Comments on: The Finish Line http://globalstories.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/the-finish-line/ A Canadian girl and American boy learn the ways of the world Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:22:05 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Greg http://globalstories.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/the-finish-line/#comment-123 Greg Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:13:56 +0000 http://globalstories.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-123 Thanks for all the input here. I too am trying to gather as much info as I can to figure out whether HESS would be the best choice for me. I have a BFA, and right now I have just enough saved up for a TEFL certification from TEFL International as well as the plane ticket to Phuket where the training is held. All together, that alone would cost me $2600 or so for the 4 week intensive training program. I was also told that it would be good to bring an extra $500 or so while there. Now for HESS, I would also need to pay for my own airfare. It seems like that would be the only thing I'd need to pay for, as well as bringing about $2000 for start up living costs. It sounds like I would need twice as much money saved up if I were to go to Phuket to get certified in TEFL (and that's actually one of the cheapest areas that the program offers). Or I could get certified online and pay a lot less (although I also wouldnt have a chance to do any actual practice teaching before graduating). So, I guess my question is...which seems more worth while? Has anyone been certified in TEFL elsewhere? Can anyone give some input? Thanks! Thanks for all the input here. I too am trying to gather as much info as I can to figure out whether HESS would be the best choice for me.

I have a BFA, and right now I have just enough saved up for a TEFL certification from TEFL International as well as the plane ticket to Phuket where the training is held. All together, that alone would cost me $2600 or so for the 4 week intensive training program. I was also told that it would be good to bring an extra $500 or so while there.

Now for HESS, I would also need to pay for my own airfare. It seems like that would be the only thing I’d need to pay for, as well as bringing about $2000 for start up living costs. It sounds like I would need twice as much money saved up if I were to go to Phuket to get certified in TEFL (and that’s actually one of the cheapest areas that the program offers). Or I could get certified online and pay a lot less (although I also wouldnt have a chance to do any actual practice teaching before graduating).

So, I guess my question is…which seems more worth while? Has anyone been certified in TEFL elsewhere? Can anyone give some input? Thanks!

]]> By: Tanya http://globalstories.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/the-finish-line/#comment-107 Tanya Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:25:22 +0000 http://globalstories.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-107 Thank you very much for taking the time to reply! I am starting to know what to look for in schools now. I feel like I can finally pickup on warning signs in ads and on websites and, conversely, I am noticing transparency and dedication from others. Still, I am easily confused and often very wary. There are so many schools and even MORE opinions! You've been helpful. Thanks a bunch! Thank you very much for taking the time to reply! I am starting to know what to look for in schools now. I feel like I can finally pickup on warning signs in ads and on websites and, conversely, I am noticing transparency and dedication from others. Still, I am easily confused and often very wary. There are so many schools and even MORE opinions! You’ve been helpful. Thanks a bunch!

]]> By: globalciti http://globalstories.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/the-finish-line/#comment-105 globalciti Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:24:58 +0000 http://globalstories.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-105 Hi Tanya, in answer to your comment I think Genius is very open to teachers of all races/experience levels. You do need to have either a TEFL or University degree like most workplaces in Taiwan to qualify for an ARC and health card. I have to say while the Hess TEFL sounds tempting, I never got mine. Why, you ask? Because I miss two hours out of (don't know how many) hours of training because I needed to go to Taipei to renew my passport that was almost expired because Hess had it in possession for almost two months NO JOKE! Because of this, renewing my passport and being less than two hours late to a ONE DAY training, Hess didn't choose to give me a TEFL certificate. My supervisor in Kaohsiung later said to me that the TEFL was 'symbolic' and that it didn't really add up to an official TEFL, in so many unsaid words. In many ways, I loved this supervisor and she was just doing her job, but really she had no control over whether I got it or not. It was all the 'head office folks' in Taipei who had say. I could have argued it but didn't because like so many financial or official issues it was really a waste of my time in my opinion and that's just how I felt. Sooo....TEFL certificate through Hess is really no valid in any country other than Taiwan. Possibly other countries in Asia will accept it but that's about it and that's the dirty little secret I guess. Of course I could be totally wrong, but this is what I found out through research and I would be happy to be proved wrong! I would say Genius or any regional school would give you an awesome experience in Taiwan. Hi Tanya, in answer to your comment I think Genius is very open to teachers of all races/experience levels. You do need to have either a TEFL or University degree like most workplaces in Taiwan to qualify for an ARC and health card. I have to say while the Hess TEFL sounds tempting, I never got mine. Why, you ask? Because I miss two hours out of (don’t know how many) hours of training because I needed to go to Taipei to renew my passport that was almost expired because Hess had it in possession for almost two months NO JOKE! Because of this, renewing my passport and being less than two hours late to a ONE DAY training, Hess didn’t choose to give me a TEFL certificate. My supervisor in Kaohsiung later said to me that the TEFL was ’symbolic’ and that it didn’t really add up to an official TEFL, in so many unsaid words. In many ways, I loved this supervisor and she was just doing her job, but really she had no control over whether I got it or not. It was all the ‘head office folks’ in Taipei who had say. I could have argued it but didn’t because like so many financial or official issues it was really a waste of my time in my opinion and that’s just how I felt. Sooo….TEFL certificate through Hess is really no valid in any country other than Taiwan. Possibly other countries in Asia will accept it but that’s about it and that’s the dirty little secret I guess. Of course I could be totally wrong, but this is what I found out through research and I would be happy to be proved wrong! I would say Genius or any regional school would give you an awesome experience in Taiwan.

