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MomCat
Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 297
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 Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| May I suggest you consider a part time job teaching adults. Adult work is in the evening so your days would be free. If you sign a contract for part time work (14 hours a week) you can still get your ARC but don't have an obligation to always be available. You'll be able to pay your rent and other expenses but probably won't be able to save. |
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pest2
Joined: 28 Oct 2006
Posts: 170
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| Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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| MomCat wrote: |
| May I suggest you consider a part time job teaching adults. Adult work is in the evening so your days would be free. If you sign a contract for part time work (14 hours a week) you can still get your ARC but don't have an obligation to always be available. You'll be able to pay your rent and other expenses but probably won't be able to save. |
Schools are legally required to be giving you at least 17 hours per week to issue an ARC (but that, like alot of things in Taiwan, is not enforced from what im seeing). |
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pest2
Joined: 28 Oct 2006
Posts: 170
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| Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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| MomCat wrote: |
Try here for weather info:
http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V5e/index.htm
Someone recommended Global Village??!! The bottom of the bottom of the chains? Strange.
Michael, may I ask what you're looking for in moving to Taiwan? I'm just being nosy. Well, that's not completely true. I'm always hoping to interest stable, intelligent, adaptable, competent teachers into considering Hsinchu.
Cat |
I would not recommend Hsinchu..... go to Taichung... or any other place. A quick glance at the "help wanted" pages on tealit, esl99.com and others clearly shows there are very few jobs here in the windy city and alot more jobs in other places... this something I wish I had known before.... |
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pest2
Joined: 28 Oct 2006
Posts: 170
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| Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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| StayingPower wrote: |
M.K., you're going to have to take quite a financial risk by just coming here, and you'll have a lot of start up costs, whereas in Korea you don't have much to lose(they fly you over, give you an apartment, fly you back, offer more security.) But in Taiwan, you'll face financial insecurity unlike what you now don't have. Believe me, you'll have to find your own apartment, buy your own furniture, buy a scooter and sacrifice a lot. In Korea, all of these things are given you apart from the scooter.
In Taiwan, you'll have to find your niche too, as teaching kindergarteners will probably be your first job offer; and you'll have to beware of a lot of the big chains that constantly dump teachers and have an astronomically high turnover rate, ie., HESS, Koejen, Jordon's, Kid's Castle, Giraffe, and other generic, not-so-secure, discrimminatory and unsound work environments.
If you do choose to come here, your best best is to find a position teaching at either an elementary or high school. There's no immediate gratifcation in Taiwan, whereas in Korea you can make money from the get-go. Perhaps, too, that'll give you some experience in this job field. A TEFL certificate really doesn't mean much to them, as I've had one for over five years and have never been asked to show it. |
I'd agree with pretty much everything in this post. Taiwan is the 4th country I've taught in.
Its the best insofar as people-niceness and interestingness of culture.
Its the worst insofar as money and work conditions. Period. If you need to make money, head to Korea or even a big city in China like Shanghai or Beijing. |
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dangerousapple
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 292
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| Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:48 am Post subject: |
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| pest2 wrote: |
Schools are legally required to be giving you at least 17 hours per week to issue an ARC (but that, like alot of things in Taiwan, is not enforced from what im seeing). |
It is 14 hours per week. A few years ago it got bumped up to 16 hours per week, but now it is back down to 14. It has never been 17. |
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StayingPower
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 252
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| Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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| pest2 wrote: |
| StayingPower wrote: |
M.K., you're going to have to take quite a financial risk by just coming here, and you'll have a lot of start up costs, whereas in Korea you don't have much to lose(they fly you over, give you an apartment, fly you back, offer more security.) But in Taiwan, you'll face financial insecurity unlike what you now don't have. Believe me, you'll have to find your own apartment, buy your own furniture, buy a scooter and sacrifice a lot. In Korea, all of these things are given you apart from the scooter.
In Taiwan, you'll have to find your niche too, as teaching kindergarteners will probably be your first job offer; and you'll have to beware of a lot of the big chains that constantly dump teachers and have an astronomically high turnover rate, ie., HESS, Koejen, Jordon's, Kid's Castle, Giraffe, and other generic, not-so-secure, discrimminatory and unsound work environments.
