Job Discussion Forums

milkweedma · Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 151

This is an overview of my Taiwan teaching experience for anyone that needs opinion and/or information.
I worked for three schools. For Rebecca Language Centre in Tachia Town, Taichung County, for two and a half years before I got incredibly sick with allergy attacks, headaches, fever etc. My boss Rebecca was very good to the foreign teachers and bent over backwards to help us in every way possible. I highly reccommend working for her. She is not perfect but she is very honest and straight forward to deal with. She pays on time always and is flexible about how to teach. I would still be there today if it were not for the fact that I got sick all the time from Taiwans heavily polluted air.
The second school was in Mingian Town, Nantou County for a woman called Virginia. She is a nightmare to work for because she is a total power tripper and is pretty mad to boot. I dont recommend working for her.
The third school i worker briefly for before getting the sack was for Daphnes American language Academy in Douliou.
Dont be fooled by her 'sweet as pie' nature. She is very inflexible and if you stick up for yourself, like I did, you may be sacked. Her books are S*** and I told her so.
Dont be put off going to Taiwan by my comments because overall it was a good experience and Im looking to go to China or Korea next.
Getting a good job with a flexible boss thats honest is hit and miss in Taiwan unless you know someone that is there already.
Cheers, ad.

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: My Taiwan experience.

milkweedma · Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 151

As a side note to my first posting I want to say that when I first arrived at this school and moved in to my accomodation in Mingjian Town, Nantou County, there was a note beside the bed from the previous teacher warning me to be careful when dealing with Virginia. Seems the north american dude got her REALLY angry before he shot through to Korea after working for her for about a fortnight. I rang my agent Dewey about this guy cos I was freaked out and he said the guy was VERY demanding of the agency before he even got to Virginias school. I got the impression that he was a loose cannon but I have to say that Virgina is VERY domineering which will probably upset most westerners. Appraently an old kiwi guy worked at her school for two years previously.
Also, Daphne of American Language Academy in Douliou sacked me for trumpted up reasons that didnt make sense. How many times have I heard that story in Taiwan??

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

What's the name of the school that Virginia runs?

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

Not a bad question to ask, Clarkie, but are you in to help, provide suggestions of your own or are you in to gather some info for your own site. Well, none of my biz. Wink

Daves forums are rather helpful, aren't they?

OP, I hear ya. I would bet on a better environment or honesty on mainland, if you want to come to China.

Peace to schools in China or Taiwan from buxiban
and
cheers and beers to all hard working FTs Very Happy

Toe Save · Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:58 am Post subject:

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 10:29 am Post subject:

As for the name of the school, we'll have to rely on milkweedma to provide that. I only interviewed there, and that was almost 19 months ago, so I'm afraid I no longer remember the school's name. How many dominatrices named Virginia own buxiban's in Minjian, I wonder.

milkweedma · Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 151

The schools name is Ming Saung but the spelling is incorrect cos I cant remember how to spell it properly. Its the biggest school in that village and is in a backstreet thats hard to find if you're new to the village of Mingjian, Nantou County. Hope this helps somebody.

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

Thanks for that.

I know of the school by name and your comments certainly help to explain why they seem to be looking for teachers so frequently.

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

and now you can put that one in your site Wink

schools in china
schools in taiwan

and cheers and beers to our forums that help uncover some bad schools for other sites

White_Elephant · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 175

If you are leaving Taiwan because of air pollution, why would you even consider China or Korea? You honestly think the pollution levels are lower there than Taiwan? The countries you mentioned have some of the world's more reknown pollution problems. Korea gets yellow-dust storms in March and April and that comes from China. You could argue that not all of Korea and China are so polluted, but not all of Taiwan is either.

milkweedma · Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 151

Yes I am aware that Taiwan has good air on the east coast but there are few jobs on that side. ie Hualien, Taitung etc etc.
As for Korea, I suspect Sokcho and the rest of Gangwon province MAY be air-pollution free or have low levels.
Ditto the provinces of Xingjing and Gansu in China which have some very clean cities such as Korla. Anyone else shed more light on where has clean air in Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan??? Stay healthy, It gets us all in the end.

milkweedma · Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 151

The correct name for the school I worked in in Douliou or Touliou is Bosses American language Academy. The director was called Daphne. I dont reccommend working for her either because she changes the rules as she sees fit and without negotiation. For example she stopped driving me to the railway station when I was to work out of town after explicitly saying that she would. She also dumped a class of bad kids on me who were unable to learn english at all and were uncontrollable and very loud. Her student books are terrible. What she wants from you changes constantly.
A Chinese teacher at the school told me that this cram school was 'only for fun' or as i interpret it, a baby sitting service and not for the serious english teacher. This would have been ok if the director had stated this from the start but as usual you have to guess and read between the lines and take note of hearsay. cheers. I have finally said all that I needed to pass on to everyone else. Take care.

Dragon777200 · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 4

HAHA, I am glad to know I am not the only one who had loads of crap from Virginia!

Actually I cant get too mad at her, I had 1 month free board there, had a great vacation from all work for that time, and Spent 10 beautiful days riding my motorcycle thru central Taiwan with my Taiwan G/F, all on Virginia

HAHA, And some of the real crazy ones are at her her farmed out school in Mingjian. Remember these are country people who are not use to forigners, and they try to treat you just like they do other chinese.

Anyways, it was an experience and before I left I sat down and had a 3 hour talk with Virginia at which time she actually appoligized several times for her not being able to be there with me when I trained at the school in Nantau city.

ALL IN ALL, it is a place you definatly want to vist, but never work at! Laughing