Job Discussion Forums

PaulJam · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 13 Location: London, UK

I have four years experience with Shane, teaching mainly kids but now, having come back to the UK to get my CELTA, I am thinking about returning to Taiwan to teach adults exclusively.

Does anyone know of any reputable institutions that will help me with my ARC and hire me with the above qualification and experience?

Any help much appreciated.

Thank you.

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 474

Pretty much none. Don't come to Taiwan to teach adults.

ncaraway · Joined: 15 Feb 2010 Posts: 63 Location: Tainan, Taiwan

creztor is basically right. I came here having a preference to teach adults but kept an open mind. I advertised in several places and responded to ads for schools that catered to adults. I did get several responses, all duds. I even walked into one of those schools, CV in hand. I was told they weren't hiring. Through the window of one of the classrooms I could see what appeared to be a Taiwanese teacher teaching a class of adults. Fair enough. They have to make a living too.

The buxiban where I work teaching kids has offered my services out to parents and other adults in the community. As a result, I have 1 student 1 hour a week. There was another parent who said they needed help preparing a work presentation in English but they never followed through.

Most schools seem to be hiring only part-time teachers and the smaller schools seem reluctant to deal with the hassle of ARC paperwork, let alone paying for national health insurance.

My wife is Taiwanese and we were planning to move here regardless of whether I could get work. I am fortunate in that I do have work - teaching children.

PaulJam · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 13 Location: London, UK

Thanks for the responses.

A little surprised though, as I have a few friends working at an IELTS school making good money...and I'd be very surprised if there weren't similar companies helping with IELTS or TOIEC preparation.

ncaraway · Joined: 15 Feb 2010 Posts: 63 Location: Tainan, Taiwan

PaulJam · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 13 Location: London, UK

That's ok, thanks.

Again, though, if anyone knows if decent schools that tutor adults then I'd be much obliged.

Thanks again.

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 474

It sounds like your IELTS friends would be the best bet. He is already in the business of teaching adults.

kurtz · Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 267

Why are there so few adults learning English?

ncaraway · Joined: 15 Feb 2010 Posts: 63 Location: Tainan, Taiwan

teacher4life · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 100

Adults in Taiwan are still learning English. They used to do so in schools like Gjun or Kojen or whatever, but increasingly there is a flight to quality- for genuinely qualified teachers, there is a strong market for adults in private lessons 1 to 1 or in class sizes of 4 at most. If you don't know what you are doing though, forget it. You will have to know your stuff.

Arranging lessons directly at companies is very lucrative. In my best case scenario I charge 1500 per hour to teach a group of salespeople. I do that twice a week at the same company. However, when they need to cancel, I tell them it is no problem and charge them zero. This is for them a much better deal than what they used to do, which is go through a chain company and get stiffed by not being allowed to cancel or worse yet by having the chain school send them a worthless "teacher" like a 25 year old kid who just read a text to them.

Needless to say the hardest part is finding the company in the first place! Right now that situation is a one of a kind for me though I sure hope to get more. I do know of other people doing the same, so it isn't impossible!

atreyue · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 2:34 pm Post subject:

Wow - amazed at these responses.

To the OP: If you want to teach adults you can try Global (low pay) or David's (scattered hours) or KJun (unknown).

I have a bud teaching TOEFL and TOEIC in addition to his low hours he gets on his ARC.

So, it can be done.

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 474

This is why I wouldn't recommend people think about solely teaching adults in Taiwan:

atreyue · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:59 am Post subject:

Maybe I wasn't so clear in that last post. So, and again, I have a friend who teaches a few hours at David's (his choice) and spends the rest on private TOEFL and TOEIC tutoring gigs, on his own time.

I myself work for David's part time (I teach high school full time) with no sponsorship, APRC. For a fact, David's offers lots of hours, decent rate and flexibility.

My issue with these replies is that you make it sound like its a near impossibility to come to Taiwan and only teach adults. Other than high school that is all I've ever taught in all the years I've been here.

Another fact - David's is in a constant hiring mode because the hours are there and available. The applicants don't come in because of the naysayers who decry that you'll never make a living as an adult teacher. Ridiculous.

romanworld · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 208

atreyue · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 11:51 pm Post subject:

That would depend on a myriad of factors - experience, degree, and length of stay in Taiwan. If you believe you'll make "say $750/hr" as a wide eyed, no experience 24-year old - walk in - forget it.