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If you do choose to come here, your best best is to find a position teaching at either an elementary or high school. There's no immediate gratifcation in Taiwan, whereas in Korea you can make money from the get-go. Perhaps, too, that'll give you some experience in this job field. A TEFL certificate really doesn't mean much to them, as I've had one for over five years and have never been asked to show it. |
I'd agree with pretty much everything in this post. Taiwan is the 4th country I've taught in.
Its the best insofar as people-niceness and interestingness of culture.
Its the worst insofar as money and work conditions. Period. If you need to make money, head to Korea or even a big city in China like Shanghai or Beijing. |
Do you hear this, SanChong? |
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MomCat
Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 297
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| Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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| pest2 wrote: |
| I would not recommend Hsinchu..... go to Taichung... or any other place. A quick glance at the "help wanted" pages on tealit, esl99.com and others clearly shows there are very few jobs here in the windy city and alot more jobs in other places... this something I wish I had known before.... |
Hsinchu is not a large city (500,000 people, #10 in size on the island). But it has two international schools (three, but the third is iffy), the experimental high school and several public schools that hire native speakers. There are also two high end unis and a smattering of smaller universities. There is a full time language school that teaches business English to adults. There are several cram schools that teach adults and I believe you would find that the number of cram schools for kids is at least in proportion to the population, if not higher.
Hsinchu's drawback is it's size: it's small, so there's just not the number of empty podiums that one would find in a larger city.
Pest2, don't rely on just the ads, there are a few places in town that have several schools grouped together. Go to one of those areas and scooter around the neighboring streets. You should find several cram schools in the area.
Cat |
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StayingPower
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 252
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| Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 8:17 am Post subject: |
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| SanChong wrote: |
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In Taiwan, you'll have to find your niche too, as teaching kindergarteners will probably be your first job offer; and you'll have to beware of a lot of the big chains that constantly dump teachers and have an astronomically high turnover rate, ie., HESS, Koejen, Jordon's, Kid's Castle, Giraffe, and other generic, not-so-secure, discrimminatory and unsound work environments.
If you do choose to come here, your best best is to find a position teaching at either an elementary or high school. There's no immediate gratifcation in Taiwan, whereas in Korea you can make money from the get-go. Perhaps, too, that'll give you some experience in this job field. A TEFL certificate really doesn't mean much to them, as I've had one for over five years and have never been asked to show it. |
Other than the obvious overly bitter tone of the comments above, it contains a lot of misinformation.
First, the comments about discrimination and unsound working environments are not views which most people share.
Second, your first job will almost certainly NOT be kindergarten. Kindy positions are becoming fewer and fewer as the birth rate drops. Also, good schools are intelligent enough not to offer Kindy positions to just anyone. Not everyone is suitable for Kindy teaching.
Third, if you are offered a job at a public/private high school or elementary school, it is illegal for you to work there. You need a Bachelor's in Education to do that, just like back home in the US. Anyway, you won't be offered positions there as most of those schools follow the law, as far as I am aware.
Fourth, a TEFL certificate certainly does mean something to some schools. Some surely don't care, but many do.
Finally, before seriously considering Staying Power's comments, I'd recommend reading through a bunch of his past posts. I think that will clear things up for you.
As for the comments of other people, I pretty much agree! Taiwan has been great to me, overall. Just make sure you come here through a reputable company.
Korea and Taiwan are both good choices, just think carefully about what your goals are and you will come up with what is right for you.
Good luck! |
I think this is a bunch of bullpoop, SC. You and some of the others, those that perhaps have a subtle motive, like to paint this board(and this place,) a rosey picture. Some quotes?
A NewZealander: "I hate the place. . ."
I could think of a dozen or so more comments. But this is not my point. My point is to refute your constant defense of living and working here, particularly on this forum, and disparaging others.
As for "misinformation," I believe you're guilty of what we call 'disinformation.' You give reasonable, yet what some may call deceptive, comments, and this possibly to boost either your own ego, your social status, or your income.
