Job Discussion Forums

[gulam2]

Interesting piece about Taiwan

In reference to the article published
by Mo Yan-chih of the Taipei Times
STAFF REPORTER , WITH CNA
Wednesday, Jul 13, 2005,Page 1
Ministry battles to find English teachers
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/07/13/2003263299


Quote:
"Ministry battles to find English teachers!
By Mo Yan-chih
STAFF REPORTER , WITH CNA
Wednesday, Jul 13, 2005,Page 1
The Ministry of Education's (MOE) program to recruit
certified foreign-language teachers failed to attract
enough qualified applicants to teach English in public
elementary and secondary schools.
To solve this teacher shortage, the ministry is
considering accepting uncertified foreign teachers to
teach English in Taiwan, according to Education
Minister Tu Cheng-sheng (タ秤). "




Taiwan's reputation for robbing, cheating and abusing
non Chinese workers and foreign teachers is beginning
to effect Taiwan in many areas not just education.
Perhaps now they will see the light?

Quote:
"With the a salary ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$90,000
(US$1,800 to US$2,700) a month -- about double the
wage of Taiwanese English teachers -- the program
costs the government about NT$510 million a year. The
teaching contracts last from one to three years. "

Quote:
"Currently, we have only 22 foreign English teachers
recruited through the program, even though we signed
service contracts with countries including the UK,
Canada and Australia," Tu said.

If the government of Taiwan would take the time to
enforce it's own labor laws and create a balanced and
fair environment for non Chinese to work on Taiwan as
well as ensure that the working conditions and
benefits were what is officially stated in the
employment agreement, they might have a better chance
of recruiting foreign teachers.
Currently Taiwan's reputation as employers of foreign
English teachers is one of the worst in the world. A
simple search on the Internet will turn up volumes
upon volumes of complaints and reports by foreign
teachers about their experiences while teaching
English on Taiwan.
The Ministry of Education should allow local foreign
resident teachers to apply for these positions then
they might have a better chance of filling the
positions they are already paying for.
But that raises other questions the Taiwan government
does not want asked much less answered.


I might also suggest that the Taiwan Ministry of
Education hire math teachers as the numbers they
quoted look a little strange.
75,000 NT$ x 12 months = 900,000NT$ per teacher a
year.
22 teachers x 900,000NT$ =19,800,000NT$ per year.
The program cost 510,000,000 a year
510,000,000 - 19,800,000 = 491 ,000,000
So where does the other 491,000,000NT$ go?
Good luck!
[email protected]

[cujobytes]

[clark.w.griswald]

I certainly do not want to get into a slanging match over this, but the OP here is somewhat misleading.

The post made by Gulam2 has been copied word for word from the Taiwan forum at Daves. That in itself is not too much of a concern, but I feel that the way it was done is misleading.

Anyone reading the post here for the first time may assume that the content of the post is actually from the newspaper, when it is not. The majority of the post is in fact the opinion of a rather radical regular on the Taiwan forum who goes by the name of Aristotle.

I suggest anyone interested take a look at that thread and see what others on the Taiwan forum (including myself) had to say about the opinion expressed by this individual.

[gulam2]

It wasn't actually - as is often the case wrong conclusions have been jumped to.
However it was copied from another site chinatefl.jobs.
As always I encourage people to read as much as possible about these things - including Clark's opinions (which I haven't, as yet, read as I have not been in the habit of reading the forum that he mentioned).
My intentions are never to mislead people, although it may happen.

[gulam2]

Dear Clark,
I have now had a look at some of Aristotles stuff on the Taiwan Forum and some of your replies - interesting reading.
But I cannot find the one which you mention?
Maybe you could be so kind as to give me a reference?
Thanks a Lot
gulam2

[clark.w.griswald]

Apologies to you gulam2 if my earlier post was incorrect. I was not aware of his posting on any other forums, but I was very aware of it on the Taiwan forum.

[gulam2]

Maybe we all jump to conclusions that we should not do ?
To be honest with you I do not find subjective personal battles of any value. I beleive there should be web-sites that are there to help teachers.
Many teachers in China have bad experiences because;
1. Their expectations are too high.
2. They totally misunderstand the culture that they are coming to.
3. They are unaware of the pitfalls.
4. They are used by bad recruiters.
5. They are cheated and lied to by schools.
6. They are unable to deal with "culture shock"
7. They have been misinformed and mislead.

To stereo type teachers that complain as "crazy" or "whiners" only
shows inability to understand qualitative systems such as TQM.

I have absolutely nothing to gain from posting on sites such as this and a lot to lose.

But I have been in Asia for 20 years and do not like the numbers of teachers returning home with very bitter memories.

gulam2