Chungdahm
*UPDATE: There have been changes as of July 2015. Info out of date. Check out the Final Piece Out.
There are many reviews and YouTube videos that claim CDI (Chung Dahm Institute) is a scam or slave drivers. But I have done some research and found many positives to the school as well. I was a little surprised at how much negative talk there was about this school provided the contract you sign with CDI states you can't flame the company without consequences. I suppose with the contract broken when people were sent home (sounds like many people did not make it through training week). There was also a lawsuit in 2009 but it has been 4 years since and the company is doing well at this point so it could be moot point.
The fact that ChungDahm is a large school is reassuring for me since there are horror stories about small hagwons closing down or not paying people on time. There so not seem to be the same stories for CDI. People seem to have more of a problem with the following:
- Some say it's not worth the many hours
- No vacation time!
- There is a rigid curriculum and teaching style
- Classrooms are monitored by CCTV
- IT'S A TRAP- they fail people during training and send them home without covering their flight.
- You are guaranteed 24 hours a week of teaching. Monthly salaried employees get 120 hours maximum while hourly waged employees get a minimum of 96 hours a month (closer to 118 hours according to my recruiter).
- You get 7 days unpaid vacation days and Holidays off.
- As someone with no teaching experience this is reassuring that they will train you exactly how they want and give you all the materials.
- The CCTV is used for you to review how you did and compare yourself to the 'best' teachers. Gives you an idea on how you can improve.
- This was a huge problem that I saw. I would hate to go to Korea only to be sent back! It does seem, however, that the number of people that fail is very low. Usually it seems to be people that are there not to teach but are in it for the travelling/partying. I kind of like the idea that not just anyone is hired and the training is there to weed out the people that are actually serious about the job. In the end, this is a job that you are going for not a vacation. It makes sense to me that CDI doesn't pay for your flight unless you work for them. Lights a fire under your bum when you are studying during training week. This YouTube video explains why CDI isn't a scam. Quite convincing.
As a first time teacher, CDI sounds like a good fit for me. I don't have a teaching style and having intensive training for a week is necessary for me to be able to do a good job. It may not be financially viable for you if you do not have the funds to buy your own ticket and have some spending money for the first month before your pay cheque.
Update (02/01/2015): Been working for almost a full year so I can give a better look into the system and here it is:
1. Yes there are many hours, but I am working 24 hours a week plus prepping. The extra hours come with meetings, going to seminars to boost our branch image (went to one this year) and Intensives. While Intensives suck, they are extra classes for extra money. The afternoon class is like they are giving you money. I spend half an hour eat and half an hour doing homework with the kids. I really only teach for 2 hours max for the class.
2. VACATION? Yes, you can ask for vacation time but you have to be good about it. If you are a bad teacher, you won't get first dibs. I didn't take any time off this year and I have talked to my boss about taking 2 weeks off and I got the go ahead. It sucks for people subbing because they have to take your classes but you do the same for them when they go. Our branch was lucky and we get Lunar New Year off so I have time to travel. The only other times we got off were Christmas Day and Chuseok. It sucks yes, but When you work only 24 hours a week, I can't really complain much.
3. The material is there and you must use it but not all of it and you can change things if you want.
4. I have some classes watched but its never used against you unless you do something crazy. I have heard that teachers have sworn at students or fallen asleep in class. Don't do stupid things.
5. Again don't be stupid. Don't drink heavily during training. Show up on time and be a good teacher. If you suck, you probably shouldn't teach. They need you here, thats why they trained you but don't presume you get the job no matter what. Show them you are competent and BOOM done.
1. Yes there are many hours, but I am working 24 hours a week plus prepping. The extra hours come with meetings, going to seminars to boost our branch image (went to one this year) and Intensives. While Intensives suck, they are extra classes for extra money. The afternoon class is like they are giving you money. I spend half an hour eat and half an hour doing homework with the kids. I really only teach for 2 hours max for the class.
2. VACATION? Yes, you can ask for vacation time but you have to be good about it. If you are a bad teacher, you won't get first dibs. I didn't take any time off this year and I have talked to my boss about taking 2 weeks off and I got the go ahead. It sucks for people subbing because they have to take your classes but you do the same for them when they go. Our branch was lucky and we get Lunar New Year off so I have time to travel. The only other times we got off were Christmas Day and Chuseok. It sucks yes, but When you work only 24 hours a week, I can't really complain much.
