Job Discussion Forums

Pop Fly · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 429

There have been some pretty negative things said about this school in the past and I would like to add my 2NT's worth. I was among the plethora of teachers to jump ship mid contract from this school. It is true that the school's administration was experiencing great difficulty with it's foreign staff, but after a couple of years reflection and having seen the much seamier side of the ESL biz in Taiwan, I feel I must set the record straight.

The foreign staff themselves caused the bulk of the problems at AES. They created a major rift between themselves and management by being unbearably demanding and threatening. After the dust settled, the management actually agreed to give into the greedy demands of my co-teachers, which amounted to a dollar sum in excess of an extra 100,000 NT a month. The tactics used by the foreign teachers were dishonorable and childish. There was a signed contract in place and to try to re-negotiate mid-term and to hold the welfare of the kids as bargaining hostages was deplorable.

And I am no better. As I said at the beginning, I left my contract halfway through and have felt the bitter sting of a guilty conscience ever since. This mea culpa is far too little and possibly far too late, but whatever....

Truth be known, the staff at AES is incredibly helpful and friendly. The facilities are excellent and any teacher considering working in Taiwan would be lucky to be offered a job at AES.

Paul G · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 125 Location: China & USA

Pop Fly · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 429

Felix · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 34

What nice thing did they do for you?

Pop Fly · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 429

EOD · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 167 Location: Taiwan

It Never Happened to Me...
How many times have I heard this one. The boss will play favorites but it won't last long. Sooner or later you will get the short end of the stick. You can only predict an institutions actions by assessing previous actions by that institution. They no longer have the benefit of the doubt. You are waiting for trouble or asking for trouble by working there.

Pop Fly · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 429

EOD · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 167 Location: Taiwan

Only the lucky or the ingenious make it their first few years without getting burned. I don't fall into either one of those categories. It took me a few years to figure out how to make some decent money, do a good job and come out on top. The best way for me to do this is to be very picky and patient. I now make it my policy to change employers every year or so. The local Lau Ban doesn't give raises and the pay scale goes up every year. The last few years it has been going up around 10 percent annually. If you want that pay increase, change schools.

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

EOD,

Change your job once a year.

There are enough jobs out here in North-East Asia that you could do a circuit: Korea 1 year contract, Japan 1 year contract, Taiwan 1 year contract and then 1 year in China. Hopping from country to country.

And if you've got a taste for S.E. Asia, throw in a 1 year contract in Thailand and then another 1 year contract in Vietnam.