Job Discussion Forums

JFJAMES · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 4

Hi,

The facts are these: I'm broke - Have no TEFL certificate to speak of - itching to go to Taiwan - No teaching experience - I'm wielding a degree certificate, for what it's worth.

Does anyone out there know of an agency/chain school which offers adequate preparatory training for the likes of me. I'm only going out for a year and need to be back for September hence the urgency.

I've heard that Saxon Court offers some sort of training but I've also heard that they're evil incarnate. Any advice out there?

oh yea, do you have to take the original degree or does a copy do the trick?

Thanks

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:59 pm Post subject:

Hess is one of the buxiban chains that offers training. They get pretty good reviews.

Bring your original degree, just in case.

lou_la · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 140 Location: Bristol

I replied on the thread you put up on the newbie forum.

And Hess definetly require the original degree

SanChong · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 335

You can also see Buxiban.com, which is a good place to search for schools.

Reach To Teach and Dewey are also reputable recruiters who you can contact for job possibilities.

Just be ready to be stressed out and to live cheaply for your first month! It can be tough getting here with no money....

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

They all say they offer 'training', but it generally varies from terrible to inadequate. There is usually help available from fellow teachers.

Most people come with a degree and no experience. It's what most schools expect.

Quite often training means observing other classes. Make sure you take plenty of notes. Copying is the greatest form of flattery..............or something very much like that.

Don't worry we've all been there. The first month is very stressful, but after that it starts getting easier.

PaulJam · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 13 Location: London, UK

To the original poster and anyone else informed -

The 'devil incarnate' Saxon Court comment has caught my eye, as I was planning on going with them. Can you shed light on this? What have you heard?

Thanks in advance.

Paul.

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

You will get more info on Saxoncourt if you talk about Shane instead. There is no Saxoncourt (in name) in Taiwan only Shane.
http://www.shane.com.tw/en/

BigWally · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:52 am Post subject:

my school offered 5 days of training, which included 2 days of observation, and 3 days of classroom training with a training instructor (a canadian who was a former teacher at the school)

the training went over basically all the books we'd have to teach & how to teach them, how to deal with classroom management, how to effectively teach phonics, how to assign homework, and other things

i'm now in my 2nd week of classes and everything is slowly coming together...i think no matter what kind of training is offered to you it depends on how much effort you put into in, and reading the materials, how much you will get out of it, and how much it will help prepare you...

my 1st day i was nervous as hell...but then my 1st 2.5hour class was over before i knew it...time just keeps flying by, i mean i cant believe i've already been in taiwan for 3 weeks, it feels like i just got here yesterday...

anyways, dont sweat it, i came over with the same qualifications (or lack of) that you have, and everything has been going along well...

good luck! Surprised

(edit: bring your original degree)