Job Discussion Forums

kosmo · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

My girlfriend and I are planning to come to Taiwan to teach. Can anyone recommend some good schools?

We would like to live together and ideally, teach at the same school. Ive heard about HESS and a Gloria English School. Does anyone have any opinions on those 2?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

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

Check out www.buxiban.com for a list of schools some of which have been rated according to the experiences of past teachers.

I would discourage you from both working at the same school for a number of reasons:

1. It may prove difficult to get vacations at the same time as there will be not enough teachers left to cover both of your classes;

2. It lets the students, other teachers, and staff in onto your personal life which may be an issue for some;

3. If the school turns out to be a dud then you will both need to look for new jobs which may prove inconvenient.

My advice if you are new to Taiwan is to go for a chain school so that you can work for the same company, but different schools within the chain. This way you can still attend activities, meetings etc together as well as help each other out with teaching the materials, but not so cloesly that it could create problems.

eagle_eye · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 5

My partner and I taught for the same school for 6 months and received the same holidays, the same days off and roughly the same working hours. It was a private school which contracted us out to other schools together, we taught different year groups at the same time. It was very convenient and meant we were able to spend our free time together.

I also believe you are more valuable to them as a couple. They are more likely to compromise, because they will have to replace two teachers rather than just one if you are unhappy and leave.

Just don't rule it out, because I'm sure it's very possible.

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

Dear Kosmo,

As usual, I am going to take clarkgriswald's side on this issue.

I am looking at this from your perspective, as well as that of the language school.

As a side issue, are you and your girlfriend sure that you really want to spend 24 hours a day...7 days a week with each other? Cool

Taylor
Kaohsiung
8+ years

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

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

My wife and I worked in the same school in China, Japan and Taiwan. It never seemed to be that big an issue for us, although I could potentially see how it could be for others.