Maple Language Institute (Yesan)

It's been a while since I actively worked here. I came to Korea in December 2021 and this was my very first job. I worked until the end of 2022.

I've worked at 3 hagwon during my time in Korea. Generally this academy was the perfect gateway ob. Admittedly the salary is a little low, but it is a perfect academy to work at for a new teacher with no experience.

The xxxxx and xxxxx are both lovely people. I had a slightly difficult first year but that was not at all down to the managers or the academy, but rather personal issues adjusting to Korea and working here. My xxxxx and xxxx both fully supported me in this regard and never punished me maliciously.

The work load is very manageable. You will be working for less than 30 hours per week and you will be given [redacted]. (11 days of your choice plus all red days). You will always be given a 30 minute break to do as you like with aside from when another teacher is sick you may need to cover. I think this is fair as there will often be days where you are allowed to leave early too. They also have movie days a few times a year where you literally do nothing but watch movies so that s great.

You will write student comments every 3 months (quite manageable). The curriculum is completely 100% provided. But you will have the choice to develop some classes of your own if you want. I developed my own phonics classes and the Harry Potter novel class which is still running to this day 3 years later (The student is now reading the Goblet of Fire).

I spent about 3 hours of my days there literally reading Harry Potter, watching movies (As there was a movie class) and doing easy exam listening classes which I loved. The students themselves are also fantastic and very bright. Of all the academies i worked at, this one had the highest English ability in their middle school students.

You will be working with 1 or 2 other foreign English teachers. The foreign teachers run elementary classes while there is a single Korean teacher (who is a co-owner) that runs middle school classes. His classes are extremely good and the academy overall has the best curriculum I've ever seen in Korea.

Also, the xxxx will fairly routinely buy you food. The academy is in Yesan. An absolutely LOVELY town. Only 90 minutes by train to Seoul and it has famous restaurants, its own local Hanwoo beef, some famous bakeries, several beautiful temples. I thoroughly loved living in the town and still regard it as my hometown in Korea.

Finally, I do visit this town every year still and I always make sure to visit my first boss. She has always been extremely kind and given me generous gifts whenever I visit. That being said, I was NOT ASKED to make this post. I am doing it genuinely just because it was a great work environment and if you end up searching for it as you may work there, I want you to know that if you are a honest person and you try your best (even if you make mistakes, its ok, I made many) you will be treated well at this academy and have a great year.

That s all I have to say. Overall, it s a great place to work.