Job Discussion Forums

Etheorial · Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 6 Location: New York, NY

I am interested in teaching English in Taipei beginning in either April or May, 2004.

I am a 24 year old male with a BA in History from Kenyon College in Ohio. I spent the past 2 years in Paris, France and recently worked at the UN. However, I have no prior teaching experience, nor do I have a TEFL certificate. However, I can speak and understand some basic Mandarin.

I have done a bit of research on the topic and contacted the Hess and Jumpstart schools, but I'm wondering if anyone can recommend any specific schools. Hess told me I was ineligible to teach in Taiwan because the Taiwanese government doesn't recognize the institution I graduated from. However, Jumpstart did not say so, nor did other schools I contacted on the mainland, although I suppose the regulations there are different. Can someone advise me on this?

jason_seeburn · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 399 Location: Toronto

Andy in Taiwan · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 15

Please explain why Taipei sucks. I mean having lived Lukang (1 year) Jia Yi (2 years), and Taipei (1 year) I think Taipei is the best place in Taiwan. Convenience and more things to do. More money to be made here also.

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

He can't explain why Hess or Taipei supposedly suck. He's never worked for Hess and he's never lived in Taipei.

Mozilla · Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 90

keep in mind that jason seeburn (chris?) lived in taiwan for 9 months in a small town--this was a while ago, not sure how long ago. take his posts with a grain of salt.

that said, from he's right about Hess, at least from my experience. Stay away from the chain schools as I have worked for them, and Hess does indeed suck ass. why? because it's a McSchool. You teach what they tell you, when they tell you, and where they tell you. I was chewed out by my manager once because I taught the reading lesson a slightly different way than normal .

brian · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 299

If you have a four year degree (Bachelors) you should be right. I would be inclined to believe what Hess said in so much as they process lots of applications and may have had trouble processing applicants from your school in the past. Maybe Headstart haven't had experience with your school and therefore don't realize that there is some problem. Provided that you meet the other criteria as far as employment as an English teacher here, there seems no reason that Hess would refuse your application unless they knew that they couldn't employ you legally. They may have just saved you a lot of trouble and inconvenience. If I were you I would follow up with Hess and find out what exactly was the problem.

I disagree with the previous post which is against Hess and other chains. I believe that chains are a good place to start off here. You know what to expect, you know that you will be legal, you know how much you will be paid and you know that you will get paid. They aren't for everyone, and I respect Mozilla's post about how it didn't suit him, but overall they work for most new arrivals. Get your feet here and then feel free to move onto something more challenging in your second year if you like.

I would go for a chain and there are a few to compare - Hess, Kojen, Sesame Street, Joy, Happy Marian, Kid Castle, Jordans. Check them out online as most have websites.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

Hi,
Taipei is probably the best place to start for most people. It really is a question of reducing your risk exposure and increasing you ability to be successful as a teacher on Taiwan. It is that balance that creates such contradictions of opinions. The choice is yours to make but many people have written about their experiences teaching on Taiwan and there are a few consistencies.

This is what SSETT recommends.
http://www.geocities.com/taiwanteacher2002/Success.html

If you have any more questions feel free to ask me,
my email,
[email protected]
Good luck,
A.

brian · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 299

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

I agree with Mozilla with regard to Seeburn. His length of time here in conjunction with where he lived and worked (and especially where he didn't)-- as well as the fact he no longer resides here-- are all relevent points. How can he know for certain that Taipei "sucks?" I am not merely putting Seeburn down (believe it or not, I don't have anything against him), and I don't think "Mozilla" is either. We are simply pointing out the obvious. He has never lived in Taipei and never worked for Hess. How can he be in a position to make such damning condemnations of either with no direct experience?

On the issue of chains, I don't know that any absolute statement is appropriate. Chain schools are franchises and often have different owners in different locations. Experiences of teachers working for these entities will reflect this reality. That a particular school is part of a chain provides little reason, by itself, either to work for it or avoid it.

I haven't worked for Hess, but I did seriously consider working for them before I came here. My impression was that they do things properly. They are the only company here that I've heard of that will secure the proper visa for their newly arriving teachers (the resident visa) outside of Taiwan, thus eliminating that period of illegal work most of us do, as well as eliminating the necessity of entering Taiwan under false pretences (ie tourist or businessman when we really intend to teach). If Hess is telling the original poster that there is a problem with his degree granting institution, there quite likely is. Is the university accredited and recognized? I'd find out for sure before coming. Don't trust the opinion of recruiters.