The International Schools Review Forum

Yeah, I'm still in the process of talking to the school. They said they are going to hire another teacher and I'm guessing that teacher and I will cover one AP course each not sure yet.

The hardest I have ever worked was 2.5 preps (a once a week seminar that had basic outline of course provided), one DP. But that was because the class sizes were insane, we had several sections of each, and block classes that meant limited prep time. Even with a highly collaborative environment where you were sharing a lot of resources and/or co-prepping, it was a LOT of work. Moving to a school with four preps, one DP but with smaller classes was WAY easier. So pay attention to work load, but assume nothing. Sometimes it's the extras that kill you.

Agree with @Thames Pirate, the hardest I ever worked was only two preps, the class sizes werent even bad, I simply had no resources, nothing, no textbooks, no paper, nothing.

Thanks for all the input :)

Some updates...

I have managed to talk to the school and asked for the curriculum/materials available for me to use. Apparently, the textbooks that the school is using is the textbooks that I'm familiar with. This particular textbooks come with a lot of resources that I can use so that is very hopeful!

They have also hired another ELA teacher and we're going to discuss any further resources we need, perhaps some supplemental sources that we can use.

Also, the school is asking whether I could be there in mid-July where I will have to attend the orientation. The official school day will begin in the end of August. Is it common for teachers to be in the country so early?

One more thing, will I get a work visa or work permit before I enter the country or will I be getting a visitor's visa first and then transferred to a work visa? How does it work normally in Taiwan?

Thanks in advance!

@straycat2019

What about the rest as far as schedule, courses and hours, etc.? Are the contract issues a done deal, do they have a fully completed contract they have sent you?

Its not an unreasonable arrival time if its a new IS or program or department or theres a lot of work to do (such as an accreditation visit). Typically returning ITs report about a week too 10 days (with a few days earlier for HODs, etc.) before the first day of classes. New IT orientation is usually an extra week too two weeks before that, so an end of August student start would have at the longest an early August new IT start. Its not a huge deal if your available, its probably going to be an easy work/duty day.
The issue is will you be getting paid for this early report date or are they expecting you to work free for July and your contract doesnt have a start date of August?

You will want a residence visa for your passport, then once you arrive you will apply for an receive an ARC. Its possible your IS cant do that and they may ask you to come in on a visitor visa and then change it to a residence visa once you arrive, and once that happens you get your ARC. I wouldnt advise doing that, your IS doesnt seem very reliable or stable, and you could end up working illegally on repeated visitor visas. There are a lot of ETs in Taiwan doing this and have been doing it for years.

PsyGuy wrote:
> @straycat2019
>
> What about the rest as far as schedule, courses and hours, etc.? Are the
> contract issues a done deal, do they have a fully completed contract they
> have sent you?
>
Yes, pretty much done deal. I signed the contract!

> Its not an unreasonable arrival time if its a new IS or program or
> department or theres a lot of work to do (such as an accreditation visit).
> Typically returning ITs report about a week too 10 days (with a few days
> earlier for HODs, etc.) before the first day of classes. New IT orientation
> is usually an extra week too two weeks before that, so an end of August
> student start would have at the longest an early August new IT start. Its
> not a huge deal if your available, its probably going to be an easy
> work/duty day.
> The issue is will you be getting paid for this early report date or are
> they expecting you to work free for July and your contract doesnt have a
> start date of August?
>

I would need to ask about this, in terms of the official dates. I did say I'm currently working and I'm thinking of traveling to Taiwan in August, since my contract begins in August 1st. But then they said the orientation is sometime in mid-July and I haven't asked them about lodging yet. So I'll go ahead and ask whether the school will be paying for the lodging or not.

> You will want a residence visa for your passport, then once you arrive you
> will apply for an receive an ARC. Its possible your IS cant do that and
> they may ask you to come in on a visitor visa and then change it to a
> residence visa once you arrive, and once that happens you get your ARC. I
> wouldnt advise doing that, your IS doesnt seem very reliable or stable, and
> you could end up working illegally on repeated visitor visas. There are a
> lot of ETs in Taiwan doing this and have been doing it for years.

Maybe I wasn't phrasing my question clearly. I meant to ask what is a usual process in which new IT gets a work visa in Taiwan. They did say I need to provide with some documents for a work visa but they haven't specifically said this is the actual work visa or work permit or whatever they are giving me.

One thing I've noticed about the school is that they seemed to have laid-back attitude. I guess that is a typical thing for schools in SE Asia. They seem to be very slow! I'm kind of hesitant on whether I should wait until they reach me or I push them for answers. I did ask a couple of teachers but then they said it is a long way until the semester starts so I should give them enough time for them to figure out things. I guess I'm also pretty excited about leaving and starting a new life in Taiwan!!!

@straycat2019

Ask about them paying for housing and other OSH benefits but also your salary, or are they expecting you to work for free for those weeks in July.

The usual process is your employer applies for a work permit for you. When they get it they send you that and an invitation letter. You complete an application, and possibly a health certificate, you send that and your passport and a couple photos to the consulate or embassy and then in about 2 weeks to a month they send your passport back with a visa in your passport. When you get to Taiwan you go to the police office and apply for your ARC which is an ID card and allows you to work, reside, open bank accounts, arrange utilities, get a mobile phone, etc., the ARC effectively replaces your residence visa in your passport, and you carry it around with you instead of your passport. Its usually valid for 2-3 years for ITs.
The IS just provides you with the work permit and the introduction letter, you do the application and the rest of the work for the visa. You will also pay the fee to the embassy/consulate, and the IS will hopefully reimburse you when you arrive or at some time later.

They seem more disorganized than anything. There are highly responsive and organized ISs in Asia.