And as for discrimmination, tell me this. Why was a Taiwanese employer killed in Kaosiung? Is not disrcimmination disrespecting other races by refusing to pay them their wages, since they, in effect, are worth nothing and are easily used? |
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craigzy
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 87
Location: taichung
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| Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject: |
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| staying power, although youre certifiable, i find you highly entertaining. thanks for the laughs. |
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BigWally
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 765
Location: Ottawa, CAN (prev. Kaohsiung "the Dirty South")
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| Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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My understanding of the alleged murder that you are referring to was not of an employer, but rather a recruiter. The job status of the persons involved was really irrelavant to the situation.
The alleged incident played out along the lines of a love triangle. The recruiter was allegedly killed by a foreigner and his girlfriend. The three were drinking and partying together, and allegedly all involved were too drunk to remember anything that happened.
As for Taiwan itself, much like anything in life, if all you want to see is the bad things then that's what you will see. If you want to look for positives in a non-perfect world, then you can find happiness.
I know a lot of people who are very happy here, enjoying life, making money, making lasting friendships, and traveling throughout Asia. I consider myself to be in this category.
Are there things that bother me about Taiwan? Yes, of course. But knowing all the other things that I like about the place can help me cope with some of the downsides.
I also know people who don't like it, stay at home, drink themselves stupid every night, or go to local ex-pat bars and complain about being here. Seems like a much less fun way to go through life to me.
Either way you can do what you want....but, if you're so unhappy here then why not do something else, and go somewhere that will make you happy? If you can't find happiness for yourself then who will? |
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StayingPower
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 252
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:44 am Post subject: |
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Well, I didn't follow up on that incident in Kaohsiung, so shouldn't have used that as an example. It does paint, however, a more bleak picture of the working conditions here.
Sure, these things happen in all walks of life all over the world. Yet I'm refuting SC's comments, that's all. It's as if to him, working and living here is a cake walk.
This is all I'm refuting.
Do I hate it here? Of course not. I'm disappointed, however, in a lot of areas of working here, ie, the penny-pinching-money-is-god mentality, and sometimes, feel it's not as cost-efficient working here in Taiwan. I say this because I'd made a lot more money in Korea, had had much more job security, and didn't have to face the gauntlet of the precarious nature of signing a contract. |
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dangerousapple
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 292
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:36 am Post subject: |
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Life is what you make of it. Taiwan has blessed me in many more ways than I could have imagined. Thanks to Taiwan I have a wonderful wife, a baby daughter on the way, a thriving (and growing) business, a three-bedroom house with a nice private grassy back yard (similar size to a Canadian back yard), investments, good friends, health and happiness.
My friends who stayed in Canada, worked their way through the sub list and landed a full-time teaching position are still being threatened with layoffs and reassignments.
13 years ago I was fresh off the boat and full of nothing but student loans and optimism. I've met my share of deadbeats, losers and cheats, and learned how to deal with them without losing my mind. My morals and ethics are firmly intact.
I feel for the people on these boards who have never managed to get into a good situation here. No one deserves to be in a place they don't feel comfortable in. I wish them luck in finding the right place. |
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Michael Kennedy
Joined: 30 Sep 2007
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:33 am Post subject: You guys are a trip |
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| Thanks for all the opinions and feedbacks. I don't have much to worry about. If I need to bail out I can at any time without any consequences because as I metioned before I am able to semi-retire and have a few hundred grand in the bank so it is not like I am going to another country broke and desperate for cash. I am going to Taiwan for a learning experience and if things don't work out all I need to do is book a flight and hop on board to the next country. I can afford to be a drifter. The one thing I can't afford to do is sit in a dam cubicle in Detroit for the rest of my life at my boring job lol. |
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pest2
Joined: 28 Oct 2006
Posts: 170
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:31 am Post subject: |
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| MomCat wrote: |
| pest2 wrote: |
| I would not recommend Hsinchu..... go to Taichung... or any other place. A quick glance at the "help wanted" pages on tealit, esl99.com and others clearly shows there are very few jobs here in the windy city and alot more jobs in other places... this something I wish I had known before.... |
Hsinchu is not a large city (500,000 people, #10 in size on the island). But it has two international schools (three, but the third is iffy), the experimental high school and several public schools that hire native speakers. There are also two high end unis and a smattering of smaller universities. There is a full time language school that teaches business English to adults. There are several cram schools that teach adults and I believe you would find that the number of cram schools for kids is at least in proportion to the population, if not higher.
