Job Discussion Forums

[do_japan]

I had an "interview"/demonstration lesson at Joy English School in Taoyuan this week. They asked me to prepare a lesson designed around a chapter in their grammar book. I thought the demo lesson went great and I really enjoyed it. However, the director walked out of the 30-minute lesson after about 5 minutes. Afterwards, the "interview" consisted of the director saying they will call me after they decide who to hire; she didn't ask any questions of substance. I didn't find that very encouraging.

It turns out that a friend of mine who is also an English teacher in Taiwan had interviewed for the same position two weeks prior, under even worse circumstances. He arrived at 3PM, they asked him to give a demonstration lesson around 7PM, so he reluctantly agreed to wait around for 4 hours. Then they asked him to come back the next day and give another demo at 7PM. Afterwards, nothing encouraging was said.

More than two weeks of searching, probably dozens of candidates and demo lessons, and they can't find a suitable teacher. I theorize that they are perhaps milking a saturated job market to save money for a few months. Both of us were left with a sense that they got a free lesson out of us.

[88Sparky]

The Green English School in Erlin (Taiwan) tried to pull that trick on me too, and I said no thanks. I gave them a 6 minute demonstration by YouTube, which they liked, then they told me I got the job. Then I flew down to Taiwan, and then they told me I had to do another demonstration so they would sign the contract. AVOID THE GREEN ENGLISH SCHOOL at ALL COSTS in ERLIN! They don't have a streamlined manner of communication.

[7969]

I've often thought some schools exploit this. If you're required to do a demo, insist that the school reimburse you for any travel expenses and meal costs if they ask you to show up at one time and then have you sitting around for hours. And limit your demo to 15-20 minutes. That's more than enough time for them to assess you, and not enough time for them to get a free lesson at your expense.

[phdinfunk]

I've done long-ish demos before.... where they didn't interrupt and let it drag on and on... but they all were followed with a job offer. If somebody wanted a second demo outside of odd circumstances, I would definitely walk away.