Job Discussion Forums

[Euanv]

Hi

I wonder if i could just get a little advice please?

I'm a newly qualified teacher and i've decided to move to Taiwan. Tainan to be precise.

I've been offered a job with Shane there in a newly opened franchise school (i.e, not directly run by Shane management). I'll be the first and only teacher there as the school grows.

I wanted to talk to the school owner, but Shane seem reluctant, presumably because they don't want them to offer me work directly.

I'd be guaranteed around 50,000 NTS for the first 6 months, which works out at 80 hours teaching, this is guaranteed through a teaching hours bank.

So all that sounds fine.

However,

I was speaking to a guy already in Taiwan who suggested that the best thing to do would be to come to Taiwan on a visitors visa and try to look for work myself.

This would mean I can have a look around and hopefully find something i like before accepting.

I just wanted to ask if anyone else has had experience of doing this?

Bearing in mind i don't yet have any teaching experience (apart from Cambridge Celta) and I will be disorientated when i arrive...

I have some savings so i think i can probably afford to live in Taiwan for a few months without work...

Sorry if this topic has been covered to death already.

Thanks for reading

Euan

[creztor]

Shane are OK, but they do seem a little uptight, at least from my own experience. I personally would say come here and work with Shane. In the first year you'll get a good idea of how schools are run, and this means you'll know how most other schools are run and what to expect.

[Euanv]

Thanks for your response creztor, do you know if there will be any problem changing jobs when it will be Shane who sponsor my residency card?

Thanks

[Dr_Zoidberg]

The problem with changing jobs is getting a new employer to sponsor your residency BEFORE your current employer terminates his.

It's common for contracts to demand 3 months notice of termination (in addition to a sum of money) and Shane is no exception, while Taiwanese employers invariably do little forward planning. In other words, anyone who is interested in hiring you will want you to start immediately, but you will be required to serve out 3 months notice at your current job.

You could, of course, simply get your new ARC first and then walk off your current job without notice. However, you could lose a considerable amount of pay (depending when payday falls). And let's face it, would you want to work for someone who would hire that kind of employee?

I'm not saying it's impossible to make the transition from one employer to another without having to do a visa run (I've done it), but it is difficult.

[beenthere96-2005]

You need to pay your dues and learn from your experience at your first school.

While they may be uptight - ELSI in Korea was pretty uptight in my case as a first year teacher, you have to start somewhere.

Giving up a job with a reputable school in order to wing it as a newbie just wouldn't be a wise thing to do.

It's amazing what our "friends," give us for advice.

[JZer]

In my opinion, put your one year in at Shane and then move on if you want to stay longer.

Of course I really wonder why people want to work in Taiwan unless they are married to a local. August 27 and then I will no longer be on this island.

[Shimokitazawa]

[JZer]

Well, I am moving to Beijing. Wish me luck on finding a non-teaching job in Beijing.

[Shimokitazawa]

[Timberdan]

I've worked for shance franchises. They're ok, depends on your manager, but i've never had any problems with them. As others have suggested, give them one year and then from talking to other people you might be able to find something better. Trying to do so in a few weeks in a country you don't understand may lead to a bad choice.

[isitts]