| Ratings | |
| Benefits & Pay | |
| Working Conditions | |
| Integrity | |
| Location | |
Location: 2FL, 219-1 Acetel Building, Cheolsan 2-dong, Gwangmyeong-si
Phone: 02-2066-0509
Website: http://gwangmyeong.slp.ac.kr/
Sogang Language Program (SLP) – Gwangmyeong: Cheolsan-dong, Gyeonggi-do
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
his school is run by liars who can be very nice or can make your life living hell.
The first problem I encountered here was arriving with a sinus infection and ear infection that left me temporarily deaf in one ear, and being expected to teach anyways.
The next problem I encountered was the negative attitude from the other foreign teachers and the supervisor. Things as simple as asking how to get the internet in my apartment resulted in the supervisor getting irrationally angry. I was given almost no guidance on how to do anything, in or out of the classroom.
I was also told not to let the 4 year olds use the bathroom during class under any circumstances, then told WEEKS later that the kids had complained about that.
I was there for two months before getting fired without notice, and my alien registration card was never given to me. It turns out that the teacher who arrived at the same time as me was sworn to secrecy when she got that card.
The lies didn’t end there. They also told the kids that I was going back to NY instead of telling them that I got fired.
Then there was an unending cycle of lies regarding visas, paperwork, and how to get a new job in Korea.
The supervisor actually got visibly angry at me for having the gall to do something completely logical and within my rights. In my own words “why wouldn’t I call them? I’m not a lawyer, and you’re not a lawyer.” Oh dear, the nerve to point out that she’s not a member of that profession when it’s completely true!
After dealing with this school, I feel so frustrated and annoyed with the multiple breaches of trust, the attitude, and the annoyances that I now have a much more negative view of Korea as a whole thanks to these people.
If they decide they like you you’ll be fine, if not watch out. Whether they like you or not depends on many things that are beyond your control. Do not work here if you don’t like being lied to.
DISCLAIMER: Reliable Teacher Hagwon Review does not verify the statements made in these reviews. These reviews are user-generated content and may or may not be accurate. We do our best to weed out ones that are inappropriate or blatantly exaggerated, but we cannot claim responsibility for any misleading information posted by our reviewers. If there is a review that you believe should be removed, please contact us.
It’s sad that Anna had such a negative experience at SLP, considering the short amount of time that she was there. I’m an ex-pat who has been teaching there for more than 3 years now. And, like any job, it has its ups and downs. But I think that SLP is one of the best hagwons to work for, bar none. I have heard some real horror stories from others. So Anna’s defamatory statements have made me feel the need to speak up, balance the scales somewhat, and defend the school’s integrity.
The working conditions are great, the support staff are always willing to help, and the boss is very modern thinking in his approach to work ethics and ideas. It sucks that Anna had a sinus and ear infection on her first day there. But expecting to take sick leave on your first day?!? What the hell? We’ve all had to work on days where we would much rather sit in bed and watch telly. But we carry on and just get it done anyway because it’s expected of us – especially when it’s your first day of work.
There is a lot of information to absorb during your first week – lesson planning, multiple books / guides etc. And you’re bound to screw up a few times whilst finding your feet. But I know that the other teachers around (myself included) are willing to help you if you just ask them. I also know that there were a lot of comments made by Anna during her time there that rubbed some foreign teachers the wrong way. This made them a lot less willing to help her out. I mean, how many times are you gonna help someone who keeps pissing you off? Again, this was an unfortunate situation and I am sorry that it happened.
As for the lying boss etc. I truly believe that he is a person who will try and do what’s best for his teachers. But he is also a business owner who will not sacrifice the reputation of his company because of one person. Why would he tell the kids that Anna was fired? I certainly wouldn’t if I were in the same position. What Anna also neglects to tell you in her story is that things were going fine for her until a parent came across an internet article about Anna and some of her friends. The parent felt concern over Anna’s poor judgment and decided to complain to the school about it. I honestly believe that this new information was the deciding factor that denied her from getting her work visa. Bottom line, Anna made a bad call in the past and it returned to bite her in the ass in the future.
And the other point that Anna made about the internet setup and installation – this ALWAYS gets done. The Koreans realize that the internet is our primary connection to our home / outside world and they try to get it sorted for you as quickly as possible. But obviously it wasn’t quick enough for you (probably another point that pissed people off).
I feel bad that your experience at SLP was a negative one, and that it’s clouded your whole experience of Korea. But you cannot place the blame squarely on others around you. There were a lot of factors that arose because of your actions. So have the strength to face up and accept that responsibility. I wish you luck in the future Anna.
As for SLP, I would say that Anna is definitely the minority and that I can think of at least 10 ex-SLP teachers who would be willing to put in a good word for the school. If you work hard and try your best, then you will be rewarded. Like any job, you get out what you put in.
