The Company

Columbia Consulting Group is established to provide quality English language

training and consulting for adults in Taiwan.  It currently operates two

consulting centers and an American model children's learning center equipped

with state of the art technology. Columbia strives to provide superior

service with genuine care and concern for the clients.

Company philosophy

Columbia Consulting Group believes that learning a foreign language should

be fun and interesting. Active involvement by the learner should be

encouraged.  We discourage the traditional classroom approach of a Confucian

concept of teacher-student relationship.  We want our consultant/trainer to

treat our clients with utmost respect and to encourage them to be actively

involved in the learning process. Our aim is to empower our clients to use

the English language for communication and to enrich their lives through

knowledge and understanding a foreign culture.

Mission

Our mission is to be the best facility for adult language training through

an interesting innovative approach and an interactive participatory process.

We strive to provide highly qualified professional  service to  the adult

population throughout the island of Taiwan.  Through the power of modern

technology we seek to spread our mission. 

Qualification of teachers:

Minimum degree: B.A.

Minimum years of teaching experience: two years

Consultants should be flexible, resilient, sociable and willing to encounter

a different cultural experience. Our consultants do work hard and long but

the results are much more rewarding because the students are highly

motivated to learn and the Company has a strong commitment to teacher

support and development.

Opportunity for growth

Columbia Consulting Group is expanding at quite a rapid rate and the

consultants may experience more responsibility than they otherwise would.

Columbia Consulting offers a great opportunity to experienced teachers

wishing to advance to positions of responsibility.  So, for the committed

TEFL professional, the chances for advancement are possible within the

organization.

Single teachers and teaching couples are welcome.  

Our clients:

Our clients come from a very broad spectrum of background.  Many of them are

entrepreneurs in a great array of businesses.  Some are active or retired

professionals who have a great desire to learn the English language.  There

are executives and employees of foreign companies that require them to study

a foreign language.  We also cater to housewives, teachers of English,

university students and others who are highly motivated to learn to speak

the English language.

Before clients are admitted to our program, they are given a placement

evaluation. Our consultants conduct a brief interview with prospective

clients to determine their level of comprehension.  Clients are assigned to

eight different levels from the very basic to the advanced.  During the

course of training clients will progress to higher levels as indication of

their improvement.

Schedules

Our clients enjoy a very flexible schedule.  They come at their convenience.

Most of them come after their working hours but some of them may attend all

the sessions throughout the day.

Morning sessions:

8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Afternoon sessions:

1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Evening sessions:

5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

8:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Our facilities are open Mondays through Fridays and odd Saturdays (1st, 3rd,

5th Saturdays)

There are no morning sessions on Mondays.

Working Hours

Our consultants work on a regular shift (1:30 p.m. through 9:15 p.m.) or on

a split shift (Morning sessions and Evening sessions)

They are expected to work according to our schedule of service to our

clients. (see Schedules)

In addition to consulting/teaching, all consultants are expected to complete

daily educational administrative work, mandatory department

meetings/training and placement training. Administrative duties may include

laminating new books or materials, reviewing a document for a client

company, finding pictures for picture bank, doing some audio recording,

doing some material evaluation, etc. We expect consultants to complete

Client Progress Reports after each session and conduct evaluation interviews

as required by our business/marketing personnel.

You are not paid per hour but you have a contract to work a fixed period and

there is usually no upper limit on the amount of work which needs to be done

or could be done.  Don't drive yourself into the ground but at the same

token, we do expect a high degree of professionalism, commitment and quality

from you.

At each center, we have a resource center that maintains teaching aids and

other educational materials.  You have access to the internet to generate

other necessary material as you desire.  Of course, you will have

photocopying facilities to reproduce any material needed.

You are consulting with clients in small groups.  By policy, there is never

more than six clients at any one session.

Compensation

We have a schedule of salary based upon qualification and experience. In

addition, we provide merit increases after first quarter of service. This

will be discussed in details with a qualified applicant at a face to face

interview or over the telephone. Basic salary starts at NT$54,000 (current

rate of exchange is NT$33 to US$1)

You will be paid on the 10th of each month or the next working day if the

10th falls on a holiday.  Your salary will be directly deposited into your

bank account. You will be required to open a bank account at  a designated

bank/branch.

