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scarab1169
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
Posts: 42
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 Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:19 am Post subject: Good schools/chains to work for |
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So...
I've read so many posts here about this school and that agent etc...Now my question is this:
Can you give me names of good schools to work for and
Are any of the chain schools good?
And please..do not refer me to Buxiban.com...I've been there...I cannnot read any comments on schools as I need to pay...which in itself is frustrating and there is only one page of schools/recruiters marked as good...so, yeah that is a lot of help. Sorry, but to me that site has not been helpful at all.
Thanks!  |
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Toe Save
Joined: 04 Oct 2004
Posts: 202
Location: 'tween the pipes.........
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:13 am Post subject: |
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The thing is, each language factory has its own merits and drawbacks. It depends on the director. It depends on you. Depends on the staff. Depends on the customers. There are so many intangibles that it is nigh on impossible to create a green list, or for that matter, a comprehensive black list.
The e-diom (sic) YMMV is most apropos in these matters.
YMMV.
I can recommend an excellent agency to help clear the cobwebs for you. But if I did, some may think I work for said agency. I don't. I don't believe in agents. But for those that do, you need to check out Reach to Teach. |
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Miyazaki
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 635
Location: My Father's Yacht
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Toe Save wrote: |
| The thing is, each language factory has its own merits and drawbacks. It depends on the director. It depends on you. Depends on the staff. Depends on the customers. There are so many intangibles that it is nigh on impossible to create a green list, or for that matter, a comprehensive black list. |
I agree.
A better question might be, "Which ones are the best of a bad lot?"
The buxiban business is pretty greasy any way you look at it, from the perspective of both the customer and TEFL'er.
Regarding the above comments, your supervisor / Director / head teacher / staff can make or break your job here. You might have a good head teacher and staff and be fine for months or years. Then, if key people quit and new people come in with different attitudes and agendas, things can go for sh*t pretty quick.
For me, I always like to go and see a school and meet staff and teachers before I sign on. Unfortunately, this isn't always possible for a lot of people. But they should.
A lot of people sign-on back home, before they even set foot in Taiwan. That's a tough one for me to understand.
I wonder how many of them would buy a car sight unseen? |
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clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056
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| Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:24 am Post subject: Re: Good schools/chains to work for |
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| scarab1169 wrote: |
Can you give me names of good schools to work for and
Are any of the chain schools good? |
People are forever asking this question but I doubt that anyone can give an answer that will satisfy. Not because the question is unreasonable - it is indeed a very reasonable and sensible question to ask - but because what constitutes a good school for one person may constitute a bad school for another.
In my opinion the only way that you are going to get a helpful answer to your question is to do some independant research. Read up about experiences at schools and make a list of things that are important to you - things that you want in a position and things that you don't want. Then go back to the experiences that you have read and compare notes to see which schools are most suitable for you.
So its not so much about good or bad schools but in finding a school that is suited to what you want out of your job.
| scarab1169 wrote: |
| And please..do not refer me to Buxiban.com... |
Well this is exactly what I would have recommended as it seems to me to be a good place for you to start your research. Other than that site though probably your best bet is just to sift through forums such as this one which will no doubt take some time but could yield results.
| scarab1169 wrote: |
| I've been there...I cannnot read any comments on schools as I need to pay... |
Well someone has to pay for the site to remain in existance so that is either going to be the site owner (in the case of buxiban.com this is teachers), the site advertisers (schools and the potential for bias), or the site users (teachers who want access to the information). It seems to me that user pays system is pretty fair and helps to ensure that the information is free from any bias. I am part of that site if you did not know but I certainly respect your choice not to join up.
| scarab1169 wrote: |
| which in itself is frustrating and there is only one page of schools/recruiters marked as good...so, yeah that is a lot of help. |
Perhaps you have misunderstood the purpose of that site. It is not meant to be a list of good and bad schools. It is intended to be an archive of information and personal comments about schools. As mentioned above you will probably get more value from researching to find schools that suit you personally. And this has been one of the main aims of that site in putting all of the information together in one place.
I think that the page you are referring to may be the Greenlist or the list of recommended schools. Again this is not meant to suggest that these are perfect schools for everyone, but that feedback has been consistently good and that they are worth fair consideration.
Whether you use that site or another one the final decision about which school you work for comes down to you. My advice is to do your own research to ensure that you know as much as you can about any schools that you may be considering.
| scarab1169 wrote: |
| Sorry, but to me that site has not been helpful at all. |
Sorry to hear that! |
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merc_wilson
Joined: 12 Mar 2008
Posts: 7
Location: Taipei
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| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:07 am Post subject: Some need a job first |
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[quote="Miyazaki"]
| Toe Save wrote: |
A lot of people sign-on back home, before they even set foot in Taiwan. That's a tough one for me to understand.
