Gram English Center
Gram Consultants Ltd.
F 4, No. 1-7, Section 5,
Chung Shiao East Rd., Taipei.
PHONE: (02) 2763-0673 or (02) 2763-3743
FAX: (02) 2763-0216
WEBSITE: www.gram.com.tw
E-mail: gramcon@gramconsultants.com
This is the corporate education wing of the larger company with the same name. It is operated as an independent subsidiary of the mother company. The general manager is Suping Ou.
Gram's reputation among Taiwanese is very strong. It has a huge public profile, being a sponsor of the English radio station ICRT. Advertising from GRAM is everywhere. Despite this, the company has a generally down market reputation among foreign teachers, and this includes their corporate division.
Gram is not considred a strong employer because its compensation package is not competitive. The generally reported rate for corporate teaching is $nt650 / hour. While this number may seem comparable with other companies, it is the average including travel expenses. The hourly rate for teaching is significantly lower, and as a result, some rates for Taipei-based companies would be lower. This number was that reported by the company in 2000 and may be higher now. Nevertheless, occupational mobility around Gram appears in one direction -- away from the school. It is not unheard of to meet ex-Gram teachers at other corporate teaching companies. I have never seen someone quite a job to go work at Gram.
Perhaps the greatest problem they face in attracting excellent teachers is the penalty clause in their contract. As recently as 2000, Gram was offering a contact that provided no air tickets, training, or other financial investment from the company but stated that if you quit before one year was up, you must pay the company $nt20,000. Penalty clauses are frequently found in contracts at children's schools in Taiwan. Gram is the only major employer to offer such contracts to adult teachers. I am not certain this contract is still offered, but in 2001 a personal contact told me of 2 teachers who had left Gram corporate division for his company who reported having paid such a penalty.
Suping Ou seems much more business-like than past GMs. While I have not worked for her, reports from those who have indicate much more flexability with issues like money. She clearly has a more realistic idea about the amount of investment one needs to succeed in the Tawain corporate English market. How far she can change remains to be seen.
9:21:54 AM 
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