Job Discussion Forums

[Rooster_2006]

I was taking a look at the 1,000-point "NST Appraisal Form."

I noticed that to get a rating of "Weak," you need to have at least 801 points. You need to have at least 841 points (84.1%) to even be considered "good."

Now, the problem is that so many of the things are subjective. Like, for example, 60 points are determined by "Rapport with Students." Other things are determined by factors largely beyond my control (like how many students choose to re-sign). Getting 841/1000 (the minimum score required not to be a "weak" teacher) on such a subjective form seems really, really tough.

Does anyone ever get over an 801 on these appraisal forms? Or is the form designed solely to keep Hess from having to give raises to anyone?

What percentage of NSTs, approximately, get over 801? Over 841?

I'm asking this not because I care about the raises (they're tiny, about 5% at most, and not worth stressing over), but because I want to be considered a "good teacher" and I'm afraid this appraisal form may result in 90% of the teachers being considered "weak." If that's the case, I need to find a new way to evaluate my own teaching so I don't have to feel deep down inside like I'm a "weak" teacher all the time.

[scarab1169]

Hi Rooster,

Well, I worked for Hess for one year - also in Kaohsiung, mind you..)
Don't stress about that form too much. Unless things have changed in the 2 years since I left Hess, you get evaluated on your performance. It's likely that your raise will be a standard thing. The way it worked when I was there : I got observed by my branch manager, and got feedback about my raise and also about my performance. All in all not too stressful.
Your heart seems to be in the right place and if you put that into your teaching you'll get there..)

May I ask at what branch will you work, or don't you know yet?

[Rooster_2006]

[NY1203]

Hey scarab,

Could you explain the training period to me?? and how we go about seeking housing?? It is so unfortunate that we don't know what branch we will be working for until we get there. Also, what is the hotel/hostel like that you stay in during training provided by hess?? I leave Feb 15th so i have so many questions and concerns, would really appreciate it if you could provide advice or suggestions. Thank you so much!

[Rooster_2006]

[NY1203]

I'm curious about your termination. They basically canned you for no reason? So, I'm collecting that they jut walked up to you one day and said "we don't like you goodbye"? Have you had previous experience before HESS in the ESL field?? I have done some research and noticed that it is mostly the experienced teachers that have these problems with HESS because of HESS's structured and pre-planned curriculums. Not that thats a bad thing, if I had adequate experience in teaching I wouldnt feel great about someone telling me how to do my job at every moment or not leaving any room for creativity. Now since your roommate bothered you and the HESSbots (lol) did you maybe reflect that negative outlook on your teaching?? I just find it hard to believe that they fired you for NO reason. Thanks for the feedback!

[zipper]

[NY1203]

Thanks. I have ZERO experience in teaching ESL. I have coaching and mental health counseling experience lol so teaching isn't my expertise. I just really hope to learn and grow with a good school and HESS seemed to be a very large school with room for advancement. I just have seen that many people who give negative feedback about HESS generally have adequate ESL teaching experience. But like I said before, I could understand that experienced teachers need room for their own creativity and being placed in a structured environment with no flexibility could be difficult.
It just sucks reading these horrible things and scares me a bit to be honest, but I know my work ethic so I'm willing to take the chance.
Do you know of any good places/schools I can take mandarin classes? That is what I would like to do on my free time.
Thanks!

[Rooster_2006]

[scarab1169]

Unfortunately, I will disagree about everything that is said about the curriculum and Hess's teaching method. It was the worst teaching materials I've ever come across and badly written with SO many errors it's a disgrace. In many cases there were parts of the lesson plan that was written in a language style that's not understandable even if you read it 1 million times. Even your co-teacher couldn't explain it to you if you asked them how to do this proposed activity. I didn't like the co-teacher scenario- as 2 of my co- teachers had it in for me and undermined me, and bullied me, and were just unpleasant. The one was never in class(almost) but yet she was the one that got me my last observation with false claims that about what I still don't know. When I wanted to take action against this( I just got SO sick and tired by the way I was treated by them and the head CT and Chinese branch manager) I was told to let it go. Nothing was ever done to those people, but I was harrased endlessly by them. Hess treating people right? No. Their Chinese staff is far more important than their foreign staff, as the foreigner can be replaced at a whim. The kids couldn't speak properly. They couldn't distingiush phonic sounds. Their writing was bad. Grammatically ok, but no superstars out there.Listening - a joke. I blame it on the curriculum and teaching method. Hess's teaching method doesn't take into account the diffirent learning styles. You are a phrase repeating, clown robot. And having a NST only once a week doesn't help them either.So, sorry for you newbies out there. I hope I don't scare you of Hess. For anybody without "teaching" experience it's probably ok.

It also depends on your branch where you're at. I did meat some great people at Hess-it's just that the people that mattered where total uncapable to treat people decently.In Taipei oppertunities for advancement are far greater. Outside of Taipei-forget it. The HNST's that I met have been at their respective branches a few years already, and would probably stay forever, as they're married with locals and wouldn't move out of their jobs for any reason.

And the same thing happened in our training group as Rooster's-people got aksed to leave during training. Don't know if anybody was asked to leave during the first month's probation. But lots of people left before their contracts were up. A lot of those people found other jobs at other buxibans . My roommate left to Hong Kong-six months into his contract.In general - the people that are happy at Hess- I just don't know what to say why they perceive Hess to be a good place to work for. I went with them because it meant I would have a job before I came over-despite all the negative things I read on the net about them. Unfortunately for me, the experience with them turned out to be quite unpleasant.Please don't let this deter you from going with Hess, but just be carefull.

[Rooster_2006]

[creztor]

I worked at HESS and found that raises were more political than anything else. A good example was I was eventually told that the maximum raise in hourly pay I would get was 20NT (max was 30NT?), not because I was doing anything wrong but because the branch manager didn't want to go any higher. I have nothing against HESS, it was a good place to start but you quickly see that as long as you turn up, do what you are meant to do and at least try to teach something, they care more about students being happy and staying at the school than you being an absolute perfect teacher. That was my experience anyway.

[NY1203]

I appreciate everyones feedback and the honesty. I hope my experience will atleast lead me to want to try a new school and not leave taiwan if its decent.
BTW guys how are the teachers supposed to dress?? So i can get an idea of what to pack.
thx =)

[NY1203]

for HESS that is

[creztor]

Jeans, t-shirt and you'll be fine.