your boy/girlfriend
o God forbid you leave your house and it catches on fire due to faulty wiring, because you are expected to be a certified electrician�and you will still have to pay for the reconstruction, and be fired
o House cleaning service use BEFORE the new teacher moves in would be a hassle
� KNC gives you a classroom as opposed to you migrating from room to room
o Yeah, whoo hoo, you get a desk and a phone
o �May I have a stapler?� �No, you need to buy one at the stationary store.� You get the picture
� KNC provides textbooks
o You betcha!!! Outdated and grammatically incorrect to be exact
o You get great conversation time with students explaining corrections to the printed and bound textbooks, therefore you only have about half the time needed to actually do the exercises
� KNC provides technical (staff) assistance
o You have an owner who comes to school in a 2006 chauffeured Mercedes S600 V12, goes to his office, closes the door, and you never see him again until he starts roaming the halls like �Lurch� from the Addams Family�creeeepy�and from time to time will open your door and yell at a student in Korean for reasons unknown
o You have a director, who I have no clue what her job is, that is sweet, nice, and somewhat comforting (ok, that should be put in the positive, or should it�nothing appears as it seems at KNC)
o You have two managers
 One manages the foreign staff�two words, passive aggressive
� Holds staff meetings that you can only understand � of what he is saying
� Total repetition
� Creates problems if he is bored
 The other, I have no clue what she does except place students in the wrong level
o You have four homework room/hall monitor/escort teachers that are friendly, but highly incompetent�who loose tests, input erroneous marks, and act inappropriate with the children
o Then there are the three sweet desk staff attendants, who can say anything bad about them, they have no clue what is going on around the place (again, this should be placed up in the beginning)

And, of course we have to make points to the negative side. Ohh, the above is to be expected at almost any English Academy where foreigners work, the above is a standard day-to-day practice.
� Paper work, paper work, paper work
o You make your own monthly tests
 And you make your own copies
o You make your own schedule that the school sets (why can they not do it for you)
o You write your own report cards
 And, this is all done on your own time
o School complains about the use of paper
� Marking monthly tests
� Phone tests
o Kids are rarely home to take the call
� No academic or behavior support of Korean staff
o You complain about a kid and they brush it off
� Work more than contractual agreement
o Saturdays are not your time
Well, there you have it. I hope you weigh your choices wisely when making a decision on which school to work at in Korea.

[PRagic]

It's a hakwon. They are there to make money. You signed, you came, you lost. There are upsides to sticking it out, though.

If you want to stay in teaching, get better qualified and work your way up from those holes. At least they give you time in country and some experience, albeit not very valuable.

Everyone knows the old saying, 'If it seems to good to be true, it probably is,' Well, think about it.

-A country with a GNP/capita of roughly half the U.S. is going to pay you what a starting certified, professional teacher would make in the U.S. in many States.
-But you don't have a degree in English
-But you don't have a degree in Education
-But you have no experience
-But the school will also pay your housing
-And you 'only' have to work 30 hours a week

Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it. And now you know why.

Use these jobs for what they're worth. If you get paid, and if you get a place to live, deal with the rest and drive on. Don't like your abode? Move.

[formerflautist]

Did you not do a search beforehand? There's a lot of negative info on here about KNC.

[Ed Provencher]

I can't say here what I want to say because of Korea's libel laws (I learned the hard way), so feel free to PM me and we can have a nice private discussion about how I feel about this place.

I'm on Facebook if you can't use the PM function. Contact me!