Job Discussion Forums

[THE_QUEST]

I recently finished my bachelor of arts, and was thinking about teaching in Taiwan, but it seems that 90 percent of the online ads I've seen require an hour of office time for every hour of paid teaching hours. If the vast majority of contracts offered require this amount of office hours, then how do you all avoid this requirement. Are office hours usually negotiated out of the contracts while you are applying, or do you simply not stay during office hours? Or whats the deal? This doesn't make sense .

[StayingPower]

Yes, good question, and one that should be addressed by The Ministry of Labour? But I'll try to answer your question, being the greenhorn I am, and that from my own personal experiences,

The Taiwanese are notorious for business ethics. There's no black and white like where you come from, no nine-to-five. You'll have to correct homework, administer and grade tests Then you'll have to record grades in one of their sacred little folders(watch out for this. It's very important.) You'll have to put in prep time, even give tele-tests. You'll have to fill out communication books, sometimes progress reports. In all, you're right. You'll have to work about half the time you're getting paid for.

The irony of it all is, some teachers here don't put up with all of this. Some may've put their foot down, others wielded their wits. Others may've just been lucky.

Point is, there's really no way around extra, unpaid hours, unless you're self-assured enough to make it financially. Then again, check your contract before signing it, perhaps even consult a lawyer back home(this will probably not make a difference,) and ask the school you're applying for to tell you the truth. The grey here is a philosophical mindset that allows for the Taiwanese concept of not being responsible to anything other than their pocket book.

Check out Korea, if you're looking for a decent contract, ie., paid holidays, a years bonus, not extra, unpaid hours, lovely people:(