So today I had the “buck up or fuck off” talk from my boss. I am not at all surprised by this and am only surprised that it took so long for it to occur.
I have been in my current job for a year and a half. As I have mentioned before on here it is a full time contracted kindy gig paying around $400p/h. Beggers can’t be choosy and all.
The main issues which were raised were my lack of energy, laziness and poor attitude. I agree with all of this. Before I came to Taiwan I completed a CELTA course and was full of enthusiasm for teaching English. Even when I first started this job I was a lot more enthusiastic. I was dancing around like a good little monkey. However over a year of teaching Aa BB CC… and “sing and dance” for 6 hours a day has changed me. The realization that the only reason I have my job is because I am a young, white person really sucks. Being the only foreign teacher in a school of 400 kid’s sucks. The lack of development or any way for me to improve myself sucks. The lack of respect from my family back home sucks. The fact that I am, at the end of the day, a White Dancing Monkey SUCKS!!
Over the course of my year here I haven’t got anything to show for my time apart from a large gap on my CV. I now have less money than when I first came to Taiwan due to getting married, a trip back to England to see my family and my wife’s total inability to save money. (She is talking about buying a massively over inflated priced house with $0 savings and is still spending $1000 per day on junk that we don’t need).
The clear answer here is that I will need to change jobs but that is easier said than done. As everyone knows there are very few jobs down here in Kaohsiung and the only way to really find a decent gig is to get oneself down to the pub every night to network with the other foreigners. I am not a pub person and don’t like the whole expat scene, instead preferring to study Chinese and read books.
My wife says that all the jobs are like this and that I just need to suck it up. The parents are the customers so my job is in customer service.
I don’t believe your wife when she says that all the jobs in Kaohsiung are shitty, NT$400/hour gigs.
And I don’t believe you when you say the only way to get one is by shmoozing at the pub.
If I were you, I’d dance on down to every school I could find with a suit and tie, freshly shaven face, big smile and spankin’ new CV. I bet you have a better job offer within the month.
Seriously, I wish you all the best. You can do it! :discodance: + (Emoticon of HippyChewDawg throwin’ stickyball into CanadianFlagBullsEye on the WhiteBoard) +
I just noticed that the previous response was written by (a) monkey. :neutral:
Back in my teaching days I loved the fact that I was the only foreign teacher in a school of a few hundred kids. It rocked.
So you’re married to a Taiwanese citizen and presumably on a JFRV which means you can work doing anything. It doesn’t have to be teaching. Start looking on the local job boards like www.104.com.tw and seek out jobs in editing or sales or marketing etc. There must be plenty of companies in Kaohsiung that deal with the wider world and would hire a native English speaker.
I try to usually post a pessimistic but realistic assessment of K-Towns job prospects but you aren’t even trying if you’ve worked for a year in a kindy for 400NT/hr. Don’t blame your lack of networking either. None of my jobs and very, very few of my interviews came from my contacts. You need to be using the job boards and walking the town dropping off resumes.
for now you need to suck it and make do at your job but starting in June you need to drop off resumes at every school that you can think of. And then just keep walking around until you find more schools.
You did not get your kindy job through Steven/Steve/Twan or whatever he is calling himself these days, did you?
400 NT an hour sounds about right is he is taking his cut.
I also agree that there are jobs to be found, but they will not fall out of the sky.
My strategy seems to work. PM me for details if you are interested as I do not want to get into a debate as to which are the best methods to find a position.
However, NT 400 per hour is taking the piss.
Dont beat yourself if you do get fired. Teaching ability is often the last reason for getting fired as a teacher here. :roflmao:
Also, you have a JFRV I assume? This is often a major plus.
I seriously doubt it. There should be but most of them hire Old Wang’s niece who has ever studied in the American.[/quote]
I have done some consulting with a few trading co’s here in Kaohsiung. Bear is correct. I often suggested that some of my clients hire a foreigner for various reasons.
They can get away with paying a local with a masters from an overseas uni 25K, and that is usually the most common reason given. There are a few others, but thats another thread.
I seriously doubt it. There should be but most of them hire Old Wang’s niece who has ever studied in the American.[/quote]
That is fukcing hilarious. :bravo:
[quote=“Milkybar_Kid”]As I have mentioned before on here it is a full time contracted kindy gig paying around $400p/h. Beggers can’t be choosy and all.
[/quote]
I can understand such babbling from a Saffie or a Johnny Canuck but a Brit? :no-no: For being paid 400NT, you should tell your boss he’s getting a bang for his buck and you should start coming to work drinking Whisbih/Rye mixes.
That’s 11US or 6/7 pounds an hour. For an expat wage, that’s double shart.
I seriously doubt it. There should be but most of them hire Old Wang’s niece who has ever studied in the American.[/quote]
That is fukcing hilarious. :bravo:[/quote]
Loved it myself!
Milkyway, you are not a failure. You are just in the wrong job in the wrong place. Don’t take it personally. A whale is not going to catch much shrimp in the Amazon (yes very catchy).
You need to move sideways. But Kaoshiung is not helping. How about Tainan science park companies? You’ll have to be brave and knock on doors. Actually Kaoshiung does have some interesting industries like steel and yacht building.