I wonder how many of them would buy a car sight unseen? |
That's a bit harsh don't you think? Two very different topics you've bought up there.
Lots of people, and me, can't afford to leave for Taiwan without a job lined up. Jobs are sources of income, things that give you money for living, surviving in the world. If you're entering a new country, you generally have no idea what's in store for you, and it's necessary to have something concrete to be able to head for. My recruiter and company set up airport pickups, accommodation, visas, everything - stuff I wouldn't have had a clue about if I'd simply come to Taiwan to 'have a look around' at several different schools, weighing my options, meanwhile not earning anything and slowly becoming destitute.
Just because you've never seen the Sydney Opera House doesn't mean you don't know almost everything there is to know about, and taken a guided tour online. That's called research, using a recruiter and knowing what you're doing before signing a contract, before going overseas is only natural. You don't have too see a building/company first hand before saying you'll work there.
Your argument's completely ridiculous. If I asked someone to find a particular car for me, with particular features, and for a particular price, then yes, I'd buy it unseen. |
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BigWally
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 765
Location: Ottawa, CAN (prev. Kaohsiung "the Dirty South")
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| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject: Re: Some need a job first |
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| merc_wilson wrote: |
Just because you've never seen the Sydney Opera House doesn't mean you don't know almost everything there is to know about, and taken a guided tour online. That's called research, using a recruiter and knowing what you're doing before signing a contract, before going overseas is only natural. You don't have too see a building/company first hand before saying you'll work there. |
But it would have been nice to see that building before I found out on my first day of work that there was no air conditions, I had 25 5-year olds in all my classes, the toilets didn't work, and that the bosses were gonna screw me for hours left, right, and center. Its a lot easier to get a feel for a place if you meet people, or see a building in person.
| merc_wilson wrote: |
| Your argument's completely ridiculous. If I asked someone to find a particular car for me, with particular features, and for a particular price, then yes, I'd buy it unseen. |
When you're looking for a new car, be sure to let me know. My buddy is a used car dealer and he can get you what you want. It might not run, and it might not drive that well, but it will have the features and price you want guaranteed.
The point I'm trying to make here is one that has been made many times before. There is more than one school of thought on what the best way of arriving in Taiwan is. Some people like the safety of recruiters and chain schools, others like to take a risk and get everything worked out for themselves. Either way is cool with me, but to say that one is better than the other is impossible. Its like asking about Coke & Pepsi, its all personal preference. |
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SanChong
Joined: 22 Nov 2005
Posts: 335
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| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| The point I'm trying to make here is one that has been made many times before. There is more than one school of thought on what the best way of arriving in Taiwan is. Some people like the safety of recruiters and chain schools, others like to take a risk and get everything worked out for themselves. Either way is cool with me, but to say that one is better than the other is impossible. Its like asking about Coke & Pepsi, its all personal preference. |
As usual, I agree with Wally!
It really does depend on what's better for you. Some, more experienced people are OK with just getting off a plane in a new country and finding a job. For me (and a lot of others) that was extremely intimidating. Not speaking the language, knowing how to get around, who to trust, visa laws, etc. is a tough combination for people have limited travel experience, or just people who like to plan ahead.
It seems to me best to start your search before you come abroad. If you are comfortable you have found a good, honest reliable position you are excited about: commit to it. If not, then don't. It's totally up to you.
There is enough information out there that it should be easy to make an educated decision about companies that are doing the right thing... and those that aren't.
As for recruiters: There are two different kinds. The kind that take money from you should be avoided.
Other companies, like Reach To Teach and Dewey, just give you more choices.
If you do work with a recruiter, just make sure they put you in direct contact with the school and other teachers at the school. This way, you can independently verify whether or not the school is a good fit for you. |
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markholmes
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 661
Location: Wengehua
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| Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:43 am Post subject: |
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| But it would have been nice to see that building before I found out on my first day of work that there was no air conditions |
Now that is Taiwan!!! Something is always slightly amiss. |
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BigWally
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 765
Location: Ottawa, CAN (prev. Kaohsiung "the Dirty South")
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| Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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| markholmes wrote: |
| Quote: |
| But it would have been nice to see that building before I found out on my first day of work that there was no air conditions |
Now that is Taiwan!!! Something is always slightly amiss. |
d'oh 
air conditioners
not that the air condition is much better |
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