Job Discussion Forums

[kev7161]

First off I want to say I abhor the idea of Winter English camps that kids are forced to go to during their weeks-long holiday. What horrid parents they must be to banish their kids there when the kids should be playing and relaxing at home, surrounded by their loved ones.

Okay, disclaimer over - - has anyone heard of any Winter English camps that may be hiring? I have 5 (or more) weeks off this year and certainly will travel for part of that time, but not all. A camp could certainly offset some of the travel costs. If you've heard of any, please PM me or let all of us know here. It's not a DIRE situation, but a few extra yuan in my pocket can't hurt.

[TravellingAround]

There are apparently quite a few over in Taiwan that pay well (much better than Mainland China) but then you'd have to get there. Even though it may not be that far it would still most likely require a trip to Hong Kong then stopping off in Bangkok or something before finally travelling to Taipei.

[kev7161]

That's not a bad idea because I could holiday before or after in either of those cities or even a couple extra days in Taiwan. I'll give a look-see. If anyone else has any recommendations, please don't hesitate and all that.

[TravellingAround]

Well I know people who went on this - http://www.aacircle.com.au/forums/teach-english-in-taiwan/356-2005-alv-taiwan-summer-camp.html - last year but I have no idea if it is running this winter. The link mentions the summer camp but they did also run a winter camp which straddled the January/February boundaries.

They enjoyed it - good pay and well treated - however it was one of those places where they had (apparently) laid out the things for you to do to some extent. So...easy, but you better be prepared to sing the camp song and grinningly act like a scout leader!

Still...what do you expect for a quick camp?

[erinyes]

We made a winter camp ourselves last year. The Children loved it so much they invited their friends. We began with 20 and ended with 40... Winter camps are evil.... unless they are super fun. You can learn so much English with you play games.
My Fav game. Teach them about how to describe a person's clothes, or features or anything that a person has.

Get a big space with lost of strong chairs, no desks. Put the chairs in a circle, one less than the total number of people.

One person stands in the middle and says "anyone who has..... (black shoes / red t-shirt, black hair / is Chinese / lives with their grandmother/ etc)

If it is true, you have to change chairs with someone in the circle. The person in the middle tries to steel a chair.

This is violent fun! Good for speaking and great for listening.
But be safe!

[kev7161]

Actually, I just now got a response from them. The salary they offer for their winter camp is only $600.00 which includes the reimbursement of your airfare. In other words, if I spend $200 on RT air, then my pay would be $400.00 +the $200.00 refund on my ticket. But I'm thinking about it.

[NathanRahl]

I know of one that in total pays around 6,000 yuan for ten days work. They put you up in a hotel for ten, and flip the bill for several more days to sight see

[clark.w.griswald]

Just a word of warning on those contemplating short term camps in Taiwan.

In almost all cases you would be teaching illegally so be aware of that. The only exceptions that I am aware of would be:

a) foreigners in Taiwan with APRC's (residency due to marriage etc);

b) foreigners in Taiwan on working holiday visas (only available to certain age groups on reciprocal arrangements with a handful of countries)

Everyone else is either working illegally outside of their main employer, or if you were heading over from China then you will most likely be teaching illegally on a visitors visa (equivalent to an L visa in China).

Most people do get away with it of course, but it is worth being aware of.

[kev7161]

That's how I taught the first two summers I was in China - - on a tourist's visa. I appreciate the warning, but not TOO worried about it. If you never hear from me here on Dave's after February, you'll know what happened!!