As for the legend of networking at bars, yes I have heard and seen that, but it is overrated. You just got to get some solid experience or get out interviewing for regular jobs.
[quote=“ChewDawg”][quote=“Milkybar_Kid”]As I have mentioned before on here it is a full time contracted kindy gig paying around $400p/h. Beggers can’t be choosy and all.
[/quote]
I can understand such babbling from a Saffie or a Johnny Canuck but a Brit? :no-no: For being paid 400NT, you should tell your boss he’s getting a bang for his buck and you should start coming to work drinking Whisbih/Rye mixes.
That’s 11US or 6/7 pounds an hour. For an expat wage, that’s double shart.
[/quote]
Hmmm, have you ever spoken to a Yorkshire native or certain Scots or Welshmen? Damn, I had a mate from Yorkshire and I often could not understand a word the bloke was saying…
Hmmm, have you ever spoken to a Yorkshire native or certain Scots or Welshmen? Damn, I had a mate from Yorkshire and I often could not understand a word the bloke was saying… [/quote]
Yeah, they are hard to understand. But 400NT? Any Caucasian from Europe or North America that accepts such a wage in Taiwan after being educated deserves to be part of the underclass. I respect anyone that puts in an honest day’s work but the OP should “act like a man” and find a better wage.
Hmmm, have you ever spoken to a Yorkshire native or certain Scots or Welshmen? Damn, I had a mate from Yorkshire and I often could not understand a word the bloke was saying… [/quote]
Yeah, they are hard to understand. But 400NT? Any Caucasian from Europe or North America that accepts such a wage in Taiwan after being educated deserves to be part of the underclass. I respect anyone that puts in an honest day’s work but the OP should “act like a man” and find a better wage. [/quote]
Well, the $ 400 is the issue I think. Hard to find any motivation. I am actually more surprised the school can find a teacher at that rate. Different strokes for different folks I always saw.
I think what you guys are missing is the school knows they can’t easily replace him so they beat him down for his own “good”. It has all the markings of an abusive relationship.
[quote=“Milkybar_Kid”]So today I had the “buck up or fuck off” talk from my boss. I am not at all surprised by this and am only surprised that it took so long for it to occur.
I have been in my current job for a year and a half. As I have mentioned before on here it is a full time contracted kindy gig paying around $400p/h. Beggers can’t be choosy and all.
The main issues which were raised were my lack of energy, laziness and poor attitude. I agree with all of this. Before I came to Taiwan I completed a CELTA course and was full of enthusiasm for teaching English. Even when I first started this job I was a lot more enthusiastic. I was dancing around like a good little monkey. However over a year of teaching Aa BB CC… and “sing and dance” for 6 hours a day has changed me. The realization that the only reason I have my job is because I am a young, white person really sucks. Being the only foreign teacher in a school of 400 kid’s sucks. The lack of development or any way for me to improve myself sucks. The lack of respect from my family back home sucks. The fact that I am, at the end of the day, a White Dancing Monkey SUCKS!!
[/quote]
Welcome to reality. Nice to meet you though.
And you thought Taiwanese girls were the geisha type :no-no: :no-no: :no-no: :no-no: :no-no:
milkybar_kid, I don’t think you failed, just that the “system” has gotten the better of you and worn you down. I guess you probably know that most teaching jobs are like that, monotonous. Of course, it would be better if you got paid more, but at the end of the day you have the job because you are young and white. How long can you continue to be hired because you are young and white? At least that’s what worried me in the past and now. KHH is a horrible place to look for work, at least in the cram school scene. Yes, there are jobs out there, but the number of places to work is limited, so if you start to burn bridges or you get sick of kindy and cram schools and want to teach adults or something “different”, then you quickly realize that you really have very few options.
Are you staying long term in Taiwan? You mentioned you have a Taiwanese wife that is considering buying a place, so it sounds like you are. If you are, have you considered going the university route if you haven’t already? There are plenty of universities you can study your MA at for a fraction of what it would cost back home, and it means that you can get your foot in at universities and teach there. The problem here is that it’s the same old shit, but you will be paid more than 400 an hour and will actually be treated with a glimmer of respect. You will, however, have to get your PhD if you want to work full-time, but think of it this way. Can you keep doing what you’re doing as a white old monkey?
Maybe consider a way out of what you are doing, if that means university, your own school, becoming a certified teacher, becoming a strip dancer or whatever. I understand fully the situation you are in and I am sure many others here do as well. Hopefully others can chime in with other suggestions.
Me: no CELTA, no nothing (BA and MA…but in religious studies) I make 650/hr, have never taught English before Taiwan (said I did, but its not like they check). Do not go to pubs, do not network. How did I find a job? Tealit and hitting the pavement.
You have SO many better options. If you don’t find something better, its on you (sorry, but true). YOU CAN DO IT! :bravo:
There are a few others, but thats another thread.
:bravo:
:no-no: For being paid 400NT, you should tell your boss he’s getting a bang for his buck and you should start coming to work drinking Whisbih/Rye mixes.