3. The material is there and you must use it but not all of it and you can change things if you want.
4. I have some classes watched but its never used against you unless you do something crazy. I have heard that teachers have sworn at students or fallen asleep in class. Don't do stupid things.
5. Again don't be stupid. Don't drink heavily during training. Show up on time and be a good teacher. If you suck, you probably shouldn't teach. They need you here, thats why they trained you but don't presume you get the job no matter what. Show them you are competent and BOOM done.
My Contract - Money
Quite an important part of a job especially if you are trying to pay off that degree that allowed you to get a job with CDI. So I ended up with an hourly wage contract. While it is the higher pay option, there are a couple things that may be seen as an inconvenience. Housing, medical insurance, and pension contributions are not provided for you.
Monthly ~ ₩2-2.8 million
- Medical Insurance [2.2%]
- Income Tax [7%]
- Rent* [Provided]
- Pension [4.5%]
Hourly ~ ₩2.4-4.2 million
- Medical Insurance [None]
- Income Tax [3.3%]
- Rent* [400-800k won]
- Pension [None]
*Rent in Seoul: ₩500-800 k Out of Seoul: ₩400-600 k
There is quite a range as you can see depending on how you decide to live and what wage/salary you are offered. I am sitting around the middle the hourly wage so I am pretty set if I don't get a super swanky pad and party like a rock star.
There is quite a range as you can see depending on how you decide to live and what wage/salary you are offered. I am sitting around the middle the hourly wage so I am pretty set if I don't get a super swanky pad and party like a rock star.
My Contract- Hourly Contract
I wasn't sure if I like the hourly contract. Yes, I had the potential of making more money but at what cost? I won't have money going into my pension plan (it comes back to you when you finish) and I will have to find my own apartment when I get to Korea; mission impossible! I don't speak Korean!
I told my recruiter my concerns about this and she reassured me in a couple ways. For one, they would set me up with a English speaking real estate agent; Korean renting systems are very different from the North American way. Click here for more information. CDI will provide ₩ 5,000 k for key money. When I asked my future supervisor if it is recommended to bring more, he said some people choose to but it is not necessary.
The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of finding my own place. I can give requirements (western shower for a dry toilet seat!), choose a location, make sure it is not gross/moldy, and have the experience of finding my own place. Living in my parents' basement for so long, it sound pretty fun and exciting. Besides, if I do a crap job, I am only there for a year and I can gain some experience.
The last concern was time, when am I going to find a place? Between the time training ends and my teaching days begin, there is a week of free time. During that time, provided I don't fail, I will be put up in the hotel we stay in during training week along with other teachers around Seoul. A week of hotel goodness to explore Seoul and find a place to live. A short timeline but Challenge Accepted!
I told my recruiter my concerns about this and she reassured me in a couple ways. For one, they would set me up with a English speaking real estate agent; Korean renting systems are very different from the North American way. Click here for more information. CDI will provide ₩ 5,000 k for key money. When I asked my future supervisor if it is recommended to bring more, he said some people choose to but it is not necessary.
The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of finding my own place. I can give requirements (western shower for a dry toilet seat!), choose a location, make sure it is not gross/moldy, and have the experience of finding my own place. Living in my parents' basement for so long, it sound pretty fun and exciting. Besides, if I do a crap job, I am only there for a year and I can gain some experience.
The last concern was time, when am I going to find a place? Between the time training ends and my teaching days begin, there is a week of free time. During that time, provided I don't fail, I will be put up in the hotel we stay in during training week along with other teachers around Seoul. A week of hotel goodness to explore Seoul and find a place to live. A short timeline but Challenge Accepted!
My Contract- Location, Location, Location
The branch I will be working in is a main branch in a well-off suburb just outside of Seoul (Bundang). I am told it is a main branch so there are 20-30 teachers there. O.O The good thing is that it is a main corporate branch and people seem to give good reviews to corporate branches in Seoul. Hopefully this is a good sign and I will be in a workplace that is run well!