Job Discussion Forums

[Union Jack]

Well when will it all end. It is very interesting to read all of teacha comments but it quite clear that Taiwan may not be the place for him/her. The culture here is very different but you have to learn about it and respect it.
I must say that if you find contracts of employment that you do not like then read them and then walk around. I say this as there are plenty of jobs here in Taiwan if your willing to spend some doing a little research.
I would also like to say that the working practices of some companies maybe a little different to the western ones but we all have a choice. Take it or leave it. I would however like to stress that if you are a good teacher and willing to put in the time and effort you will enjoy your time here a lot more. Furthermore you should also be able to get stable hours.
Please note that Taiwan is not a bad place for western teachers and generally people will be helpful, but you should always remember that school owners are running a business and you must accept that. By the way I read about working for competitors in on of teacha earlier notes and this is very common in western companies and there is mothing wrong with it.
Overall I would like to say if Taiwan is that bad in your eyes then please do not come as you will have a negative experience and you may also give the locals a negative impression of westerns. Maybe it is time for you to find another thing to talk about.
Good look for the future.

[teacha]

I did just walk away from the contracts. I always asked for them in the 1st or 2nd interaction and ended the discussion if I didn't get to see it and ended it after I tried to timidly negotiate the terms and they refused. I did have good luck where I worked in the sense that I was not screwed but I did not find the sort of jobs you people claim are freely available. And employers often lied about all details of the positon form the getgo until the next meeting adn told me it was my mistake. I never saw good jobs, and just left rather than do visa runs. I researched the market on sites like this for 2 years and maybe Griswald is right that I have been reading BS. I never painted anyone into any corners. The offered crap and I refused. I'll keep looking. The stakes abroad are high but there is nothing where I am. No life worth living here. Life is a gamble or it's a loss. At least in gambling you have a chance to win. In floundering you have no chance, and where I live, there is nothing for me. I am still of course pursuing all sorts of employment all over the globe but Taiwan seems to pay the best for the expenses for BA holders with no great usefull experience. Being self-employed is not valued, it is a blight on a resume'. I do better when I demote myself on it. A BA is useless in America when people much older are applying for the same poorly paying jobs yet have years of applicable experience. Many less than stellar BA holders across the civilized world trek to Taiwan, Japan, and Korea trying to garner a decent income and savings for the reasons I just expounded upon. America's poverty level just went up for the 4th straight year and in this past year is up 12.5%. We are not seeing anything in the job search but low wages and older people with higher educational and experiential qualifications going for the same entry level or management postions as people with less to offer. It's a time to take risks-- if years of plodding away trying to make progress are fruitless as many of us have found them to be. Korea is so violent it boggles the mind. I listed a great link previously on that popular destination -- http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~jonb/dont_teach_in_korea.html-- and I have a long clip of S. Korea cops nearly killing, and probably killing protesters. It's a crazy crazy country. Japan is very tough to get a work permit for in a fast space of time, from abroad with limited funds in the region I am in (but I applied to Nova), and the Mid East is not Jew Safe as I have said earlier. SO as I said I appreciate everyone's input and I am inspired to have a more open mind and possibly to return and try again. Possibly I shall land the job of my nightmares or dreams here in hillbilly town NY and live here longer until I have tad more money to relocate with. I fancy North Carolina's rent which is half or 1/3 of even this rural NY region but the job market seems less than dynamic. Yet, it has the best economy in the nation and the highest standard of living per capita as well (Money Magazine) so maybe that's a preferable direction. Basically I am typing this to say; Yes I AM not putting all my eggs in Taiwan's basket and never have been. But if the info you all report is accurate and the toxicity is something I can compromise myself to accept I may just return for another attempt at settling there. Maybe not. I am going to see what shakes out as I play all angles. I hear the advice but really it's not possible for me give up any one option because none are too good. If they were, then everyone would be headed in the same direction and as we know, not everyone would eat the food in Taiwan, breathe the air, etc. Only those that deem it a better option that the others for their qualifications or lack there of. Oh, I mean, it's all about the Taiwan culture and the experience....uh ya the experience. Yeah! Gotta love the al fresco dining and philosophy debates into the wee hours outside kareoke bars. Taiwan is a romantic paradise and money should not enter into the equation, that's my mistake.

[Stosskraft]

This racist has gone on the Japan forum and plainly stated that "all Asians are liers!". That tread was quickly locked and deleted because of the ensuing backlash.

Many of you guys seem to be giving well informed response to "teacha", but I would suggest just leaving the racist redneck troll to his own narrow-minded ideas regarding Asians and teaching in Taiwan.

[teacha]

[Stosskraft]

Your crazy !!

Why dont the mods bring back the post I am talking about? It would quickly solve this "debate"

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=28771

[Ki]

What is going on here? This thread has been spun around so many times, posts and subjects re-edited enough times, people arguing about nothing or changing their arguments, that I am LOST. It seems that there are only about two people who know what's going on, Clark who has made countless informed replies and Aristotle who seems to have decided to just leave this thread alone. I am interested though, Aristotle, where are you?