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nolegirl
Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:53 pm Post subject: Gloria School/ Fun things to do |
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Ok, 2 questions
Has anyone heard good things about the Gloria school in Taiwan??
Also, what does everyone do in Taiwan for fun on the weekend??
ooh, one more.... are cigarettes cheap??
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blackmagicABC
Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 68
Location: Taipei
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| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, I have heard if Gloria's. Compared to many other schools here it is 6 of this and half a dozen of the other. Not bad. You can find something great and something bad about any school here.
I don't know what everybody here does on weekends but I watch pirated DVD's or downloaded shows on my computer, play pool, play darts, play poker or read if my few friends desert me.
Cigarettes are much cheaper than where you come from regardless of where you come from. |
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markholmes
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 661
Location: Wengehua
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| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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If you search Gloria and select the Taiwan forum you will come up with about 15 results. There is also someone on here that used to, or perhaps still works for them.
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| Cigarettes are much cheaper than where you come from regardless of where you come from. |
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TaoyuanSteve
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 1028
Location: Taoyuan
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| Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:15 am Post subject: |
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| I've written on GES before. I used to work there. To summarize, they will treat you fairly overall. They provide accomodations for their first year staff, pay cash daily (with taxes/insurances deducted from one of these days) and provide some amount of training. Actually, I still occasionally talk with one of their head instructors. He's really quite good and willing to share with those who care enough to listen. There are (were?) some great veterans working there. You could do a lot worse as a newbie. |
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BJ
Joined: 03 Dec 2003
Posts: 173
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| Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:59 am Post subject: |
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GES is as TS said not bad, one of the better chains I would say. I knew a lot of tecahers from their, some 10 + years so it cnat be that bad.
Cigs are cheap in Taiwan around 50 NT thats just under 2 dollars a pack. |
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Darotker
Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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All of the above is true, from what I've heard.
The only things is that all Gloria schools are in Taoyuan, or the immediate area. I'm not sure if that's 100% true, but I'm sure Steve can confirm. Anyway, definitely most of their branches are in that area.
Taoyuan is one of the less desirable cities in Taiwan. It's polluted, crowded and there isn't as much to do as in the other large cities. That's just my opinion, but I'd say it's one which most people agree with. |
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TRUBADOUR
Joined: 15 Sep 2005
Posts: 46
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| Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:02 am Post subject: |
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drunk post...
Last edited by TRUBADOUR on Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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TRUBADOUR
Joined: 15 Sep 2005
Posts: 46
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| Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:26 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by TRUBADOUR on Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:07 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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yamahuh
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 1033
Location: Karaoke Hell
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:03 am Post subject: |
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| TaoyuanSteve wrote: |
| You could do a lot worse as a newbie. |
You could do a lot better too.
They will promise you 20 - 25 hours, Mon - Fri with optional weekend shifts to make more money if you like. The reality of the situation however is that you will be lucky to get 20 hours in your regular 5 days and will be almost forced to take Saturday shifts.
If you arrive after all the 'outside classes' (high schools etc outside of Gloria's curriculum) have been assigned this will particularly apply.
Daily pay is quite nice and helps with the initial costs but they hold back the first two weeks of your regular classes as a 'performance bond'.
You can get one week back @ 6 months if you fulfill all their demands to attend workshops and observation classes, the remaining week you get back when you leave so long as it's after 6 months.
The dorm is OK as a cheap living option but it's a dorm so you can imagine what that entails.
They will have you travelling all over hell's half acre teaching at different schools so you will need a scooter almost immediately unless you like spending gobs of cash on buses, taxis and trains.
There are better places to work. |
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TaoyuanSteve
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 1028
Location: Taoyuan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:25 am Post subject: |
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| yamahuh wrote: |
| You could do a lot better too. |
Where exactly? I've worked in a fairly large number of buxis and kindies now and I can tell you that they're more alike than different. In fact, compared to many places GES has got its act together. There's really no shangri-la in tefl here.
| yamahuh wrote: |
They will promise you 20 - 25 hours, Mon - Fri with optional weekend shifts to make more money if you like. The reality of the situation however is that you will be lucky to get 20 hours in your regular 5 days and will be almost forced to take Saturday shifts.
If you arrive after all the 'outside classes' (high schools etc outside of Gloria's curriculum) have been assigned this will particularly apply. |
This is really par for the course in the buxiban industry here. Remember, classes can really only be scheduled when kids are off school. That means Monday through Friday, there's only around 4 hours a day in which to schedule classes, excepting Wednesday in which they could schedule 6. That means a buxi-only teacher who only works Mon-Fri could, at absolute best, get 22 hours a week with a fully stoked sched. You want more, you'll have to wait for those contract hours, get a kindy gig, privates or (gasp) work Saturdays.
| yamahuh wrote: |
Daily pay is quite nice and helps with the initial costs but they hold back the first two weeks of your regular classes as a 'performance bond'.