]]> By: Tanya http://globalstories.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/the-finish-line/#comment-104 Tanya Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:39:28 +0000 http://globalstories.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-104 I must also echo congrats!! Your air of joy at this new change of pace is evident and you have a great attitude about all the trials and tribulations of your past experiences. Genius sounds lovely, do you think a company like that would still be a reasonable place for someone to start even if they don't have solid teaching experience nor a TEFL certificate? The most appealing thing about Hess was/is that one can earn the TEFL certificate without having to pay $2,000 USD or so. But I am NOT the corporate type. I welcome new challenges with confidence and competency however I don't like to be naive. Would starting with a school like Genius with no teacher training be an unrealistic place to start? I must also echo congrats!! Your air of joy at this new change of pace is evident and you have a great attitude about all the trials and tribulations of your past experiences. Genius sounds lovely, do you think a company like that would still be a reasonable place for someone to start even if they don’t have solid teaching experience nor a TEFL certificate? The most appealing thing about Hess was/is that one can earn the TEFL certificate without having to pay $2,000 USD or so. But I am NOT the corporate type. I welcome new challenges with confidence and competency however I don’t like to be naive. Would starting with a school like Genius with no teacher training be an unrealistic place to start?

]]> By: John http://globalstories.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/the-finish-line/#comment-93 John Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:37:32 +0000 http://globalstories.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-93 Hi Miranda; Congratulations for making it to the finish line. Well done. I sympathize with you over big companies. After 10 years of working for a small privately owned community newspaper, I was subjected to 1 year (the year just past) of working for a corporation. I used to have a boss. Suddenly that boss retired, sold the company and then I had a boss who had a boss, who had a boss, who had a boss who reported to a board of directors. Each of these people or entities had there own agenda. Gone was my ability to be part of the management team that ran the newspaper. Instead I became a number and experienced the sinking feeling of me having no influence whatsoever on my workplace. Without going into details, I could not work in this type of environment, so after 11 years I am completely out of the newspaper business. Now I am working full time for myself designing websites. I just wanted to wish you and your beau a Happy New Year and hope 2009 will be a banner one for you. regards John Hi Miranda;

Congratulations for making it to the finish line. Well done.

I sympathize with you over big companies. After 10 years of working for a small privately owned community newspaper, I was subjected to 1 year (the year just past) of working for a corporation.

I used to have a boss. Suddenly that boss retired, sold the company and then I had a boss who had a boss, who had a boss, who had a boss who reported to a board of directors.

Each of these people or entities had there own agenda. Gone was my ability to be part of the management team that ran the newspaper. Instead I became a number and experienced the sinking feeling of me having no influence whatsoever on my workplace.

Without going into details, I could not work in this type of environment, so after 11 years I am completely out of the newspaper business. Now I am working full time for myself designing websites.

I just wanted to wish you and your beau a Happy New Year and hope 2009 will be a banner one for you.

regards
John

]]> By: jenna http://globalstories.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/the-finish-line/#comment-90 jenna Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:01:58 +0000 http://globalstories.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-90 Wow - that sounds exactly and freakishly like my experience at Kojen. I worked there for my first year in Taiwan because I didn't know the country well so I wanted a job in hand before I came, and Kojen offered that. Just like you, I received decent training (I already had experience teaching but one can always learn from training) but the pay was low and the conditions were very Big Faceless Corporation-esque. I, too, got sick of working Saturdays and big-company bullcrap, plus the horrid pay. I, too, quit after one year and began working for a small company which has been much better so far. Wow – that sounds exactly and freakishly like my experience at Kojen. I worked there for my first year in Taiwan because I didn’t know the country well so I wanted a job in hand before I came, and Kojen offered that. Just like you, I received decent training (I already had experience teaching but one can always learn from training) but the pay was low and the conditions were very Big Faceless Corporation-esque. I, too, got sick of working Saturdays and big-company bullcrap, plus the horrid pay. I, too, quit after one year and began working for a small company which has been much better so far.

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