FAQ
Working for CDI (Chung Dahm Institute) and April English in Busan and Changwon cities:
Application process and arrival timeline Q & As: How do I apply?
1. Send us your updated resume and recent photo of yourself to recruitingcdi@gmail.com
2. We will send you an application back and you’ll need to fill that out, sign it & either fax it back to us at 051.898.9414 or scan it into an email and send it to us to the above email address.
What happens after I apply for a English Teaching job with CDI Busan?
We can call you before you actually apply via the application form, but we definitely need a resume and a recent photo to do an initial orientation/screening call where we get to know you by chatting over the phone.
We will definitely give you a call for the initial orientation and screening call by our Busan offices after you send the resume, the photo and the application. We may call you during “off hours” because of the time differences.
After the initial call, if you agree and we feel you are a strong candidate for our schools, we will set up an official interview with our headquarters in Seoul. We may have you write an essay if you are applying for our CDI Academies.
Interview with headquarters and determining your salary:
A. For April English Teacher candidates, you are allowed to skip the essay and submit just the application.
B. For CDI (Chung Dahm Institute) English Teacher candidates, you must also write an essay to identify your ability to write in English. CDI teaches iBT TOEFL English teaching skills and its’ English instructors need to be proficient in writing well in order for instructors to teach the classes. Thus, an essay is needed.
C. After submitting the additional documents (if necessary), we set a time with you for our headquarters to call you – typically outside “business hours” if you are in the United States or Canada and from 10a to 6p Korea Standard Time for all other locations. The interview could be set literally within the next 24 hours. Thus, it’s a good idea to be prepared for a call.
When do you usually have English teachers start their job and come to Korea?
A: Native English Instructors need to show up at least a week before their actual start date which typically lies on a Monday or the beginning of the month. The week is used to spend a week in Seoul training in their program.
Should I prepare for training with CDI?
For both CDI April English or CDI English Teacher candidates, it is wise to become comfortable with the concept and practice of “mock teaching.”
For CDI Instructor candidates: it is also wise to brush up on Grammar concepts. Infinitives, Present Perfect, and Gerunds for example would be good to know. There is also an ethics test (from the latest that we’ve been told), but no preparation is needed for this.
For April English Instructor Candidates:
Please just be ready to be diligent in studying with your English Teaching trainers for a full week.
**Please note: a Medical Evaluation will be conducted at a nearby hospital. It validates what was filled out in the Medical Statement required by Immigration department in Korea for E-2 Visas.
English Teaching questions:
What time do Native Instructors’ teach?
A typical class schedule is from 4:20p to 10:20p. Some schools adjust and you could start anywhere from 4:00p to 4:30p. You would simply add 6 hours to the starting time to figure out your finishing time. There are 5 minute breaks in between every hour of class taught.
What time do the native teachers have to arrive at school?
You are required to come to the Academy at least 30 minutes before your first class starts. Our computerized management system called the “ERP” tracks your login time and you can be disciplined for logging in late multiple times. The purpose is to make sure the instructor is not sick & that there is not need for a substitute.
Are there any other duties beyond teaching and prepping for the ESL classes?
Currently, we ask teachers to do “daily reports” kind of like evaluations on a more frequent basis. They aren’t incredibly comprehensive, but they help our Korean staff stay informed about the activities in class so when they call the parents up, they have a clue as to what is going on during classes.
There are periodic meetings to stay updated with the events, curriculum changes, processes that help the teachers’ lives stay more positive and a few other issues during the quarter.
Once a quarter, we ask teachers to sit in on a seminar that our Head Trainer tries to share ideas that can help the educational environment stay productive.
Teachers have periodic meetings with their managers to make sure work is satisfactory from both ends.
And there can be seminars sometimes given to parents where teachers are asked to present their thoughts about education or exhibit what is taught during class or show what the curriculum looks like.
What are intensives? I heard we work extra hours/split shifts during this time. What are the pros and cons of these? Do we get paid for the extra work?
Twice a year, the kids take a break from their public schools. During the Winter and Summer breaks, they take off from 5-6+ weeks from school. At that time, CDI and April English offer “Intensives Classes” where students take classes from 9:30a to 12:30p typically on top of the regularly scheduled classes.
In one word, they are “tough.” It’s definitely not when everybody is constantly smiling to be at work, but the month after is amazing! People look at their paychecks and also reflect on their schedule and realize that they had so much free time after the session(s) are complete. Many wonder how they could have taught so little during the rest of the 41 weeks of the year.
Also, many people come to the country to pay off student bills or save up money for housing. For the financially motivated, this time offers teachers a great opportunity to make a bit extra cash.