DISCLAIMER: Reliable Teacher Hagwon Review does not verify the statements made in these reviews. These reviews are user-generated content and may or may not be accurate. We do our best to weed out ones that are inappropriate or blatantly exaggerated, but we cannot claim responsibility for any misleading information posted by our reviewers. If there is a review that you believe should be removed, please contact us.
I worked at Gwangmyeong SLP from September 2007 to the end of 2009 and I loved every single minute of it. It’s a great place to work and the supervisor is an absolute legend; far from the angry tyrant she’s painted as in Anna’s review. To be honest I had to check and re-check that the words I was reading in the first review were actually about the school I worked at for two years.
I did not work with Anna, but I did work with James and I know that his unerring optimism and positive attitude fit in very well at SLP. Perhaps Anna’s attitude did not fit in quite the same. To echo some of the things James said: it’s a business (a Korean business at that), of course they’re going to expect you to work on your first day! I had one day off in two years due to swine flu; days off just aren’t an option in most schools in Korea. Also, in any job, be it in the US, Korea or Bolivia, you should work hard to make a good first impression and get on with other members of staff. Finally, again to echo James, I never had to wait more than a week for any problem to get sorted; usually it was done on the same day of asking.
I am sorry that Anna had a bad experience with Gwangmyeong SLP, but it does not deserve its reputation sullied by such a bad review. There are some fairly atrocious schools in Korea – and I myself worked at one in my first year – but Gwangmyeong SLP is certainly not one of them. The principle and the supervisor are kind, sympathetic and will do anything for you, as long as you treat them with the same respect. In return for hard-work, an interest in the job and the students I taught and a smile, this school gave me two amazing, incredibly fulfilling years.
DISCLAIMER: Reliable Teacher Hagwon Review does not verify the statements made in these reviews. These reviews are user-generated content and may or may not be accurate. We do our best to weed out ones that are inappropriate or blatantly exaggerated, but we cannot claim responsibility for any misleading information posted by our reviewers. If there is a review that you believe should be removed, please contact us.
I am about to leave Gwangmyeong SLP after a great year. I taught at another SLP in Ansan which was also a very good hagwon, but I think that my time at Gwangmyeong SLP was even more rewarding. I was very happy with the afternoon schedule and teaching the older kids. Sure, the little guys are cute but I am more comfortable with the older kids and I get a kick out of getting them interested in English since their typical attitude is not exactly enthusiastic.
The director and supervisor are amazingly helpful. I was having some serious issues with my air conditioning and they replaced it within a day or two. Seriously. And, I didn’t even have to pay for it which kinda blew my mind because at most hagwons they would have at least tried to dock my pay for the next month.
They are also very understanding and concerned if you aren’t feeling well. I had a few days where I was feeling rough, and when I felt that way I would let my supervisor know. She suggested the kids could do a few worksheets and it wasn’t a big deal. If I was really in serious trouble I could take a day off, but I would never take one for a cold, especially when my coworkers would be the ones to have to teach my classes.
I also really appreciate our supervisor because when you have issues with students you can really talk to her about it. I tried a teaching tool that I thought would be really fun for the kids. I had them learn songs in English and try to memorize them. We only did this at the end of the class when all the work was finished, but they loved it and it was really helping a lot of the older kids open up in class. Unfortunately one parent didn’t like it because she felt I was playing and not teaching. (Whatever) My supervisor had my back and supported me. Even though the director made the final call and I had to stop listening to songs in that class, she was very open with me about how much she liked my idea and liked that I thought outside of the box. This coming from my boss was a big compliment. I was able to tweak my original idea and now my kids listen to the songs and fill in the blanks on a paper with the lyrics. They can listen to lady gaga as long as they are writing apparently
I think that the atmosphere at Gwangmyeong SLP is very positive. We all get along well and have a good time at work for the most part. Everyone has bad days, but I feel like the good ones are far more numerous then the bad. We also really care about each other and we know what is going on in each others lives. Its very nice to work with a group of people who care about you and are concerned about how you are doing whether it has to do with your classes,significant others, family, your soccer team losing that last game… etc..
I think that this is an excellent school for anyone interested in teaching in Korea. I am planning on going home to get a job in America but if that doesn’t work out then I would absolutely come back and teach here. The location is pretty good, the people are wonderful, the kids are (for the most part) are well-behaved and bright.
This is a job and a country where you get what you put in. If you are positive, open-minded, and hardworking you won’t have a problem at this school and you might love it as much as I did.
DISCLAIMER: Reliable Teacher Hagwon Review does not verify the statements made in these reviews. These reviews are user-generated content and may or may not be accurate. We do our best to weed out ones that are inappropriate or blatantly exaggerated, but we cannot claim responsibility for any misleading information posted by our reviewers. If there is a review that you believe should be removed, please contact us.