Job Discussion Forums

kaylinbeth · Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Songbird,

They have offered me a contract for 18 working days July 4th-July 31. That is obviously longer than 18 days so I am just wondering if you get one day off a week or if that included some training that they aren't referring to as a work day.

Also, thanks for taking the time to share your positive experience. Not enough English teachers come to the forum to do that. I am going to the Korea forum right now to throw it out into the universe that my hagwon has honored our contract and treated me reasonably.

Songbird · Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 9:15 am Post subject:

kaylinbeth- No probs, I know how you feel, I work in China and positive stories are few and far between. I did work at a summer camp here on the mainland last summer (only cause I didn't see any ALV ads- as another thread mentioned I too thought they were defunct!), and the camp was dodgy as. Nowhere near as organised as ALV. Yes, you will have MANY times on camp when you have NFI what's going on (and when the jolly BBQ's take over an hour to light Rolling Eyes

...) but just go with the flow. Chill out, and realise it's a CAMP. If the kids see you agitated they will be too.

On my first camp I had a few days up my sleeve- I had 2 x 6 day camps (both at the Little Dingdong Science Park in Hshinchu), with 2 days in between each (really only 1 1/2 days as you have to get back for orientation for the 2nd camp!), then had 6 days in Taipei to myself- they put me up in a hotel within easy walk to the subway and I had a ball seeing the city! They also gave me an envelope with instructions to meet at the Taipei main railway station where we would all meet and jump on a bus to the next camp, at Jiuofen for 3 days (absolutely beautiful!). Though even with the 6 day break you'll be soooo grateful for camp to be over!

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Be aware that you will be required to spend one unpaid day before every camp starts. If your contract says 18 days, that will be more like 21. The day before every camp consist of everyone sitting on their bums at the school.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Songbird · Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 2:08 pm Post subject:

Haven't heard anything about anyone being in jail (are you talking about Leo?).

Also don't know what you're talking about '1 day on your bums'. Is this orientation? Sorry, but it's only HALF a day, or 4 hours to be exact. And generally it's around 1pm the day beforehand. Sure, it's boring and setup is still happening bla bla bla....why not use this time to get to know your TA, do your class chant etc and be more proactive in being organised?

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Yes, last summer the said person was in jail. Why do you think the camp basically closed in 2008?

I will not go in to further detail. I don't want to be banned from this website.

If anyone wants to know more please email me.

lyonnaisdecoeur · Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 8 Location: Boston

hi all,
i inquired about one of the positions as a 'camp counselor' as i am still in university and can't really work. i figured that since i was already going to be in bangkok taking my CELTA that it wouldn't be such a bad thing to spend a month in Taiwan at this camp getting a little bit of experience i could use later. Well, they've offered me the contract, and I'm really not expecting much or anything in terms of $$$....but i really need them to at least cover the plane flight. It does say on the contract that they will cover airfare, some 'pocket money', food, housing, etc....but will they really cover the airfare? or will they just screw me over at the end of the camp because the job is illegal and they can take advantage of me

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

lyonnaisdecoeur, the thing that you should be worried about is them canceling your contract before you even arrive. You can read on this website of accounts of this happening.

Songbird · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 4:50 am Post subject:

lyonnaisdecoeur, read back on this thread what I've said of my experience. I'm not repeating it again.

kaylinbeth · Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Regarding canceling contracts do you think ALV just overbooks on teachers to make sure they have enough because sometimes teachers don't follow through with flying to Taiwan?

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Yes, they overbook to cover themselves. They basically offer any white person who applies a job and then sometimes tell you they do not need you a few weeks before the camp.

They have went to great lengths before to make sure they do not have any Asian-American teachers.

One time I was working at ALV they could not find a white teacher and hired an Asian teacher. Then replaced that Taiwanese teacher born in India with a white teacher after the third day of camp.

zipper · Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 237

Looks like the camp has teachers working very looooong days.

http://www.kidscamp.com.tw/html/team_05.asp

http://www.kidscamp.com.tw/html/about.asp

http://www.kidscamp.com.tw/upload/activity/01.pdf

http://www.kidscamp.com.tw/upload/activity/02.pdf

http://www.kidscamp.com.tw/html/team_07.asp

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Yes, some days you need to work from 8AM to 8PM.

Songbird · Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 12:24 pm Post subject:

http://www.kidscamp.com.tw/upload/activity/01.pdf

How scary, I'm in one of those pics Laughing

!

Yes, I did say LONNG hours, we started at 7.30am for morning meeting, didn't finish til after 8pm every night.