Columbia Consulting
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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. back to school listings |