KNC Hyunjae Language School – Mok-dong: Shinjeong-dong, Seoul

Disadvantages

-Supervisor, “Sun” slept with many Mok-dong Campus (which is actually located in Sin-jeong) foreign teachers. She would also blow up in rage and accuse foreign teachers of being liars and stupid. She later went on “vacation” and upon return was transferred to a different campus.

-Accommodations are deplorable. All accommodations are in lower-middle class areas. Teachers are provided used furniture and fixtures. Many things (i.e. AC, clothes washer, plumbing, etc) would break down and not be taken care of for months. If something does break down, they will not trust you and demand that they send a Korean co-worker to validate your claim.

-Notice is rarely given. Paperwork is abundant. You will spend many hours working without pay. On any given month, expect to work 21 to 30 hours on your own time.

-You must bring your own laptop to use in class, WITHOUT being insured by the school. Therefore, if you go to the toilet and the kids break your computer…it is your fault.

-Parents constantly complain over very trivial things. Such as color of clothing you wear, hair style, etc.

-Co-teachers will undermine your pronunciation by telling children you are wrong.

-You have NO personal life. They have keys to your accommodations (they do knock before entering though), they know your cell phone number and will call/text you at any time of day or night, and they have employees living in the same neighborhoods to check up on you.

-Sick? If you are a foreign teacher, you can forget it…even with a hospital note. If you miss a day or days, you will be docked in pay. If you are a Korean teacher…no problem…you can be sick, get married, go to a funeral, etc.

-Your vacation is set by the school, not you. Summer 2009 vacation was set and repeated for three weeks. Many teachers made their plans and reservations for international travel. On the fourth week, the summer 2009 vacation was changed. Too bad to those who lost money to make changes with air/car/hotel reservations.

Advantages

-The kids are relatively great compared to some academies.

-You have your own classroom, with phone, so you can personalize your teaching environment and make many phone tests.