Is it really as bad as everyone makes it out to be?

[Jialin]

I worked at a buxiban for 1 year. Overall, it was a pretty bad experience -- my summer job when I was 19 loading trucks with concrete was 2-3 times more enjoyable. That job did get me settled here, which allowed me to find other work. I can't fathom how people teach in cram schools year after year, but most foreigners here do, so it can't be that bad -- there are a lot of foreigners around !

What do you do now?

[GuyInTaiwan]

archylgp: I agree. Strangely, it was also the most tiring job I've ever had, probably because of the stress. I worked for part of a summer (in Australia) in a plastics factory. At first, I spent the shift loading 20kg bags. Later, I worked one of the machines (also lifting, but also getting very dirty). It was all inside a metal factory that must have been 40+ degrees celcius. Yet it also was nowhere near as bad as the job I did at Hess.

I think the reason people do it year after year may be because they enjoy it, but I think it's also a testament to people's laziness, lack of imagination, and willingness to put up with a moderate amount of suffering rather than take a risk (of more). Why have slaves throughout history been slaves? People are curious creatures.

[bigduke6]

I would use the word irritating as opposed to stressful.
I suppose it is all relative though.

For me doing buxiban or kindy work is the most stress free job around.

However, my comparison is to the extremely stressful I did back home.

Here no working outside normal working hours, no working at home or on weekends, or being on call 24/7.

[GuyInTaiwan]

bigduke6: It probably depends upon which buxiban you work for. There's certainly a lot of weekend work and unpaid overtime in the industry here. Also, plenty of jobs involve bosses who will not support their employees at all, or who give conflicting signals such as the kids not getting enough work done, and then complaining that they're under too much stress. The Hess branch I worked at engaged in such things and would regularly do character assassinations of its employees (and get them to do those to each other), and would then blame the employees for the extremely low morale and turnover of both employees and students.

[TaiwanVisitor12321]

conflicting signals

So what's the reason WHY they do this? I know they do it to control everyone, but it seems to me like making everyone happy and hardworking would work a lot better for a multitude of reasons than pissing everyone off until they leave.

Is there another reason? Maybe they just don't understand how to motivate a Western employee?

[bigduke6]

bigduke6: It probably depends upon which buxiban you work for. There's certainly a lot of weekend work and unpaid overtime in the industry here. Also, plenty of jobs involve bosses who will not support their employees at all, or who give conflicting signals such as the kids not getting enough work done, and then complaining that they're under too much stress. The Hess branch I worked at engaged in such things and would regularly do character assassinations of its employees (and get them to do those to each other), and would then blame the employees for the extremely low morale and turnover of both employees and students.

Yes, I agree it is 99% the school you work for. However, I would still use the word irritating as opposed to stressful.

Maybe if I did not have a marriage visa as opposed to one sponsored by the school, I would think differently. I can walk out anytime and do whatever I like.

Occasionally, I have to go in on a Saturday morning, but I get paid for it.

I also have a relatively thick skin, which is also important in this industry. Boss says something, I nod my head, in one ear and out the other, and I carry on as usual.
I have a co worker who is a nervous wreck, who almost shits himself if the boss says something to him. This has lead to him being taken advantage of in the worst ways possible.

[bigduke6]

conflicting signals

So what's the reason WHY they do this? I know they do it to control everyone, but it seems to me like making everyone happy and hardworking would work a lot better for a multitude of reasons than pissing everyone off until they leave.

Is there another reason? Maybe they just don't understand how to motivate a Western employee?

I do not think that there are any possible motivating factors in the industry at all.

I remember I once got a 10NT raise. They expected me to jump up and down with joy. How they can think this is motivating is beyond me.

It's not like there is any possibility of promotion or decent raises.

I think it is also critical to have some sort of side business/interest. I do, but by my own admission I have been fucking around lately.

However, I have no illusions about the industry at all, which also helps.

[ChewDawg]

Why have slaves throughout history been slaves? People are curious creatures.

For the most part [i.e, ones that were captured], because they were in the wrong place and the wrong time and they put up a piss-weak fight.

[GuyInTaiwan]

bigduke6: A marriage visa is a very nice thing. It was very liberating when I got mine. You seem to be well aware of what this industry is and isn't. I think many of the long termers are. It was awful in the beginning.

Chew: I meant why did they remain slaves? Why were there so few slave rebellions? I would have been first on the gallows.

[bigduke6]

Exactly. Once you realise what the system is like, and what the expectations are, it can be relatively plain sailing. It is even possible to work the system in your favor.

The problems occur when expectations and reality are totally the opposite. Then teaching in a buxiban sucks.

That being said, there was no way I was ever going to come and work here without the marriage visa. It is liberating to know you can walk out the door with no real consequences.