foxy
- 2011-09-28
Topia sounds like Utopia for you. But it could be a hell on earth for some others. Mybe it's okay there, but it could well be you're posting as a shill. I for one wouldn't take your words at face value. Why risk it for a biscuit? Just my view!
Luke and Brad
- 2011-09-28
As this may have been true when your were working in TOPIA in 2004, it is no longer the case now.
The school employs 2 foreign teachers.
We both have spent well over a year working in this school and have had no problems whatsoever.
. TOPIA has provided us with decent housing.
. We always get paid on time.
. The staff have been nothing but helpful.
. The new principal is always encouraging and he is a very honest man.
. In spring the school paid for us to go to Je-Ju-Do for a long weekend.
My time in TOPIA has been nothing but enjoyable. I fully recommend this school to anyone looking to teach in Korea.
Chorongee2000
- 2004-07-06
First of all, one cannot be 'blacklisted' with Korean immigration.
Second- did I check out the school?
YES. But the teacher there obviously wanted his money and ticket, and was not frank with me about the place. I should have asked for the numbers of previous teachers...
You can't go on what current teachers say...many foreingners only look out for themselves, and are afraid that if you don't accept the job based on what they say, the director will screw them around somehow.
Lastly- you wrote that deducting agent's fees is ok.
Check out Korean labour law- it is not ok to do so, and only shit hakwons have such a clause in their contract.
Lastly- if I made a spelling mistake in my post, THANKS for being pedantic enough to point it out.
A good feedback for your post.
- 2004-06-26
you wrote:
> Agents dealing with TOPIA will be tracked down and blacklisted.
Are you blacklisted with korean Immigration?
you wrote:
> Any agent who sends teachers to TOPIA, changwon, has definitely NOT
> CHECKED the school out in the least, nor has any qualms about getting
> you to sign a contract that violates korean labour laws.
Did you bother CHECKING the school before you accepted a job there?
you wrote:
> the hakwon finally signed the release letter out of
> fear. So folks, DONT TAKE CRAP. PICKET, conduct an internet campaign
> against the school, call students' parents...embarass and destroy the
> hakwon, then do the same to the agents that deal with the school.
How about if you tell other teachers to spend all this energy (PICKET, etc..) checking the school BEFORE they accept a job?
you wrote:
> TOPIA is a ROTTEN place to work. Topia contracts stipulate that YOU
> have to pay back the agents fee if you quit
FYI: It's legally and supported by Korean immigration that a ESL teacher that quits has to pay back the recruiting-fee and the airfare if flown from another country. Just look around you and ask all those with not letters of release from other schools in KO.
I hope you appreciate me giving you feedback. Enjoy your stay!
> TO ALL AGENTS
> TO ALL JOBSEEKERS
> Agents dealing with TOPIA will be tracked down and blacklisted. Any
> agent who sends teachers to TOPIA, changwon, has definitely NOT
> CHECKED the school out in the least, nor has any qualms about getting
> you to sign a contract that violates korean labour laws.
> I want to warn jobseekers about Topia English Zone, Changwon city,
> palyrong dong. The owner, Mr Kim, misleads prospective teachers about
> the conditions at his hakwon, then tells them once they start
> working.
> First off, despite living 2 minutes away, you CANNOT LEAVE the hakwon
> for an 8 hour block. On days when you finish classes early, you must
> stay in the hakwon- NO USING THE INTERNET, NO READING THE PAPER- the
> director insists you do extra work, he calls 'preparation'.
> They will offer the min- 1.9 or 2 million- and no overtime for any
> extra work. Anything extra that is not classtime is not considered
> overtime.
> The owner is a nasty man who berates his Korean staff for taking too
> much time to eat food they ordered! We are talking taking 15 minutes
> to eat when he expects them to wolf it down in 10 and get back to
> 'work'.
> The owner will REFUSE to release you from your contract- even if you
> give him ample time, i.e., a month, to find someone else. Recently, a
> disgruntled employee picketed the hakwon. Mr Kim called the police.
> Since when is standing on a sidewalk holding a sign in protest an
> offence? Mr Kim made efforts to have the guy deported. After
> picketing the institute and informing them he was going to call the
> police about them changing the locks on his apartment door, and
> calling parents, the hakwon finally signed the release letter out of
> fear. So folks, DONT TAKE CRAP. PICKET, conduct an internet campaign
> against the school, call students' parents...embarass and destroy the
> hakwon, then do the same to the agents that deal with the school.
> As for the internet campaign, the teacher in question hasnt sent a
> single email nor posted anything negative related to TOPIA.
> But I have...
> TOPIA is a ROTTEN place to work. Topia contracts stipulate that YOU
> have to pay back the agents fee if you quit, they withold money from
> your pay illegally as a 'security' deposit. Since they figure most
> teachers want to leave, their contract is really a scheme to make it
> as damaging as possible to the teacher if they quit.
boots43
- 2004-06-25
> Sounds like a nightmare.