Hsinchu's drawback is it's size: it's small, so there's just not the number of empty podiums that one would find in a larger city.
Pest2, don't rely on just the ads, there are a few places in town that have several schools grouped together. Go to one of those areas and scooter around the neighboring streets. You should find several cram schools in the area.
Cat |
Thanks MC, ur right, its a good idea to just go door to door.. Did that last week and with not too much luck (but had 3 offers in Taichung in the meanwhile)... Maybe the timing just isnt right for some reason or even no reason...
About "scooter around", you know that you must have an ARC to own a scooter (legally) and you cant get the ARC until u get a job! Taxis aint cheap, either... 2x as much as in Korea and 4x as much as in China for a taxi... (whereas in other countries its better and easier to get a job secured before you come and not have to worry about this kind of thing, this is yet another reason I tell people not to come to Taiwan, in general,... but I digress)..... |
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pest2
Joined: 28 Oct 2006
Posts: 170
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:45 am Post subject: |
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| BigWally wrote: |
My understanding of the alleged murder that you are referring to was not of an employer, but rather a recruiter. The job status of the persons involved was really irrelavant to the situation.
The alleged incident played out along the lines of a love triangle. The recruiter was allegedly killed by a foreigner and his girlfriend. The three were drinking and partying together, and allegedly all involved were too drunk to remember anything that happened.
As for Taiwan itself, much like anything in life, if all you want to see is the bad things then that's what you will see. If you want to look for positives in a non-perfect world, then you can find happiness.
I know a lot of people who are very happy here, enjoying life, making money, making lasting friendships, and traveling throughout Asia. I consider myself to be in this category.
Are there things that bother me about Taiwan? Yes, of course. But knowing all the other things that I like about the place can help me cope with some of the downsides.
I also know people who don't like it, stay at home, drink themselves stupid every night, or go to local ex-pat bars and complain about being here. Seems like a much less fun way to go through life to me.
Either way you can do what you want....but, if you're so unhappy here then why not do something else, and go somewhere that will make you happy? If you can't find happiness for yourself then who will? |
I can totally see how you could be happy here in Taiwan. If you were one of the lucky ppl who had a good job (I still contend there arent too many of these people relative to other nearby countries, however),... or if you are content to put up with long working hours and low pay and not worry about the ever-building amount of dust on your back from boot step marks as you get repeatedly used as a doormat, ...it would be easy for you to make friends, find fun things to do, and be happy here... Unlike Korea, which is really a boring and almost-hostile place at times, Taiwan is pretty cool...
But, it's really hard to get your foot in the door because 1) its expensive to get started finding an apartment 2) the schools are not very supportive when it comes to visas and logistical help, generally 3) the law, relative to other countries, works against you AND the schools insofar as making it easy for you to be employed in and live in Taiwan.
It could just be an invalidly made generalization from a subjectively observed condition, but it sure does seem like all the people I meet in Taiwan have already been in Taiwan for a very long time. I think I've met 10 or 15 guys who have been here for more than 5 years, and only 1 other guy who just got here this year (and he, like me, came from Korea).... this makes me think that actually, compared to Korea and China, the standard for English teacher qualification is actualy higher, not lower... but, unfortunately, most schools ive seen here want those qualifications to be, "Taiwan-specific", TEFL degree in any country including Taiwan withstanding.... So, sorry to people who spent 20 years teaching in Japan or China, because the schools here seem to think Taiwanese people have some kind of unique genetic and social quality that makes the teaching method required to teach them different..... of course, for all the people who actually make it through those first couple of years in Taiwan, it becomes quite smart to stick around because all the schools tend to want them and only them based on the fact that those teachers have the only kind of teaching experience in existence from the perspective of those schoools: Taiwan teaching experience.... So most of the teachers in TW are lifers for Taiwan... Also, the jobs have an incredibly high turnover rate in TW, comparatively, because the schools are under-paying anyone without Taiwan experience...
I still advise people to look at vietnam or Thailand if they have some money saved first, Korea if they are totally broke or even quite poor.... ESPECIALLY if you are an experienced teacher but have never taught in Taiwan. |
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