Teaching in south korea?

Travel Info
has anyone taught at a CDI HOldings School in south korea? if you have what are the working conditions? Do they have a good reputation? a little information about that company would be appreciated. Also, what about teaching at public schools in south korea? anyone with any bad/good stories about either one?

Travel Tips

Check on Dave's ESL site. Korea can be dodgy...anything other than a university gig it almost guaranteed to be some problems. Korean business ethics are non existent...but if you understand the culture and speak the language, you do have a leg up. I taught there at a public university and it was and OK experience. I left to come to China and I do like it more here..

Others
I strongly suggest you do not teach in South Korea, especially teaching English.

Over the past couple years, there have been numerous complaints from people teaching English in Korea that have been given the runaround concerning their contracts.

Asian way of thinking and contracts differ significantly over what English speaking individuals think and read contracts.

Numerous reports have circulated about not receiving paychecks, broken housing contracts, extended working hours and not being paid for it, parents complaining because their kids are not learning (even if the kids are lazy).

If you want to teach, I suggest you prepay for your return Airline Ticket in advance; you may need it if/when you are not paid for your services.
I agree with the previous comment. Don't teach in Korea. Teach in Japan. It is much better.
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everyone has their opinions about teaching english in SK. i taught for 1 yr. i enjoyed my stay in korea...but i wouldnt do another year at the school i was at.

ive seen the ads for CDI but havent actually known anyone who taught there. as far as public schools go, one reason why i chose not to teach in a public school is because of the size of the class (from what i hear). ive been told its a class size of about 30-60 kids. it may or may not be true but i guess u'd have to experience it for yourself. who know maybe u'll enjoy it.

if u do plan on teaching in korea, most likely u would start at a hogwan (private school) usually u'll have kindergarteners, elementary kids or jr high kids. if u've got a kinder class...most likely u'll be at the school from about 9am-7pm depending on the school. if u start at say 230pm-845pm...u'll mostly have elmentary and jr high kids.

ads will try to fool u and say '30 working hrs a week...120 hrs a month.' which is true. but u have breaks and stuff along with lesson planning. so being in a school for 10 hrs was common for me..though i only got paid for 6 of it a day.

some schools are pretty shady. look on the korean blacklists on the net and check if a school ur looking at is on the list. my school fired 4 teachers about 3 weeks before i arrived. so they were in DIRE need for teachers.

just look for things in the contract like vacation (some only give u korean holdiays...which to an american means absolutely nothing) getting paid on time and if htey pay for 1/2 ur medical and contribute to ur pension.

if u go to korea for the money...theres a good chance u wont make it thru ur contract. if u go for the adventure and are able to put up with the cultural differences...u'll do ok.
me. taught 1 yr in korea for m 10/2005-10/2006. and im going back again to another sk city and school next month.
I'm teaching English in Korea right now, and I can recommend it. I have seen ads for CDI schools, but not for CDI Holdings specifically.
As far as public schools go, there's been new investment by the Seoul City Government to place one foreign teacher in every public school, and I know a few who are on those contracts, they love their jobs. It is true some Hagwons are shady, but the public schools seem to be pretty good.
I recommend going to Dave's ESL Cafe for more info, www.eslcafe.com - there's job postings, recruiters, and even a blacklist to see who has bad experiences with some schools. I've been teaching for three years now, I haven't had a problem.