You can get one week back @ 6 months if you fulfill all their demands to attend workshops and observation classes, the remaining week you get back when you leave so long as it's after 6 months. |
You make this sound much worse than it is. Yes, they do wait 2 weeks with new classes (of course, in most other schools you wait 40 days to receive salary) before paying you every day. They even soften this blow by putting you into your classes first as a "sub" and gradually turning them into regulars, so there is minimal interruption to cash flow. After 6 months they do indeed pay you out of one week. I can't believe you see the workshop and observations as "their demands." It's your training and-- if you give a hoot about teaching-- you do it gladly. I've said before that GES has some truly excellent vets and I'm a little stunned that someone would refer to the chance to get paid to learn from them as "demands."
| yamahuh wrote: |
| The dorm is OK as a cheap living option but it's a dorm so you can imagine what that entails. |
It's a dorm and it's free. What do you expect? It's not the Hilton, but it's perfect for those arriving penniless and those who simply want to maximize savings
| yamahuh wrote: |
| They will have you travelling all over hell's half acre teaching at different schools so you will need a scooter almost immediately unless you like spending gobs of cash on buses, taxis and trains. |
Yes, GES is a multibranch chain and, as such, teachers most often work out of several branches. Also, Taoyuan county being what it is requires one to have one's own transport. Not much can be done about this and it isn't a problem unique to GES. In fact, I know of few in the region who can live here without transport, regardless of where they work. At least at GES the teacher is paid quickly and has free rent so s/he can get a scoot quickly.
Buses and trains? Dirt cheap. Can't believe anyone would juxtapose "gobs of cash" and "buses and trains" in Taiwan. Taxis? More expensive, but you soon get out of using them where when you figure out where you are, where you're going and how to get there.
| yamahuh wrote: |
| There are better places to work. |
Marginally at best and and doubly so for the noob. |
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yamahuh
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 1033
Location: Karaoke Hell
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:43 am Post subject: |
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| TaoyuanSteve wrote: |
| yamahuh wrote: |
| You could do a lot better too. |
Where exactly? I've worked in a fairly large number of buxis and kindies now and I can tell you that they're more alike than different. In fact, compared to many places GES has got its act together. There's really no shangri-la in tefl here.
I'm working for a large chain school right now that pays me a very competitive salary for working only 20 hours per week. In addition they have just inked a deal to have me work 4 X 45 minute periods at a local high school for which I will be paid $NT 800 per hour.
Each period is considered one teaching 'hour'.
Why did I agree to teach Saturday?
Because this is genuine overtime and a great deal.
It is not bringing me up to what was promised to me in salary.
It is in excess of it.
| yamahuh wrote: |
They will promise you 20 - 25 hours, Mon - Fri with optional weekend shifts to make more money if you like. The reality of the situation however is that you will be lucky to get 20 hours in your regular 5 days and will be almost forced to take Saturday shifts.
If you arrive after all the 'outside classes' (high schools etc outside of Gloria's curriculum) have been assigned this will particularly apply. |
This is really par for the course in the buxiban industry here. Remember, classes can really only be scheduled when kids are off school. That means Monday through Friday, there's only around 4 hours a day in which to schedule classes, excepting Wednesday in which they could schedule 6. That means a buxi-only teacher who only works Mon-Fri could, at absolute best, get 22 hours a week with a fully stoked sched. You want more, you'll have to wait for those contract hours, get a kindy gig, privates or (gasp) work Saturdays.
So it's OK for them to lie to you in order to get you on the plane?
Because that's exactly what they will tell you. I personally knew more than half a dozen teachers who left Gloria in my 9 months there solely due to squabbles over hours / held wages. In addition, there are just as many long term teachers there who are (quite rightly) p-o'd because even after having been there for years they are having to subsidize their incomes with privates or work Saturdays.
There are too many teachers and not enough hours to go around.
Why?
Because Gloria has a constant hiring policy.
Why?
Because they fully expect that you will leave.
| yamahuh wrote: |
Daily pay is quite nice and helps with the initial costs but they hold back the first two weeks of your regular classes as a 'performance bond'.
You can get one week back @ 6 months if you fulfill all their demands to attend workshops and observation classes, the remaining week you get back when you leave so long as it's after 6 months. |
You make this sound much worse than it is. Yes, they do wait 2 weeks with new classes (of course, in most other schools you wait 40 days to receive salary) before paying you every day. They even soften this blow by putting you into your classes first as a "sub" and gradually turning them into regulars, so there is minimal interruption to cash flow. After 6 months they do indeed pay you out of one week. I can't believe you see the workshop and observations as "their demands." It's your training and-- if you give a hoot about teaching-- you do it gladly. I've said before that GES has some truly excellent vets and I'm a little stunned that someone would refer to the chance to get paid to learn from them as "demands."
The training sessions were nothing less than informative and useful. In fact I'm still using some of the ideas they gave me in my current position.
However, they themselves don't put that much stock in them. If they did then everyone would be given training before being put into the classroom. This never happens.
In fact, in most cases you will be put into a classroom without having been given any training whatsoever because there are no sessions scheduled.
This effectively means that you can be teaching for some time before actually being trained how to teach your classes. They could quite easily give you a couple of days of training before putting you before a class but to them it's not that important how you teach, it's just important that you are in front of the classroom
Therefore, holding your legitimately earned wages ransom for 6 months to 'force' you to attend training that they say is important but which their actions tell you actually isn't sends the wrong initial message to teachers.
