cdi questions

To: i_teach_esl@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 11:59:52 AM
Subject: CDI

Dear Sista Seoul,

I would like to thank you first for having such a thoroughly
comprehensive and honest review of CDI on your blog. I just recently
signed with them and still have some anxieties due to the reviews on
ESL Cafe.

My recruiter has been surprisingly brutally honest as I've sent his
answers to my friends who are teaching or have friends teaching with
CDI. However, I have to know one more thing, and I'd rather hear it
from a veteran.

Not having the vacations really blow and I'm sure they take a toll.
I'm being placed in one of the 7 main branches, which I heard can be
good or bad. I'm always one up for hard work and a challenge, but I
like to throw in a little fun here and there. I used to be an event
coordinator, working long hours, weekends/week nights, no overtime
pay, but thoroughly loved my job because I did a lot of local work
travel due to my job. I only really got to enjoy 10% of it since there
was a lot of work to do while traveling, but the 10% was worth every
moment. My friends have told me I may be lucky enough to have 4
straight days of work @ 96 hours a week, but I wanted to know from you
if you've ever or have known of someone at CDI who has taken that
schedule and took a quick 3 day getaway to somewhere like Pusan or
Shanghai without any problems. As an hourly, should I expect to be on
call during my days off? And so, would I be in any position to refuse
on the basis that I would be unavailable? I'm working a small hourly
job back here in the States and it's run similarly like that (you have
the right to refuse on your off day). What's your thoughts? Any
feedback on the 7 branches as well? I'm going to be placed either in
the main, Chungdahm, or Daechi branch.

I would greatly appreciate your help and feedback!

-E
======================================
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 6:10:14 PM
Subject: Re: CDI

I would like to thank you first for having such a thoroughly
comprehensive and honest review of CDI on your blog

no problem.

My recruiter has been surprisingly brutally honest as I've sent his
answers to my friends who are teaching or have friends teaching with
CDI. i dont understand what you just said here.

Not having the vacations really blow and I'm sure they take a toll.

yes.

I'm being placed in one of the 7 main branches, which I heard can be
good or bad.

yes, you cant really know what its going to be like. the staff and teacher that were here when i first arrived are 99% gone, it's all new people, the dynamics are always changing.

My friends have told me I may be lucky enough to have 4
straight days of work @ 96 hours a week,

cdi runs classes every 13 weeks, so every 13 weeks, you will have new classes, new students, and a new schedule. you request how many hours you want, and it'll depend on other teachers (the hours THEY want, the type of classes they teach, what classes cdi will need) if you'll get what you want.

but I wanted to know from you
if you've ever or have known of someone at CDI who has taken that
schedule and took a quick 3 day getaway to somewhere like Pusan or
Shanghai without any problems.

yes. Also, cdi has classes cancelled once every term b/c the students take exams in middle school. depending on the type of classes you teach, you may have half days or whole days cancelled, and perhaps plan your holidays then as well.

As an hourly, should I expect to be on
call during my days off?

no, your days off are yours. However, if an emergency comes up, if a teacher is sick, if a class needs a substitute, you might be called. you can say no. same as any job back home: work calls b/c they need someone to cover a shift.

any other questions, hit me up anytime.

~supa fly