Job Discussion Forums

[The Great Toad]

Ok, I am currently employed at Zunliao (or Zun Liao ?) Public Elementary School and Cho Yuan Public Elementary School in Sijou, Taiwan. My guess is Dewy International is trying to recruit a new teacher for these schools as I write.

I have to be frank. These schools are not ready for a Western teacher. I am afraid I can not recommend you work in them for many reasons. I guess I will later post in detail, but let me say they seem to have trouble with the contract, paid me late, and generally have some social issues they should cope with before they hire another teacher for their English Classes. In short it was a poor working environment where I felt unvalued. Ask yourself this question: do you want to work in a school office with teachers who asked you to please not speak English in the office as it disturbs them? I don't; but I am sticking it out to honor my agreements, and I did like the children.

Never the less, I must advise against anyone from pursing this teaching position. If you have questions you can PM me. In August when the contract is over perhaps I will come out with entire saga resulting from the hubris that brought me here...

[The Great Toad]

apologies apologies it is Cho Yang NOT Cho Yuan opps sorry

Well I am taking the last week of July off unpaid, after much negotiation that since I am only teaching nine days of English Camp I would rather have some unpaid vacation than come to school and do nothing for the money. So, I guess you can add obtuse to the list of issues as well

[clark.w.griswald]

Zunliao
Zun Liao
Cho Yuan
Sijou
Cho Yang

Sorry Toad but is this Pinyin correct. I can't work out any of those names.

Can you check these out and then post back again as to helpful teachers will really need to know where you are talking about?

Also what area is this school in? Taichung? Yunlin?

[clark.w.griswald]

OK. Found an answer to my own question here:

http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?t=63015

[The Great Toad]

I just found out today they will not pay all my bonus- even though I was assured in the early months to not worry about it. So much for oral trust. Monday I will go to the immigration office and point out that I was: paid late one time, not given all my vacation days, made to make up the classes I missed on my sick days, and not to be paid all the bonus they said not to worry about. Also, I will explain I want my last pay stub mailed to me. I am not sure why the school thinks it an exotic task to supply me with a monthly salary statement- because my government tax office will certainly demand them.

I feel sorry for the next Native English teacher who takes this job. Well maybe it would be ok if they were thoroughly fluent in Mandarin, but chances are they would still get stiffed on some pay at in the end like me. I have an extremely thick skin and do not take slights personally. The last two teachers who worked this job and quit may have too and just decided their talents and credentials would be better served elsewhere. I was a bemused by a Taiwanese discounting the last teacher's claim he could work anywhere in Taiwan- then later finding out he did indeed find another Public school job almost instantly. I guess a Teaching License from your Native country has weight in Taiwan. At any rate, I wish the children and the teachers; even the administration, well. In the future, I hope the later can learn some fairness and social skills.