Job Discussion Forums

[sgbraunstein]

Howdy.

So I've received an offer to work in an English Village elementary school in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 24 teaching hours max per week. Pay is 70000 NT$, plus 5000 NT$ and living expenses, minus health/labor insurance. I have a master's degree and three years' worth of experience teaching in the US (In Brooklyn). The man who is hiring me told me to come to Taiwan and apply for a work visa there, but that we will work out the contract before I arrive. What will this process look like, and does it sound at all strange to you all? I don't know how to feel about this next step. What do you say?

Also, should the contract that I agree to here be entirely in English, or is it okay if there is English and Mandarin on the document?

Thanks a bunch. I've never worked overseas before...all this is seeming a little crazy. I'm also really wondering who to go over my contract with, before I sign.

[BigWally]

[rant]Money is decent for the hours stated. But, you have to find out if there are office hours expected above and beyond classroom hours. Also find out how many days a week you would be working. Ask if you only will be teaching at one branch, because having to travel to different branches throughout the day gets tedious quickly. (Especially in the rain!!) Cost of living is low in Kaohsiung, so you should try to bargain for the living expenses portion of the contract, and get more on the salary side, maybe 75000? Rentals are easy to find, www.kaohsiungliving.com is the place to be. Tons of good foreigner stuff on there. Dont sign anything unless you are sure what the contract says. You cant get work permits, and such until you arrive because you need a health check, and your ARC before you get your work permit. Before you go you would however need to get a visitors visa, which once you're in country you can get your multiple entry visa, and your ARC, then you get your work permit. [/rant]

[BigWally]

oh and health and labor insurance shouldnt be more than a few hundred NT a paycheck if you get paid monthly

[Ki]

On the surface the offer sounds good. But there may be some things to keep in mind...... The extra 5000 for living expenses may well be 5k off a 10,000 dollar shared apartment you are forced to live in. May be. May be not.

What are the hours? They may want you to take a 4 hour lunch break each day and force you to work Saturday mornings. They may also make you work extra non-teaching hours. In fact I would be surprised if they don't.

Also be aware of things like monthly bonuses for being on time. Instead of this being added to your salary it is taken off if you are late. Don't sign anything overseas. Make some excuse like it is illegal or your government won't allow you. The contract might not be legally binding but your school will make it so anyway.

Make sure the contract is with the school and not with a recruiter/agent/consultant company. This is very important if you want to make sure you avoid a year of hell.

[BigWally]

[sgbraunstein]

You rule! Thanks for the suggestions.

These kinds of little elements of contracts are what I'm worried about, actually. I'm currently having an employment lawyer look over the contract (she's my aunt), and we'll see what happens there.

How would you all advise asking for the 75,000, though? The person who's placing me at a school is telling me that theres' a specific pay scale. Is this something that can be gotten around?

[JZer]

sgbraunstein, I believe that most likely you will be paid what they offer you. Often there is not much room for negotiating. If it is a government sponsored program that might be all the money there is in the budget for a foreign teacher.

[JZer]