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Chiayi

 
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jrwilheim



Joined: 02 Jul 2007
Posts: 34
Location: New York

PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 1:31 pm    Post subject: Chiayi Reply with quote

Okay...yesterday I was contacted by a woman from a language school in Chiayi asking me to send a resume, which I promptly sent. Today she responded with an offer.

Does anyone know anything about Chiayi? She describes it as a city of about 300,000 without much of a bar scene (not a problem as I'm not really a bar person) but a fairly large American presence, about 3 hours from Taipei by train.

Has anyone worked in Chiayi? What's it like?
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surrealia



Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Posts: 241
Location: Taiwan

PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I lived in Chiayi a few years ago. It's a small city without much going on, but it's very close to Taichung and Tainan, two bigger cities you can visit on your time off.

This page has some information on Chiayi:

http://www.geocities.com/allhou/chiayiscene.htm

And this page has some listings for Tainan and Chiayi:

http://www.taiwanfun.com/south/chianan/index.htm


By the way, I would recommend you ask around about the school you are going to work for BEFORE you sign a contract. I heard a lot of stories about shady language schools in Chiayi when I was there.
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jrwilheim



Joined: 02 Jul 2007
Posts: 34
Location: New York

PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks.

Do you happen to know anything about a school called the Universe American School? This is the one I've been in contact with, and that has made me an offer.

So far, the woman I've dealt with has been very professional--returns e-mails quickly, gave me references, etc. Seemed very eager to have me on board.
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surrealia



Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Posts: 241
Location: Taiwan

PostPosted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 1:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I found this post about Universe here on Dave's ESL Cafe:

Quote:
Be careful. The owner Genie is a real piece of work. She has a lot of powerful connections in Chia Yi.


source
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=10179&highlight=universe

Also, there's this post at Forumosa.com:

Quote:
I've also heard bad things about Universe American School from others in the foreign community. One poor girl had a scooter accident, broke her collar bone, and was promptly fired.


source

http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?t=53376&highlight=universe

There may be a very good reason they sound so "eager". You might consider going to Taiwan without a job (if you can afford to do so) and hang out with the foreign teacher community long enough to find out which schools are worth working for.
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Dr_Zoidberg



Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 406
Location: Not posting on Forumosa.

PostPosted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 11:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know Genie personally, having lived in Chia Yi during my first year in Taiwan. If you see her coming, run the other way as fast as you can!

I have never met a more objectional, condescending phoney in my life.

If the OP wants details, pm me. You have been warned.

FYI, I am not an ex-employee.
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LKJ



Joined: 06 May 2007
Posts: 57

PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I know Genie personally, having lived in Chia Yi during my first year in Taiwan. If you see her coming, run the other way as fast as you can!

I have never met a more objectional, condescending phoney in my life.

If the OP wants details, pm me. You have been warned.



Out of interest, is this the infamous G. Linn?


Quote:
Do you happen to know anything about a school called Universe American School? This is the one I've been in contact with, and that has made me an offer.

So far, the woman I've dealt with has been very professional--returns e-mails quickly, gave me references, etc. Seemed very eager to have me on board.


An eager Chinese school owner ...........sounds familiar.

If you are new to Taiwan there is a lot to be said for getting a job in a stable and well known school. Consider tin pot schools or lesser known schools after you have been here a while, have heard the horror stories and know what the risks are.

It's going to be your experience, so make sure it's a good one.

Hope this helps!
LKJ
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David.A.Kahan



Joined: 13 May 2009
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Fri May 22, 2009 4:11 am    Post subject: Universe American Reply with quote

So I can't PM anyone because I don't have 25 posts, but I would like to talk to someone about why this school owner gets such a bad rap. If anyone could PM me that would be great, or if you could just post a reply that would work as well.

Thanks guys.
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OuterBanks13



Joined: 18 May 2009
Posts: 33

PostPosted: Fri May 22, 2009 10:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, check this Forum. Many shady schools in this part of Taiwan.
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