The Schools

Please find below further information on the main company I recruit for, YBM-ECC, who are based in Seoul, Korea. YBM has 32 locations across Korea with 16 schools in Seoul, 4 in Bundang, 4 in Busan, 3 in Ilsan, 2 in Daegu, and one in each of the following: Changwon, Daejon, & Ulsan. We have positions available each month at any number of these schools but peak times for hiring are during the summer for September starts and in February for March starts. Choice of location will depend on what schools need teachers and, of course, if they are interested in your resume and teaching skills. I also work with a wonderful Korean-American lady, Joanne, who helps me place teachers with other reputable schools in Korea. I have been thrilled with our partnership and, with her help, I have added a much needed dimension to my recruiting business which, ultimately, works best for my clients!

I have been recruiting for YBM since 1998 and have had nothing but satisfied customers, why? Glad you asked...because they treat you right and are interested in EDUCATION. A lot of schools in Korea are only interested in you being attractive (seriously...) and parents paying the bucks to have their children in the presence of the handsome way-gook-sa-ram (foreigner). This business model is doomed to success for a variety of reasons with the main one being their use (abuse??) of you, the foreign teacher, to bring in money at all costs. If parents want a 7:00 AM class, a 10:00 AM class, and a 10:00 PM class - and they are willing to pay for it - most schools will leap at the chance to please them and will want you to "do the right thing for the boss" and distort your schedule in such a way that it does not even remotely resemble what they told you it was going to be when you signed your contract. This makes teachers unhappy. This makes teachers leave. Do teachers ever leave YBM? Of course, with 32 schools and hundreds of different personality types to deal with some fall-out will occur but the majority of teachers who choose to sign with YBM are well-informed, properly trained, paid on time, treated with respect and generally stay for the 12 month contract.

YBM has been in business since 1961 and control all their schools from a head office in Seoul. If things are not going good, head office intervenes and the schools comply or they find new people to run the school. Makes for a great business model. OK - on to some more specific information!

COMPANY INFO

YBM Sisa is well known throughout Korea and offers competitive pay with job stability found at large corporations. Your salary, housing and working conditions are guaranteed by the Head Office, which was established in 1961 and has over 2500 full-time employees. ECC is a division of YBM Education Inc., a part of YBM Sisa. Other divisions of YBM include publishing, Newsweek Korea, National Geographic, Seoul Records, Cinnabon and information technology. YBM is the official test administrator of the TOEIC exam in Korea and the Microsoft Office User Specialist exam.

Our ECC division was established in 1991 and was the first major chain of English schools devoted exclusively to teaching English to children. Currently there are 32 ECC, PSA and I.A. schools owned and operated by YBM Education Inc. throughout Korea, with many more openings planned for the near future. In addition to our company run schools, we have 72 franchise ECC schools that are independently operated by individual owners throughout Korea using our brand name, textbooks and curriculum.

Our academies average around 600 to 1000 students. Company-owned ECCs are modern and extremely well equipped with the latest in textbooks, copiers, supplementary teaching materials, and air-condition rooms. ECC has an established curriculum that is constantly evolving to accommodate the most recent advances in ESL methodology, curriculum development and pedagogy. It is our belief that this is a necessary step in order for our ESL teachers to fully utilize and develop an environment conducive to language assimilation and training. Our company owned ECC schools average 6 to 10 native speakers of English from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Non-franchised ECC schools are managed by employees of YBM Education Inc. and an equal number of Korean teachers compliment and assist the foreign staff.

HOURS AND RATE OF PAY

The minimum teaching requirement is ninety-five (23.75 per week) actual teaching hours per session. Monday through Friday are teaching days. Saturday teaching is also available at a rate ranging from 70,000 won to 130,000 per day. The pay scale starts at 1.8 million won (2160 CAD / 1784 US per month) and OT is often available (varies from school to school) at 16,00 won (19 CAD/ 22 US) per hour. You cane earn up to 18,000 won (22 CAD/25 US) if you have more experience. With no ESL teaching experience, you would be starting at 1.8 million won for 95 hours a month unless applicants hold a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree in which case a higher salary of 1.9 million won is automatically awarded. Competition for these jobs is fierce and YBM has found that they don't really have to do a lot of bargaining to get good teachers. A lot of schools give you high salaries, short work-weeks and then collapse four months in leaving you high-n-dry in Korea with no job, no money and no chance of legally getting a new job as you are tied to the original school and E-2 visa for the remainder of the year. Now there are other ways out but it is complicated and expensive! OK - on to WHY you should choose to work for YBM:

WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE TO WORK FOR THIS COMPANY

1) High degree of stability, professionalism, and excellent working environment. They provide airfare over and back, furnished, shared Western style housing within close proximity to the school, severance payment upon completion of your contract. Scheduled holiday time is built into the school calendar allowing for out of country travel if teachers so desire. Days can't be taken here and there as, unlike Canada or the US, no substitute teachers are available to cover for you.

2) Teachers who punch a year at one of these schools become "hot" commodities in the ESL marketplace and usually have no problems securing prestigious positions only available to teachers with actual in-country ESL teaching experience. YBM's focus on curriculum and excellence of teaching (remember, a lot of schools are only interested in your services in the role of glorified nanny - sad but true....) make you most attractive to the universities in Korea and these, in my humble opinion, are the very best of ESL jobs in Korea.

3) They are honest and follow the signed contract without fail

4) They are currently the only family of schools in Korea that offer the following perks:

a) Relocation allowance - After arrival to Korea, employee will receive 200,000 Won (235 CAD/ 174 US) to help defray the costs of relocating.

b) Visa application fee subsidy - After arrival to Korea, employee will receive 50,000 Won (60 CAD/ 45 US) to help defray visa application fees.

c) Paid orientation and training - Employee will be required to undertake orientation and training (2-4 days on average) before commencing to teach. Paid at 30,000 Won (35 CAD / 26 US) per day.

d) Accident Compensation: In the event that employee sustains injuries from an accident or mishap which occurs outside the course of normal work duties; employee understands and agrees that employer will have no responsibility for, nor obligation to pay, medical and hospital costs which are in excess of those covered by medical insurance.

e) Sick days and attendance bonus - Employee is entitled to 10 sick classes with a meddical note. days. If employee does not use any sick days a 250,000 Won (300 CAD / 220 US) non-absence bonus will be given upon completion of a one-year contract. 300,000 Won bonus for missing no classes (Medical or non-medical reasons) 200,000 Won bonus for missing 5 or less classes (Medical or non-medical reasons) 100,000 Won bonus for missing 10 or less classes (Medical or non-medical reasons)

f) National Pension Tax Refund: Exclusive to employees holding passports from USA and Canada. Under current Korean tax regulations full time contract employees from these countries are entitled to receive a full refund plus employer co-contribution. The refund will consist of employees pension tax deducted over the course of their employment plus an equal amount contributed by employer minus any taxes. This is applicable only when an employee finishes their employment with employer and will not continue employment in Korea.

6) Finally, you will have a year of hassle-free teaching at a good school that cares about Education and keeping you happy.

Any questions feel free to e-mail and a sample contract has been attached for your perusal. All the best!