The Academies try to also be very supportive during this time stocking up the snacks in the teachers’ rooms. Additionally, the managers try to offer teachers the option of teaching just one intensive class instead of two which may require teachers to teach 6 mornings during the week. However, in cases of need, there are times where some Academies need some teachers who are NOT as excited to teach every intensive morning because there are no other options.
Monthly contracted teachers are contracted to teach up to 120 hours a month. Many surpass this amount and for every hour above and beyond the 120 hours, they are paid an overtime rate specified in the contract.
Are my classes watched? I heard something about a CCTV camera while teaching. What is that for?
Yes, classes are monitored by CCTV. Despite the feeling that “big brother” is watching over you, the true purpose behind CCTV beyond helping teachers learn how to teach better, the goal is to protect the instructor. If a child has accused the instructor of punishing them physically and the teacher argues differently, the only proof is CCTV. The CCTV could easily exonerate an instructor for something that may be false.
It is true their managing instructor does monitor their classes, but again, it’s to help the instructor become a more effective instructor and also for HI’s (Head Instructors) to have the ability to give constructive feedback when needed.
The CCTV evaluations also help with promotions. Thus, strong instructors are given credit and eventually promotions for being such strong educators.
Can we play games in the class?
We take teaching seriously. We highly discourage teachers from playing games in the classroom.
Contractual questions and answers
What is the standard time an English Teacher signs on for with CDI Busan? A year? Two years?
A: Each contract is signed for 1 year. However, we have many teachers how sign on for more. We have many of our CDI English Instructors stay with us for 3 or more years.
Can I get a 3 month contract? How about a 6 month contract?
Answer: If an instructor wishes to pay for her/his training and airfare, we are completely open to the possibility of having someone here for the short term. However, CDI and April English Academies invest a significant sum into each instructor for their training and recruiting. While the company would love to extend offers to teachers for shorter periods of time, it can not afford to invest in every instructor to have them leave shortly after. Please do inquire though if you are willing to take care of the initial costs it requires to prepare an instructor to start teaching classes effectively and also forgo the benefits of finishing a year long contract (i.e., severance bonus, airfare, housing).
Would you recommend that I go on a hourly/monthly/yearly contract with CDI?
Monthly provides you the benefits of relative stability, housing (rent) is taken care of and you get medical/pension paid 50% as well. In months where classes are low, you also benefit because despite the lesser class load, you still get paid whatever you are contracted out on. In terms of months where you work extra hours, which you could potentially do, you still also get paid overtime. We have the intensives months in late July which you may be here for & if you are, you’ll have a very nice paycheck in August.
If you can handle the individual issues like get your own medical (which is like 30-50,000 won a month or the equivalent of $30-50), not worry about severance which you shouldn’t since you’re going to not work a full year, most likely, and just take care of your airfare on the front, hourly is a choice you may consider. However, we are leaning away from hourly contracts at this point. Labor laws have pushed away from hourly contracts.
Do we get Korean holidays off?
CDI employees get the two major holidays off: Chuseok (Korea’s version of Thanksgiving) and Suhl-nahl (spelled Seollnal as well), the Lunars New Year’s Day. Sometimes these holidays are made up on the weekends. Also, sometimes CDI adds a couple extra days to each of the holidays to make it a longer holiday, but not always. It really depends on the branch. This past year, we got 2 days on top of the weekend for Chuseok, but we didn’t get the potential 5 days, but instead received 4 days (2007).
Christmas and New Year’s was handled a little differently. They are not typical Korean holidays even though the Christmas tradition from the west is growing each year. So, teachers were offered either day off, but had to make up the classes on the Saturday before or after.
All other Korean holidays are worked. It is the only way to complete the entire curriculum.
How long is a semester at CDI? Quarter?
CDI operates off of semesters, but they are actually a quarter of a year. They last 13 weeks each.
E-2 and F-4 Visa Questions for CDI and April English Teachers:
What are the required documents to apply for an E-2 visa?
You need to send us:
1) Original Diploma from your 4 year accredited University or College
2) Sealed Official Transcripts from your University or College
3) 2 passport sized photos
4) Criminal Background Report
5) Health Certificate – affidavit first & then actual check when coming into the country
6) Interview in the Korea Embassy or Consulate
Living in Korea questions and answers
How much money on average does it cost to start up living in South Korea. Should I save up some money to get my foot in the door and get started?
It really depends on how you live, but I’d say it would be a good idea to bring at least a thousand U.S. Dollars the current exchange rates (December 2007; 930 won to every $1 U.S. Dollar). To be safe, it may be smart to bring about $1500, but it really depends on the currency exchange. If the dollar weakens, the amount may be higher.
If you live in Busan, the costs are lower than Seoul. Food on average will cost you from $2.50 to $7.00 per meal. Subway fare is about $1.10 to $1.50. Taxis are about $2.00 to $10.00. Utilities are about $30 to $150 a month.
