The Taiwan Megathread 2.0: Vacations, Jobs, EarthquaJEREMYLINJEREMYLINJEREM

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Ask/Tell > Tourism & Travel > The Taiwan Megathread 2.0: Vacations, Jobs, EarthquaJEREMYLINJEREMYLINJEREM

senbe1: May 16, 2005; Oh mon Dieu !

GoutPatrol posted:

More HESS stuff

I have visited several HESS branches in Taipei for next semester for my 4 y.o (speaks chinese but no english so international kindys are ruled out, no ARC yet so no public schools I understood) and so far the spectrum is quite large in terms of school size, fees and quality of facilities.

Is the hit and miss situation with HESS also the case on the kids' side? Any branch I should avoid?

# ¿ May 22, 2018 03:07

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# ¿ May 15, 2024 17:46

senbe1: May 16, 2005; Oh mon Dieu !

Atlas Hugged posted:

Just ask yourself, do you want edutourists spending large amounts of time with your children, possibly hungover and definitely not giving a poo poo?

I mean this is not 100% the case in all language schools and kindys. But I've worked in enough places, met enough 'teachers", and seen enough of the industry that I would be very, very selective about where I sent my kid.

I totally understand the concern as I met many of these 'teachers' during my stay in worst China. I was just (naively?) hoping the bar would be way higher in Taipei.

As the initial choice is limited (no public, no international schools), where would you send a 4 y.o. kid for bilingual (english/chinese) education in Taipei?

# ¿ May 22, 2018 04:55

senbe1: May 16, 2005; Oh mon Dieu !

Pirate Radar posted:

Whereabouts in the city are you, anyway?

I will be located in either Neihu or Dazhi districts (still hunting for apartment near the office in Neihu hi tech park).

# ¿ May 22, 2018 05:25

senbe1: May 16, 2005; Oh mon Dieu !

Atlas Hugged posted:

Duckfarts can weigh in later I think, but he's had good luck with a Happy Marion.

Basically, I'd ask other parents you trust with kids in a cram school. Then visit the specific school and see if you can chat with the director/lead teacher. Figure out how long the teachers have been there. The longer the teachers have been there, the better.

Thanks for the great input. I'll definitely add the "how long have you been teaching here" question to our list.

# ¿ May 22, 2018 05:28

senbe1: May 16, 2005; Oh mon Dieu !

duckfarts posted:

Happy Marian stuff

Wow, thanks for the extensive write up. I have seen before some info regarding Happy Marian, but to be frank I was a bit put off by the lovely fake Super Mario logo. Now I will definitely check out the branch near Wende MRT (please just tell me it is not the one with the crazy lady)

And definitely a great list of questions. I am looking too for the low stress environment.

CovfefeCatCafe posted:

Back to Hess stuff

Xinhu branch topped the list of Hesses I visited, so your message kinda confirms my first impression. Do you know if they provide any school bus service (as it is quite far from any MRT station)?

# ¿ May 22, 2018 07:49

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# ¿ May 15, 2024 17:46

senbe1: May 16, 2005; Oh mon Dieu !

I don't have plat, how to join?

# ¿ Jun 27, 2020 02:23

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