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Teaching in Taiwan can be a rewarding and beneficial experience because not only is your earning potential very high, but it is also a wonderful and easy way to learn about Asian culture. Taiwanese people are overly friendly and accommodating to foreigners and you will find them very eager to try out their English speaking skills with you. It is also one of the safer countries to work in with a very low crime rate.
You will find the higher paying jobs that may include housing and benefits in the two major cities of Taipei (North) and Kaosiung (South). Both cities have efficient rail and bus systems and getting around is easy. Buying your own scooter is well worth the investment; however, rentals are very cheap. They are a hoot to drive and allow you a bit more freedom to explore, just be ready to learn how to drive in utter chaos and confusion although that is half the fun.
How you decide which city may depend on how you want to spend your free time. The island is filled with opportunities for outdoor sports, exploring, and visiting tourist attractions. I recommend checking out a few travel books on Taiwan so you can see what areas interest you, Lonely Planet’s Taiwan Guide 7th Edition is a good choice. Also keep in mind that it is a small island and you can get from one end to the other in a day, especially now that they have their high speed train connecting Taipei and Kaosiung.
Once you decide what area you would like to live in, there are a few things to keep in mind while looking for work. Most schools prefer that you sign a contract for one year and offer you a bonus on completion. Some places will ask you to sign a two year contract; however, I wouldn’t recommend this. If you decide that you like working at the school, they will always let you sign on for another year and this way you’re not stuck at a school that isn’t a good fit.
Finding a new school is easy as there are plenty of other places hiring. Most people stay for at least 2 years, probably longer. The demand for English teachers is very high, so you can afford to take your time and check out all your options. There are some really good Buxiban schools (cram schools) out there and there are some really bad ones.
Depending on what kind of person you are, you may want to sign up with a school online before even leaving for Taiwan. If you choose to go this route, make sure you are in contact with the school and not just a recruiter who is getting paid to find teachers for the school. Also make sure you are 100% clear about your contract. All schools will pay for your work visa and some will also pay for airfare. However if you are the kind of person who likes to see things for yourself before signing up, you can get yourself to Taiwan with a 90 day tourist visa (you must get it before you leave your country). Make sure it is for at least 90 days and that it is a tourist visa so that when you find a job it can easily be turned into a work visa with the help of your employer. Don’t worry, you will definitely find work once in Taiwan.
Things to consider while looking for a teaching position are: The pay, don’t settle for anything less than 50,-55,000 NT for full time. Try and find a job that also includes housing, this is a great way to get ahead and save money for adventures. Also a typical teaching job is a 25-30 hours work per week so stay away from the ones that want you to work 40 hours. Remember you are being paid a salary not an hourly rate. Keep in mind that you will not want a 6 day work week either, as a one day break from your students is not enough for you to relax and explore Taiwan.
Make sure your hours are grouped together and not split up throughout the day. A general class length is two hours so you need your blocks to be close together and not hours apart. Although most classes are evening classes because Buxiban schools are set up for after school, there are some English schools during the day if you prefer to work regular day hours.
Carefully consider the age of your students (young children, teenagers, adults) as this will have a direct effect on the language skills, materials and activities you will be teaching. It will also determine the teaching approaches and techniques that you will use.
Most schools have their own curriculum that they want you to teach from, which is great because you have the freedom to implement it however you would like. My advice is to stay away from schools that want you to come up with your own, no need to reinvent the wheel, and this will require a lot of extra work from you. It is hard to find the right resources in English so maybe bring some of your basic favorites with you. Simple story books with verb tenses are a great idea to bring since there are not many to be found. The night markets are full of fun games to buy and use as manipulatives in your classroom. Be ready for TPR (Total Physical Response) in Taiwan, students want teaching to be fun and interactive.
How you deal with behavior management will be very important. There are not many rules or guidelines for behavior management at Buxiban Schools. This is an area that will be up to you and will be a crucial factor in your enjoyment experience. You will want to invest some time into inventing a clear structure or system that the kids can always count on so they know what is expected of them. This will allow class time to flow much better for you and for the students. Because less time will be wasted on behavior issues, your students will be able to learn more and everyone will have more time for fun!
Teaching in Taiwan it is a win, win situation once you get your feet on the ground and have adjusted to living there. There are lots of foreigners doing the same thing as you in Taiwan so it will be easy to meet other teachers to socialize with and get ideas from. And, as jobs are plentiful and salaries are good, you can pick and choose to find the right school fit. |
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From 3 People