However, it really depends on how you like to live your life…so it’s a hard one to generalize without understanding one’s living habits. For example, if you drink a bit or like to “go out”, the costs will of course be higher. However, I think about a thousand bucks usually gets people off the ground. It never hurts to bring extra for security though. Other than that.. in general, do these schools have other teachers I can socialize with? Is that common as well? There are between 7 and as many as 12+ foreign instructors at all CDI branches at a minimum of 2-3 instructors at each April English branch with at least 2-3 other Korean teachers who speak fluent English. Also, all branches have Directors who speak incredibly fluent English and the Korean staff are also tested to be able to communicate in English. You have lots of social outlets. For example, many teachers go to Muju for skiing in the winter. During weekends, it’s not unheard of people going on rafting trips or trips to outerlying islands or the mudfest during the summer. In the fall, the annual Pusan Int’l Film Festival which is the biggest (supposedly) in Asia, many go to catch many premieres together. Many of the instructors are Facebook pals and get along very well. We have many social instructors who like to have fun and others who like to do their own thing — we have a great variety of people from England, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Ireland teaching with us from their early 20s up to their 50s.
Housing questions and answers
Do you provide housing for people moving to Busan for the job?
A: For monthly contracted workers, all people get housing included for their job.
Will the housing units be furnished? Should I be prepared to invest in some furniture and appliances, etc.?
A: We provide the major appliances and furniture: the washer, the refrigerator, and the bed. However, the optional items like a television is sometimes provided, but not always. Other items can be provided, but with the costs of investing in teachers going up, I see these likely reducing. However, the reasoning behind us providing the main items is because it’s somewhat ridiculous for a teacher to bring their own “large appliances” or a bed, for that matter.
As for the officetel and apartments, in general… would I be sharing them with someone?
Most units are designed for one. However, if you request a unit for more than one
Pictures of one our housing unis - relatively typical:
Salary and compensation questions
How much is the average instructor paid?
A: There is no average that we’ve calculated lately, but all teachers make a minimum of 2.1 to 2.2 million won a month and it goes as high as 3.4 million won, but the people at the higher end are usually managing teachers and instructors with many years of experience and Masters. It sort of depends on the teachers situation. If you can provide your resume, I can hopefully be more clear.
Bonuses, additional compensation and other reimbursement questions and answers
Do you provide any funds to assist in airfare?
A: We fully reimburse airfare when the instructor arrives. The one way airfare is reimbursed up to 1,000,000 won. It is typically paid by the first paycheck which is paid on the 10th of each month. However, it may be as late as 30 days, which is rarely the case. If you’re asking if we can assist with airfare from the prospective teacher’s destination, we typically do not unless you are highly recommended or have somebody who can vouch for you here in South Korea. There are really exceptional cases on a rare basis.
What is Injoong Education?
We are actually “Injoong Education.” We operate 6 different branches of CDI in the Busan and Changwon areas of South Korea. Five of the branches are in the city limits of Busan and 1 is in Changwon City. The Busan branches are in the Dongrae, Busanjin (near Seomyun), Gwangan/Centum (near Gwangali Beach), Saha and Hwamyeong neighborhoods.
We also operate and manage two April English Academies at this point (December 2007). The branches are in the Guseo (Geumjeong District) and Centum City neighborhoods.
CDI Haeundae is not managed by Injoong Education, but is affiliated with the company. April English in Haeundae and in Ulsan City are also not managed by Injoong, but again are affiliated with the company.
There are plans to also expand to other neighborhoods. Please contact recruitingcdi@gmail.com if you are interested in any future opportunities in future branches.
Additional teaching beyond work
Private tutoring on the side…..does this happen often and/or is it recommended? (I tutor children right now in all subject areas and was wondering if this is popular in Pusan as well)?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: This question depends on your visa. If you come in as an E-2 visa holder which most teachers do, it is only allowed to teach additional classes outside of class with the permission of your Academy or sponsoring institution. Most likely, the only times they will allow this is if there is a contractual obligation or there is a customer relationship with a situation outside of the school. However, in most cases (at this time for E-2 Visa Holders), it is generally known you are “NOT allowed” to teach “privates” is what they call them which equates to tutoring in the states.
If you are an F-2 visa holder (someone who is married to a Korean national), I believe the rules are different. However, it would be advisable to check out the Immigration website at www.immigration.go.kr for more details or the Korean “Government for Foreigners” portal at www.g4f.go.kr (just click on the English link in the top right hand corner) which should give you more details.
For F-4 Visa holders which are Korean nationals living abroad or who have received citizenship abroad, you are treated basically like a Korean citizen for 2 years and are allowed to teach private tutoring sessions like a Korean citizen can as long as it is within the limits of the other laws established for educational services in the country.