All national holidays in Taiwan are observed.  Please refer to "Survival

Guide For Foreigners" for list of holidays observed in Taiwan.

You will be given ten paid holidays after one year's of service  Upon

completion of serviced and if you choose to extend for another year, the

Company will reimburse you for a direct round trip ticket to your home

country..

The Company will endeavor to secure a work permit for the applicant.  In

Taiwan, a work permit is necessary for working legitimately in the country.

The Company pays for this work permit.  By law, holder of a work permit can

only work for the institution which procures that work permit.

The employee is required to apply for a resident visa (FREE for Americans

but nationals from other countries will pay NT$1500).  Upon being granted a

resident visa, you will apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) which

entitles you to certain rights such as health care and  other services.

Contract length:

The normal contract is for a 12-month period and may be renewable at mutual

agreement. Occasionally, there can be six-month contracts and it is possible

to negotiate for longer term contracts. 

Increments to basic salary are paid according to a system of points

Each point amounts to NT$ 1000 gross per month

3 points for each full renewal of contract

2 points for M.A. in TEFL/TESOL

Increments for teaching staff are dependent on experience and qualifications

as well as responsibility and are awarded after your 3-month probationary

period. This merit increment for a yearly contract is calculated at the rate

of 2.5% of base salary.

The salary is reviewed every six months and may be raised at the discretion

of the management.  However, teachers should not expect salaries to

automatically go up every six months

Living conditions:

A 2- or 3-bedroom apartment costs around NT$10,000 in Taichung.  The

apartments can be sparsely furnished or not at all.  You will be expected to

pay a nominal maintenance fee if you live in a secured apartment complex.

You pay for utilities and telephone.  Food is cheap and most of us find it

cheaper to eat out than to cook at home!  If you live like the locals, you

will be able to save money for your travels.  (See "Survival Guide For

Foreigners")

Teacher Development

There will be in-house seminars which will occasionally be open to local

teachers of English. Teachers can expect an average of five seminars per

10-week term.  These seminars will be spread out over the course of the term

and will probably take place on Friday afternoons or Monday mornings.

Evaluations/Observations

You will be observed an average of four times/ year by a Director of

Studies. These professional development observations will be arranged with

plenty of warning. Feedback will be given orally and in writing.

Peer observations are a part of professional development.  Observing other

classes is possibly the best way to pick up ideas-so, don't be afraid of

them.  There are four peer observation per  year although you are encouraged

to do more if you want.

Additional teacher support and development is provided through individual

Professional Development Interviews (PDI's) with the director, observations

and trips to seminars and workshops.  Before your PDI, you will be asked to

fill a form asking you to comment on educational and administrative issues.

Meetings

All meetings are compulsory.

Professionalism

You are expected to observe professional rules of conduct at all times in

relation to clients.  Please bear in mind the culture is which you are

working.  Our clients might have very fixed expectations, not only about the

learning process but also about the way our consultants behave. Columbia

Consulting Group (CCG) is an expensive institution in local terms and some

clients spend a great deal of their own money on English studies which are

very important to them.

You may be the first to find out about a problem, and your student may

expect you to take sides. Listen compassionately, do not make judgement and

report to customer service people as soon as possible.

Maintaining a professional and friendly atmosphere in the company is

something which is very important to us.

CORPORATE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

A Corporate Manual on Policies and Procedures will be forwarded to

candidates who have agreed to terms and conditions of employment.  These

policies will cover in greater details employee benefits such as holidays,

personal leave requests, sick leave, wedding, maternity and emergency leave,

annual company excursions, bonuses, etc.  Policies pertaining to dress code,

professional behavior, tardiness and absenteeism are covered in this

booklet.  In addition, the newly hired will be provided with a booklet on

Duties and Responsibilities of the Consultant and given an orientation on

living in Taichung and traveling in Taiwan.


If you are interested in applying for a position, please contact HSINTL@aol.com.

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