Job Discussion Forums

[JZer]

Be warned.

This camp will word it as you will get paid for your plane ticket and $1200 dollars.

They will only give you $1200 total.

Furthermore you need to work 30 days for $1000 US. Normal a teacher working in Taiwan gets 60,000 ($2000 US) a month.

They will be taking advantage of you.

Be forewarned.

[JZer]

This job is illegal. If you don't have a working visa you will be working illegally.

[AlanaInTheWorld]

I agree. They are also highly unreliable. They'll keep you hanging for a very long time and then drop you. It's not worth the hassle.

[Old Surrender]

[JZer]

Not to mention that the owner of the company was in jail.

[pulvermakm29]

I wish I would have seen this sooner. I just posted my resume and application. What's the deal with the company-- is it even legit at all?? Has anyone actually worked for the American Language Village before?

[Songbird]

Okay, might be time for me to weigh in (I'm actually an English teacher on the mainland, but have done 2 ALV camps, one this past CNY holiday period).

From what I've seen based on teaching salaries in Taiwan, the deal is not so bad. EVERYTHING is paid for and provided (accom, food etc). And they will get you from the airport or wherever, and ask you of your preferences at the end of camp (1st camp- back to Taipei, 1 night accom provided. Gave me directions to get back to the airport next day. 2nd camp- director drove me to the hotel they use in Taoyuan night of the end of camp for my early next day flight. Accom paid for.)

That being said, you DO work your tooshie off! 7.30am breakfast meeting (very casual though) and into teaching by 8.30. Lunch at 12- they were pretty accomodating at the last camp I was at. We couldn't stomach the food they had, and kindly provided basic salads for us- much valued as your health is vital- you will be exhausted and pick up things very quickly with a bad diet! Afternoon was more activities, or swimming, watching a movie- depending on the camp & where you are. This winter we were at a golf resort in Hshinchu, so we did mini golf and games room, indoor swimming, even a movie in their movie theatre (complete with popcorn & snacks). After dinner (5.30), a little free time (also for an hour after lunch) then evening activities. They're really obssessed for some reason with dancing- you will learn heaven knows how many dances in the week or so! Games too- but you're provided a book with directions etc, how to play. We didn't finish our day until about 8-8.30pm- and once you shower, wind down, you pretty much fall into bed early!

TA's are a godsend, but too overworked. They usually have meets late at night and don't finish til 1-2am (learning dances) and are expected to get the kids up etc of a morning, so they're running on empty even halfway through. Fellow teachers can be a mixed bag- 1st camp 1 got fired halfway through our 2nd camp (!) and last camp there was a teacher who mysteriously was a no show at all the morning meetings and never wore the camp shirt and generally felt they were above everyone else! Grrrrr...and they got paid for the same 'work' they did!

I would work there again this summer, only I think my uni in China won't 'release' me in time for the camps...

[kaylinbeth]

I just got sent a contract from ALV and I am considering it.

I am currently teaching in South Korea and I want to get a taste of teaching in Taiwan.

If it's only for a month I feel like working conditions (like long hours) aren't as relevant as if you were signing on for a year somewhere.

Other than manipulating the language to sound like airfare is covered, does ALV honor the financial part of their contract in everyone's experience?

[Songbird]

No probs about pay- actually, both times I worked there I flew into Taoyuan, someone met me at the airport and took me to the overnight accomodation. When you get there, they give you an envelope (kinda like The Amazing Race!) about what to do next- where your camps will be (what they've lined up for you), and all allowances paid then (cash) so you have some money for food! The actual pay part you get at the end of the camp, in another envelope.

[kaylinbeth]

Thanks Songbird.

Did you have much time to explore the city while the camp was in session? Or would you recommend arriving earlier or staying later to see things?

[creztor]

I love how they word it. "earn a free ticket" or "airfare reimbursement + pay". What a load of bullshit. Even if you live in Asia, once you pay for your airfare you've earnt crap all for the time you've worked. As someone mentioned above, they must be making a killing? I say turn up with a handy cam, expose the place and then upload it to that etv ireport copy of cnn here in Taiwan.

[JZer]

[JZer]

[Songbird]

JZer- First time I've heard they haven't paid a teacher. Me & all the teachers I've worked with have been paid, no problem. Actually, I also forgot to add- at the wintercamp I was just at, we (for some reason) got an added bonus of a $100 phone card, which we weren't expecting (and we'd already been paid telephone allowance when we arrived). And lucky me- I got a 'hongbao' (bonus) for CNY. I don't think the other teachers got it, it was only because they were hauled off onto the bus quickly to Taipei and I was heading (by myself) in a different direction and stayed with the TA's and had dinner on the final night. I have since been in contact with the other teachers since camp, but haven't dared to tell them .

I don't doubt for a second that the TA's 'snitch' on the teachers- I'm used to it in China and with some of the teachers I've worked with at ALV it's even justified . What I really complain about is the TTTTINNNNYY meager pay they get- almost nothing, but in it for the 'experience' apparently. Treat them like angels (I've often sent mine off for a nap in the morning classes, which is much appreciated) and they'll help you in return.

creztor- Yeah, that's a sore point, and the main reason you're going to see 'we prefer people in Asia' in the ads. Both times I've flown from Hong Kong, the airfare being around AU$400, but I still pocket around $1000 at the end of camp.

kaylinbeth- To answer that question, you need to look carefully at what you signed up for. Can you tell me what you signed for (e.g. 23 days, 18 working days etc)? Then I can tell you what your schedule will probably be.

[timmyjames1976]

i contacted them out of curiosity, and in my email, told them i was already in taiwan, and i have an ARC (JFRV)


the email asked for my passport and what package i want, and when my flight to taiwan is


think i'll pass if they cannot even read my initial email