Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Any info on Kuei Shan Christian School in Taipei??

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Taiwan
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
chopstix



Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 55
Location: tokyo

PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2006 1:44 pm    Post subject: Any info on Kuei Shan Christian School in Taipei?? Reply with quote

Looking at a job possiblity at Kuei Shan in Teamu Taipei. Any info on this school? Seems like a pretty good pay scheme and set up for professional teachers?

Thanks.


Last edited by chopstix on Wed Jul 26, 2006 8:55 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
clark.w.griswald



Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056

PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2006 3:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think that it a school that could be worth a look. I do have some concerns however with the information that they publish and you might do well to check this directly with them:

Quote:
While many members of the school's community are not Christians themselves, they often end up becoming a believer in the course of their time there. It is impressive to see the group of new converts who bear testimony to their new-found faith at the conclusion of the school year.


Not a question - this just sounds positively spooky to me Shocked

Quote:
It will be you and about 20 early elementary grade children. There will be a mix of English language ability with some who possess oral fluency and some who are just getting started.


This is quite a common problem when teaching in government style mainstream schools. You have some kids in the class who have learned English outside in buxibans, while others know nothing other than what they have learned, or will learn, in the mainstream school system. This is a huge challenge for a teacher as far as determining where to aim your classes and you could find that you need to have three levels or so for each topic so that all of the kids can get the most out of your classes. In a buxiban most students are sorted according to ability so you just teach from one book and at one level.

Confirm this with the school and ask them how past teachers have dealt with this. Determine what support there is for you in the classroom.

Quote:
Teachers are expected to keep regular business hours at the school from 7:30 to 5:30 Monday thru Friday. Classroom time is typically 20 hours a week maximum. The rest of the time is given to preparation and checking students work. You'll probably find yourself quite busy and your time demanded.


This is a long day! You need to divide your actual salary by the actual number of hours you spend at school each day - not the actual teaching hours. The good thing is that there are no weekends and no evenings so at least you know your work times.

Quote:
Less than daily duties will include assistance in planning for special activities, i.e. field trips, and open houses or school assemblies. These responsibilities will all be detailed clearly to you so you know what exactly is expected of you.


Check with the school about the numbers of these, and whether you get paid extra if they are on your days off.

Quote:
Kuei Shan pays its full-time teachers a salary between NT $55,000-96,600/month depending on experience and qualifications; up to 8 weeks paid vacation; a round-trip airline ticket home; 4 sizable bonuses throughout the year; paid sick leaves and personal leaves; National Health coverage as well as additional accident/death insurance coverage; free breakfast and refreshments provided daily.


This sounds pretty good, especially if you are above the base wage. I wonder how they decide how much you will get paid as a starting wage? Remember to divide your salary by work hours not teaching hours.

Overall it sounds pretty good to me.[/quote]
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
markholmes



Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 661
Location: Wengehua

PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2006 5:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Kuei Shan pays its full-time teachers a salary between NT $55,000-96,600/month depending on experience and qualifications; up to 8 weeks paid vacation; a round-trip airline ticket home; 4 sizable bonuses throughout the year; paid sick leaves and personal leaves; National Health coverage as well as additional accident/death insurance coverage; free breakfast and refreshments provided daily.

Nobody pays that kind of salary without significant pay back. I worked in an environment like this, for a high salary and Christian overtones that only became apparent after starting work. I wasn't there long.

Check the total amount of hours you'll be working. At 96,000NT a month for a 50 hour week, well, even at the highest rate of pay that works out at 444NT an hour, which is terrible. Even if you assume 10 of those hours would be unpaid prep hours in an hourly position, 40 hours a week would work out at 550NT which is a pretty average wage, and that is the top rate.

I even took out two hours for lunch plus the 10 hours for for unpaid prep time and it still looks awful for a newbie.

If you are only spending 20 hours in the classroom, what are you doing the rest of the time? Filling out reports, colouring, making games, attending meetings. It will drive you insane.

Free breakfast means you are eating with the kids, which is actually a good thing, but be aware of it.

Quote:
Less than daily duties will include assistance in planning for special activities, i.e. field trips, and open houses or school assemblies. These responsibilities will all be detailed clearly to you so you know what exactly is expected of you.


Sorry, but this doesn't look good to me. You will end up doing a whole heap of stuff that you don't want to do.