Besides, it's illegal for them to do it.
Comparing the payment methods of a salaried position to that of a 'paid daily' hourly one is like comparing chalk to cheese.
Your assertion that they soften the blow by gradually turning your sub classes into regulars is incorrect. 90% of the time subs are for people who are on vacati / sick. They aren't your classes nor will they become yours. On the occasions where you pick up a class because someone has left you are usually given it immediately as a regular class.
| yamahuh wrote: |
| The dorm is OK as a cheap living option but it's a dorm so you can imagine what that entails. |
It's a dorm and it's free. What do you expect? It's not the Hilton, but it's perfect for those arriving penniless and those who simply want to maximize savings
It's not free.
You pay a $NT 1000 per month per person 'maintenance fee' and your A-C costs.
Certainly not expensive that's for sure, but if you're a couple it adds up to about 40% of what you can rent a single bedroom apartment for in JongLi and at least the office staff won't come into your living room and have big pow-wows every Monday afternoon as is the case at the 6th floor Pingzhen dorm.
| yamahuh wrote: |
| They will have you travelling all over hell's half acre teaching at different schools so you will need a scooter almost immediately unless you like spending gobs of cash on buses, taxis and trains. |
Yes, GES is a multibranch chain and, as such, teachers most often work out of several branches. Also, Taoyuan county being what it is requires one to have one's own transport. Not much can be done about this and it isn't a problem unique to GES. In fact, I know of few in the region who can live here without transport, regardless of where they work. At least at GES the teacher is paid quickly and has free rent so s/he can get a scoot quickly.
Buses and trains? Dirt cheap. Can't believe anyone would juxtapose "gobs of cash" and "buses and trains" in Taiwan. Taxis? More expensive, but you soon get out of using them where when you figure out where you are, where you're going and how to get there.
Really, you try going from Pingzhen to Longtan by bus with only an hour to get there. It can be done but if you miss your bus you're screwed.
So what do you do? Take a cab to ensure you're on time.
That eats up a healthy chunk of your daily pay.
If you're only getting a couple of classes a day you can't afford to turn it down and if you compare expense to earning it can be relatively expensive travelling to and fro.
Gloria will help you out by providing you with some woefully inadequate maps and travel suggestions but essentially you are on your own to get to your classes. They get you here, give you a shoebox sized room, make you sign a contract and in some cases stick you in a classroom the same day. Then they are entirely 'hands off'
| yamahuh wrote: |
| There are better places to work. |
Marginally at best and and doubly so for the noob. |
Entirely debatable, and you'll have to pardon me for saying so, but you seem to be looking at things with very rose tinted glasses.
I was working there as recently as December.
When were you last there?
I can't emphasize enough the levels of dissatisfaction amongst the foreign teaching staff. Even the ones who've been there a while. There is one guy there who I knew quite well and, after over 3 years with Gloria, was still only getting 15 hours of regular classes per week.
Of course he was doing other things as well but why should he have to?
They don't reward loyalty and they don't care about you.
Plus JongLi / Pingzhen / Taoyuan is the armpit of Taiwan.
Last edited by yamahuh on Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:54 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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yamahuh
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 1033
Location: Karaoke Hell
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:00 am Post subject: |
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You may have noticed that I don't know how to 'multi-quote'.
Sorry 'bout that. |
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BJ
Joined: 03 Dec 2003
Posts: 173
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry I have no idea what its like now, but 1000 for a place to stay is peanuts. I pay 8k for a 2 bedroom place and have to pay electricity, water, rates, guard fee.
With your girlfirend you are also making twice the money, so why not get your own place and stop the moaning if its only twice as much - I spend 1,000 a week on taxis
Life here is so easy for you guys that I cant believe you complain so much. |
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yamahuh
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 1033
Location: Karaoke Hell
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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Who's moaning?
I no longer work there.
As I said in my post, I stopped working for them back in December and am now quite comfortably making more than $NT 10K more per month than I ever did working for Gloria for only a couple of teaching hours extra per week.
Someone asked about Gloria I felt I should give them my perspective, Taoyuan Steve obviously has a different opinion of them than I.
But that's what forums are for isn't it?
We're keeping things civil but perhaps will have to agree to disagree. |
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BJ
Joined: 03 Dec 2003
Posts: 173
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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Chain schools are often starter schools, some people really like them and stay, others find better jobs and move on, some dont.
As a first school for a new person I would say that Gloria isnt bad, they can all have bad branches but hey no one can guarantee anything to be perfect.
If you can get your work visa, be guarenteed 14 hours a week basic, the possibility of more hours at the school, or as most do take on a second school more power.
Most chain schools actually make their money from Wednesday and Saturday because they are half school days so the kids are free in the afternoon. Kindergartens are a different prospect and normally go Monday to Friday.
Again if you dont have much money and cant affoird the 2 month deposit and month rent upfront which most landlords ask, plus finding out how to pay the bills to whom,where etc and of course the cost, then 1000 per person + AC is very very cheap. |
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