Sorry, this may be a bit long.
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Moving to Douliu
I got a job offer at a small cram school in Douliu, so I moved from Tainan to start working. It wasn’t easy having three kids under six, but we made it work because the school seemed promising, and we were looking for a place with more space and a slower lifestyle. -
Working 22–25 Hours Plus Camp Hours
I began working on January 15th. I was not given time to observe classes, nor was I provided with a trial period. Shortly before my start date, the boss sent me a LINE message informing me about a winter camp that would be held the week after I started. I was asked to prepare lesson plans for three hours a day (9:00 AM–12:10 PM) for 10 days while still teaching well over 22 hours of regular classes. I wasn’t given an exact deadline for the camp lesson plans. Initially, the boss told me to submit them to her, but later, she asked me to submit them to the other foreign teacher, which I did before the camp began. -
Teaching at Camp Plus Regular Classes
There were 20 students in the camp class, all packed into a small classroom. When I asked to take them outside for activities, I was told I could only use the balcony area outside the building—next to a busy road with no gates.
I quickly realized within the first few days that none of my planned lessons would work under these circumstances. There was barely any space. I was told that if I bought materials, I should submit receipts. So, I spent about $1,200 on ingredients to make cookies with the students. However, I was later told that my purchase exceeded the budget for the entire camp.
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Being Late to Class
I did my best to keep up with both camp lessons and preparing lesson plans for 3–5 daily classes, each using 3–5 textbooks. I barely slept or ate. A couple of times, I was late to class because I had to use the slow printer in the building. Only once was I five minutes late to the camp class because I was finishing a sandwich after pulling an all-nighter preparing lessons. I know being late was wrong, but no one addressed it with me directly either. -
Lesson Plans
The boss asked me to submit lesson plans ahead of class by sending her a picture. Later, the secretary also started asking for the plans and taking pictures of them. However, on several occasions, I was still writing them when she asked. I always completed them before the lesson.
Then, in the third week, the boss asked me to email her the lesson plans instead. I went to the school’s Google page and sent them to the email listed there. I also informed the local teacher at the front desk that I had done so.
- Reprimands & Gifts
First Reprimand (Friday, 2/7)
In the first two weeks, the boss kept offering me second-hand items, like old furniture and clothes, as she was replacing a lot of things for the New Year. To save money, I gladly accepted. She even offered to pay me weekly to help with my move to Douliu, which I appreciated.
However, things took a sudden bitter turn at the end of the third week.
On Friday night (2/7), while I was lesson planning, the other foreign teacher asked me to go for a walk. He told me that the boss and local teachers had been complaining about me not submitting lesson plans on time and being late to class. I explained that I had submitted them, but he said they should have been turned in exactly when requested (though I was never given a deadline).
At that moment, the stress got to me, and I broke down emotionally in front of him. I apologized and promised to try harder. That night, I considered quitting, but I showed up the next day anyway. However, I only smiled at the kids and kept a poker face with everyone else.
Second Reprimand (Saturday, 2/8 – Work Day)
That day, I skipped breakfast and focused on preparing my lessons. I had a lunch break from 12:10–4:30, but I skipped lunch as well to get ahead on lesson planning.
While I was working, the boss suddenly approached me and reprimanded me in front of staff and students. She accused me of being unprofessional, a bad teacher, disrespectful, rude, and a liar. She said, “We are not friends, we are colleagues,” and warned that if I didn’t follow her instructions, I would lose my ARC and have to leave the country.
The entire time she was speaking, I stared out the window to avoid breaking down. She took this as disrespect and tried to force me to look at her. I told her I couldn’t because I would cry, to which she said, “That’s fine. Kids do it all the time.” She then insisted I at least stand up, so I did. When I sighed, she mocked me, saying that only she had the right to be frustrated.
I apologized to her and everyone present, but she still said my apology was insincere.
Third Reprimand (Monday, 2/10)
That night, I messaged her asking for a copy of my contract (I didn’t have one). She immediately reprimanded me again, saying she knew I wanted to quit because I was asking for the contract.
I clarified that I just wanted to check my payment date. It was nearly midnight, and she still hadn’t transferred my salary. Instead of responding about payment, she continued criticizing me for being late, not submitting plans, and being unprofessional, saying I couldn’t compare to the other foreign teacher.
Then, she demanded that I return the second-hand items she had given me, forcing me to bring them back myself. I agreed.
Shortly after, some money appeared in my account. I politely messaged her again, asking if she could confirm when she had transferred the salary and provide a breakdown of my hours. To date, I have not received that breakdown.
Fourth Reprimand (Tuesday, 2/11)
That morning, I sent her a message informing her that I would finish the semester and leave in August.
Later, while I was preparing for class, she approached me again and started reprimanding me. She mocked my gestures, read into my emotions, and called me the same names as before.
Fifth Reprimand (Wednesday, 2/12)
I wasn’t informed that more students had been added to my class, so I didn’t print enough worksheets. During class, I had to step out to retrieve more worksheets from the printer.
There were 22 students packed into one small classroom, and I was the only teacher. While I was at the printer, the boss confronted me again, reprimanding me for not being prepared and not improving fast enough. She accused me of wasting paper and being disrespectful.
I offered to pay for the paper, but she took it as another sign of disrespect. She yelled at me, moved close to my face while waving her arms, and crumpled up a piece of paper near my face.
I finally told her, “It’s obvious you want me to leave. Just say it.” But instead, she kept asking if I wanted to leave. I kept saying no.
Then, she snapped: “Just go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Get out.”
I told her I needed a signed contract termination letter. She refused at first, but after some back-and-forth, she finally had the front desk worker print and stamp it.
Now, I Don’t Know What to Do.
I need advice. Thank you.
