So I'm sure you're like me and you searched high and low to get the low down on this training week. I searched high and low and found some useful and some unuseful things. This post will summarise arrival and day 1 of trainings. Look for the other parts to see the rest of the week.
Here is a short list of some of the things I found when researching training week:
The good:
A video giving advice and dispelling myths about Chungdahm by Corey Brown
Abroad or two's post
A tram to nowhere's post
The bad:
In my research I did find some posts and videos declaring CDL as the worst company in the world for various reasons. I also watched this video by someone who clearly didn't have a good experience with CDL. I'm not sure if its the same person but there was also a few posts like this one. Based on the wording of the stories, I feel like many of the CDL hating posts are from the same person. This is not to say that the company doesn't do shady stuff ever, but I think these posts can serve as a warning to take teaching abroad experiences with a grain of salt and to not be naive about anything.
What I came away with from my research was that training was intense, hard and sometimes emotional. I was not super sure what exactly I would be doing as I felt that there was very vague descriptions of what happened during the day. CDL does make it's teachers sign a confidentiality agreement, which I think lead to many people not feeling comfortable with disclosing information. Although to be honest, I think this agreement covers more specific things like sharing/stealing textbook information, students, and student's information than describing what happens in training. This is a typical thing at many schools and teaching companies, at least in my experience. Some places even impose large fines.
Here is a breakdown of the week, plus tips for training!
The hotel situation:
It seems like almost all trainees are put up in the Coatel. You can check into the hotel as early as the Saturday before your training. You must arrive by Sunday evening unless some extenuating circumstances arise (cancelled or delayed flights, trouble at customs, etc) but you must contact the company if something happens. Once you're at the hotel, you will be put into one of two types of rooms: a double/triple room or a suite. All of these rooms should have a fridge, a microwave, a seating area of some kind, some plates/glasses, etc. You will also have at least 1 toilet/shower area. Expect to have at least 1 roommate. If you are in the suite, expect 4-5 people. The general layout of the suite is that someone ends up sleeping on a cot in the living room. I personally ended up on the cot but it turned out to be the best place as I could stay up without bothering anyone. I suggest bringing a sleeping mask and earplugs regardless. The hotel is very basic, cleaning comes once a day to do a quick run through of the room, but don't expect them to do more than restock the towels, make the bed and remove the garbage. You might also want to get into the habit of stacking anything you want them to change near the door.
If you want to come earlier there are many cheap hotel rooms, hostels or airbnbs to choose from. Many also offer breakfast or lunch with your stay and have great review and facilities.
DO NOT eat at the restaurants in the hotel because they are super expensive.
Day 1: Probably the least interesting of the days.
This day is basically an 'orientation' day. You will be given a rundown of Chungdahm, introduced to your fellow trainees, and trainers. You will be put into training groups, I think typically of about 3-4. You mostly spend your time listening to someone else speak.
This is also the first time you'll really get to see and have hands on experience with the tablets used for teaching. You must trade it for your passport or something of equivalent value (credit card). No running off with these tablets for you! Don't worry, you will get it back at the end of the week. The tablet contains the textbooks and programs you will use to teach. Although they are not super difficult to learn, each teaching function can be difficult to learn initially. Overall, I really liked the tablets. You will also be given another quick tutorial on the tablets functions.
Once in your training group, you will separate off into a classroom where you will get introduced further to your trainer and they will give you some assignments for tomorrow and their expectations/rules for training. They will also give you a mock of one of the pages from the textbook so you can see what you're expected to do.
Training is set up like this: each night you will prepare several pages from the assigned textbooks, it seems usually there are only 2 textbooks and you get 3-4 pages from each. Once you come to the day's training you will be randomly chosen to mock teach those pages to your group. This will be filmed for your viewing and for evaluation purposes. Then there will be a quick feedback from everyone about what they liked, didn't like and what you should work on. Your trainer might also show you what a certain page should look like when taught.
Medical exam:
Depending on the week's schedule, you will also go to get your medical exam done on the first day. The exam is pretty quick, but quite extensive. Once you get to the medical centre, you will be signed in and asked to change out of your clothes into a kimono/scrubs type outfit. Ladies, don't forget to remove the bra! The outfit makes it easier to examine you.
You will then be lead around by nurses who will take you to each 'station'. You will be given the following exams:
- electrocardiogram
- colour blindness exam
- lung x-ray
- hearing test
- dental exam
- blood test (STD/STI, drug, white blood count, and general health screening)
- urine test (Drug testing purposes)
- height/weight
- blood pressure
- vision test
Although there are many exams, each step takes less than 1 minute. For example, the x-ray is probably under 30 seconds from when you enter the room to when you exit. The electrocardiogram is maybe a little longer because you must lie back and open your shirt (if you have a hairy chest, make sure to shave it or trim it a lot!) and the nurse will quickly wipe you down with alcohol before attaching readers to your ankles, wrists and chest around your heart from your sternum to your side under your arm. Make sure you drink some water before you leave the training centre and don't go pee before you do the unrine collection. They will not let you leave until you fill the two vials with urine. Trust me on this. I drank enough water to both make me cold (i was shivering) and feel a little sick.
Once the tests are done, your papers will be given a once over by a doctor, who may or may not ask some follow up questions (are you on any medication, any health complications or surgery, etc). After that you're free to change, and head home.
The first day you will also be provided transport to the training centre, and also to the medical exam, but you are on your own for getting back. They will give you a map and directions, however. I would recommend getting set up with a T-money card so you don't need to worry about constantly having cash on you for the tickets.
Tips for Day 1/arrival:
- Food will cost more than you expect. While it is possible to find food for quite cheap, the area around the hotel/training centre is quite expensive and expect to pay about 10,000 won per meal. There are some cheaper places, but you are very limited in what you can eat.
MEALRICE is a good spot near the hotel if you're looking for homemade Korean food. Some of the things are on the spicy end so be careful if you don't want a lot of spice. They make everything fresh, and usually while you wait. They also make many types of dumplings. The cheapest thing is about $3 and the most expensive is just under $9.
With Me convenience store 24H. There is one both at the hotel and in the lower floor of the training centre. They generally offer a small selection of sandwiches, rice balls, ramen and other meals. It's usaully quite cheap if you're on a budget and you can find a tasty meal of ramen with a raw egg for under $3-4.
It is possible to cook your meals, especially if you're in a suite but time and easy availability of shopping for food might not work out so well. If you really want to comitt to cooking your own food go shopping Saturday or Monday (the big places close sundays). Once you get settled into the training you will want to devote your time to study!
- Sleep while you can! Seriously, you will be spending a lot of time practicing for the next day and you will need to get rid of any jetlag quickly! Coffee can only do so much.
- DO NOT treat this week as a party week. If they see you coming unprepared and/or hung over, you may be in line to be failed. Many people come with no teaching experience and must make themselves into teachers in less than a week!
Continue reading in Part 2
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