Job Discussion Forums

Cathy OB · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 32 Location: Brisbane

Does anyone know anything about Koala Language School in Alian, Taiwan? The school is a privately owned branch of Giraffe Language School. I'm considering accepting a teaching position there.
The school is a cram school, and there is a 2 month probationary period, at lower wages. The owner of the school is Sherry Liu. Thanks for your help.

steeevieboy · Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Posts: 50

Why should you take lower wages? From your perspective I mean, not there's! The first few months in Taiwan are the hardest. I wouldn't accept lower wages if I was you...Nothing below 600 an hour. If you have to be there 25 hours a week, 60,000 a month.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

Here's some info posted about them through a local job placement website.
"Koala Language School"
It looks like they have been around for at least five years and have no negative complaints filed against them.
The number 038232106 posted on the web page doesn't answer but is registered to a language institute in Hualien.
Good luck!
A.

Taylor · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 384 Location: Texas/Taiwan

Dear Readers,

There is nothing inherently evil about a probationary period, IMHO.

Please find out (and let us know) how much lower the rate of pay is. What is the expected rate of pay after the two month period? Also, how many students will be in each class?

Can they offer you several hours in a row in a single location...(keeping you from driving a scooter all over town on rainy days?)

The issues mentioned above are much more important than whether or not you get a 'raise' of 20 or 30 NT per hour after two months!!!!

Find out if there are other foreigners already teaching there. If there is nothing to hide, then the boss should be happy to let you contact those teachers via e-mail.

Sincerely,

Taylor
Kaohsiung

Glen Denton · Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Posts: 21

It's just another example of the nickle and dime mentality of the Taiwanese.
You could have 100 years experience and a PhD. They still would want to pay you less for the probationary period because you lack experience.
Come to Korea at least they pay a decent wage.

Cathy OB · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 32 Location: Brisbane

The monthly pay for the two month probation period is quoted as Australian $1500, which is currently $36,282 Taiwanese.
The monthly pay after probation is quoted as $2300 Australian, or $55,634 Taiwanese.
The company pays for a round trip airfare before you leave, then deducts the cost from your pay. You get half back if you stay for probation, then the other half back if you stay for one year following probation.
The agreement also includes free accommodation in a modern apartment shared with another teacher.
The hours are 3pm to 9pm at the cram school, with classes of 10 to 15 children. Teaching and prep is expected to be 38 to 40 hours per week.
There is a 5 day working week, which may include a busy Saturday at schools in the area. 7 days paid leave, plus 7 days leave over the New Year; no mention of sick leave; paid training.
I am interested to know if the school has a good name with teachers, and if the teachers there are happy with their overall treatment, conditions, hours, payments, the company culture, etc.
Thanks for everyone's responses.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

The school itself has a reasonable reputation locally, but the deal that you have indicated here sucks. Even at the top rate of pay after probation (55,634) and considering a 38 hour week, you are only earning NTD409 per hour. Most teachers would earn NTD550 per hour and up. You have to factor in the accomodation, but considering that you could rent a fully furnished studio place for under NTD10,000, this still leaves you behind the eight ball.

I would suggest that you stay away from salary based positions. You can generally get a much better deal working on an hourly rate. Even if you lost the benefits of the free accomodation and the paid one week holiday, you would still be better off if you negotiated an hourly rate of NTD550+. At least then you only need to be at work while you are teaching, and the rest of your time you can earn some money with privates, study Chinese, or just have time off.

Salary positions often sound better than they are, and this is a case of exactly that.