Steer clear is my advice.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Ki



Joined: 23 Jul 2004
Posts: 475

PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2006 6:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

When companies advertised a variable wage you will only ever be offered the lowest figure, or near there. So is this 45 hours a week plus the occasional Saturday? That's about $300 an hour. Half that of an average wage. Up to 8 weeks paid holiday? Eight weeks PAID sounds great. Better check that one carefully though.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
SanChong



Joined: 22 Nov 2005
Posts: 335

PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2006 8:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's my quick view:

Contracts in Taiwan are very important and you should look at them carefully. However, we all know that things can vary when you start working at a school. That's why its very important to find out as much as you can about what your reality at the school will be.

In my opinion, the best way to do this is to hear about others experiences. Ask for the email address of a teacher at the school. Actually, insist upon it. If you are working through a recruiter, make sure they answer ALL of your questions. If they do, great, you may have found someone honest and helpful. If they avoid your questions and are hesitant to provide you with ALL the information you ask for, then it's probably a good idea to look elsewhere.

Buxiban.com is a great place to read about a lot of schools. As Clark always says, YOU are responsible for doing all your own research, so do it well!!! This thread was a great start for finding out about that school....

I do agree with Ki though, it sounds fairly intense. Be sure that you are ready to work hard (not necessarily a bad thing).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
momworld



Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Posts: 7
Location: soon to be Korea

PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2006 12:15 am    Post subject: School in Taiwan Reply with quote

I interviewed for that school about a year ago. The (American) teacher said that the students took a nap after lunch also. It does sound like a long day. They were interested in me because I have a U.S. teaching certificate and experience...not sure if it is good money or not for Taiwan...sounded like a really nice guy. (I accepted a job in Korea for more $$ and less work.)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
twinkletoes



Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Posts: 76

PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2006 4:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.google.com.tw/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=blog+%22kuei+shan%22+school+christian&btnG=Search

�Web� Results 1 - 9 of about 15 for blog "kuei shan" school christian. (0.55 seconds)�



Below Top Secret - Political Ideology - 1 Million Christians sign ...
... Such people are called Wayfarers, or free people.� - Kuei-Shan (771-854). ... Blog it, baby ... rival teams mascot and deflamating it and leaving it on the school lawn ...
www.belowtopsecret.com/thread100317/pg2 - 78k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar�pages

Above Top Secret - Other Current Events - Declaration of ...
... are called Wayfarers, or free people.� - Kuei-Shan (771-854). ... creeps that have infected our schools like a ... you, I shall see you there." BLOG - Come inside my ...
www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread100226/pg1 - 72k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar�pages


Above Top Secret - Education & Media - Texans ban "couple" and " ...
... signature Coming soon: The Blog of The Divine Sibyl is ... called Wayfarers, or free people.� - Kuei-Shan (771-854 ... my job with mine, whenever school failled their ...
www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread95394/pg2 - 70k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar�pages
[ More results from www.abovetopsecret.com ]


Naked Writing Dot Com: April 2002 Archives
cross blog conversation. I've been having a conversation with Jason Steffens ... the abuse continued for a year, until the boy left the school in his junior ...
www.nakedwriting.com/archives/2002/04/ - 284k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar�pages

Scott Sommers' Taiwan Weblog : Bilingual High Schools
Another possibility is the Taipei Kuei Shan School. Unlike many schools in Taiwan with religious affiliation, this school seems to be a real Christian ...
scottsommers.blogs.com/taiwanweblog/ 2004/05/bilingual_high_.html - 28k - Cached - Similar�pages


Imperium
School is starting to take its toll on me; I spend too much of my Time in class ... here and lose track of writing in my blog--and in my personal journal. ...
thoreaujr.blogspot.com/ - 668k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar�pages
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
chopstix



Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 55
Location: tokyo

PostPosted: Wed May 17, 2006 1:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have an interview very soon. I believe it is best to just see for myself , however, I think all of the information provided is beneficial to know. I am NOT a CHristian but can teach anything and do have my personal beliefs. As far as the wage after talking to a guy working there- non-religious and resigning for another year....he likes it better than previous bilingual schools. He seems like a very regular guy as well. As far as my exp. 3 years, Education Degree Teaching Cert, TESL, summer camps. I am aiming if I think the school is alright and if offered a position for a good salary. Min 67,000 NT bonus and 8 weeks are PAID. Will keep you posted and thanks again for the insight!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Taiwan All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

Teaching Jobs in China
Teaching Jobs in China