> For what you stated here. It's well known that the director of this
> school is so nasty and bad. My question: Do you speak to other esl
> teachers before signing a contract with him?
> Kim
> PS This not related to you, I am tired of people here correcting
> English when they can't give a straight answer.
It's possible to give a straight answer and correct English at the same time. This is - after all - an ESL forum and English corrections should be taken in the spirit given. That's what I think.
Kim
- 2004-06-24
Sounds like a nightmare.
For what you stated here. It's well known that the director of this school is so nasty and bad. My question: Do you speak to other esl teachers before signing a contract with him?
Kim
PS This not related to you, I am tired of people here correcting English when they can't give a straight answer.
> TO ALL AGENTS
> TO ALL JOBSEEKERS
> Agents dealing with TOPIA will be tracked down and blacklisted. Any
> agent who sends teachers to TOPIA, changwon, has definitely NOT
> CHECKED the school out in the least, nor has any qualms about getting
> you to sign a contract that violates korean labour laws.
> I want to warn jobseekers about Topia English Zone, Changwon city,
> palyrong dong. The owner, Mr Kim, misleads prospective teachers about
> the conditions at his hakwon, then tells them once they start
> working.
> First off, despite living 2 minutes away, you CANNOT LEAVE the hakwon
> for an 8 hour block. On days when you finish classes early, you must
> stay in the hakwon- NO USING THE INTERNET, NO READING THE PAPER- the
> director insists you do extra work, he calls 'preparation'.
> They will offer the min- 1.9 or 2 million- and no overtime for any
> extra work. Anything extra that is not classtime is not considered
> overtime.
> The owner is a nasty man who berates his Korean staff for taking too
> much time to eat food they ordered! We are talking taking 15 minutes
> to eat when he expects them to wolf it down in 10 and get back to
> 'work'.
> The owner will REFUSE to release you from your contract- even if you
> give him ample time, i.e., a month, to find someone else. Recently, a
> disgruntled employee picketed the hakwon. Mr Kim called the police.
> Since when is standing on a sidewalk holding a sign in protest an
> offence? Mr Kim made efforts to have the guy deported. After
> picketing the institute and informing them he was going to call the
> police about them changing the locks on his apartment door, and
> calling parents, the hakwon finally signed the release letter out of
> fear. So folks, DONT TAKE CRAP. PICKET, conduct an internet campaign
> against the school, call students' parents...embarass and destroy the
> hakwon, then do the same to the agents that deal with the school.
> As for the internet campaign, the teacher in question hasnt sent a
> single email nor posted anything negative related to TOPIA.
> But I have...
> TOPIA is a ROTTEN place to work. Topia contracts stipulate that YOU
> have to pay back the agents fee if you quit, they withold money from
> your pay illegally as a 'security' deposit. Since they figure most
> teachers want to leave, their contract is really a scheme to make it
> as damaging as possible to the teacher if they quit.
TO ALL AGENTS
TO ALL JOBSEEKERS
Agents dealing with TOPIA will be tracked down and blacklisted. Any agent who sends teachers to TOPIA, changwon, has definitely NOT CHECKED the school out in the least, nor has any qualms about getting you to sign a contract that violates korean labour laws.
I want to warn jobseekers about Topia English Zone, Changwon city, palyrong dong. The owner, Mr Kim, misleads prospective teachers about the conditions at his hakwon, then tells them once they start working.
First off, despite living 2 minutes away, you CANNOT LEAVE the hakwon for an 8 hour block. On days when you finish classes early, you must stay in the hakwon- NO USING THE INTERNET, NO READING THE PAPER- the director insists you do extra work, he calls 'preparation'.
They will offer the min- 1.9 or 2 million- and no overtime for any extra work. Anything extra that is not classtime is not considered overtime.
The owner is a nasty man who berates his Korean staff for taking too much time to eat food they ordered! We are talking taking 15 minutes to eat when he expects them to wolf it down in 10 and get back to 'work'.
The owner will REFUSE to release you from your contract- even if you give him ample time, i.e., a month, to find someone else. Recently, a disgruntled employee picketed the hakwon. Mr Kim called the police. Since when is standing on a sidewalk holding a sign in protest an offence? Mr Kim made efforts to have the guy deported. After picketing the institute and informing them he was going to call the police about them changing the locks on his apartment door, and calling parents, the hakwon finally signed the release letter out of fear. So folks, DONT TAKE CRAP. PICKET, conduct an internet campaign against the school, call students' parents...embarass and destroy the hakwon, then do the same to the agents that deal with the school.
As for the internet campaign, the teacher in question hasnt sent a single email nor posted anything negative related to TOPIA.
But I have...
TOPIA is a ROTTEN place to work. Topia contracts stipulate that YOU have to pay back the agents fee if you quit, they withold money from your pay illegally as a 'security' deposit. Since they figure most teachers want to leave, their contract is really a scheme to make it as damaging as possible to the teacher if they quit.