Job Discussion Forums

[elliot_spencer]

Hey, I was wondering if someone could help me. I am a UK citizen married to a Taiwanese. My wife and I have been living in the UK for the past 6 years, and her mother is not well. So, later this year, we are deciding to make the move to Taipei FOREVER! ha-ha

I myself have been working for a langauge school teaching ESOL here in England for the past 10 years (I am 30) and that's how I met my wife. Through research and despite what people say, I'd really like to work for HESS. I know they're not perfect, but then again, who is. They can however offer my security which I need above all as I have a wife and prob her family to support. Therefore, I was wondering, in advance, If I came over at 30 and worked for HESS, always did a good job (I love teaching, and always give it 110%) is it possible to work for them untill retirement? Or, does there come a point when you get to 40 and they don't renew your contract? Is it also heard of people with permission to stay in Taiwan getting contracts longer than a year.

[markholmes]

If you stayed at Hess for thirty years I think even Hess would be concerned about your fragile mental state and have you declared certifiably insane.

I am not knocking Hess, I think they are a reasonable first job in Taiwan, but unless you plan to move up the promotional ladder there you will almost certainly want to move on to better and more financially lucrative jobs within a couple of years.

There was comment here a while back about someone not having their contract renewed after a few years there, but I haven't heard any other stories about this.

Once you have landed here and worked for a chain school for a year or two you will understand what I mean. I don't think there is a company in the world that offers financial security for life anymore. I don't believe Hess is any more or less secure than any other chain school.

The main thing is they offer you the soft landing that I think you are looking for, but if you want to support a wife and family who will have to move on sooner or later.

You may also want to check out www.kojenenglish.com (perhaps that may need .tw on the end too). Somebody might dispute this, but I think they may be a better option than Hess.

[elliot_spencer]

Thanks Mark,

Well, Can I say, I am aware of myself as I person, and please take it from me, I want to teach kids untill I drop dead. I have been teaching for the past 12 years, 7 years as a kindergarten and the rest in ESOL. I am a born teacher and it's my life, I did not get the teaching bug while at university nor as a way to see the world!

I disagree with your comment (sorry) but, there are people all over the world teaching kindergarten and primary kids till they're 65 and even working an nursary schools, I am sure people do it where you;re from too! So, why would doing it in taiwan be any different! I mean, it's teaching kids of the same age, but, they just speak another language.

Would u not agree?

Thanks

[Taylor]

Hello Elliot,

Thanks for posting!

After teaching for a chain school for a few years, you'll probably begin to consider opening your own school.

Best wishes!

Taylor
Kaohsiung

[markholmes]

Sorry, I think you misunderstood me. I loved teaching kindy and I think there is nothing wrong with teaching preschool / kindergarten until you drop dead, you just probably won't want to do it for that long at Hess.

I wasn't questioning your stamina for teaching little ones, I was questioning the work environment in which you want to do it.

[Dr_Zoidberg]

[markholmes]

[elliot_spencer]

Dr_Zoidberg wrote:

elliot_spencer wrote: