Job Discussion Forums

[nyctfalum]

Hi all,

I'm an overseas Taiwanese who knows very basic Taiwanese and Chinese (not enough to carry on a conversation). I'm interested in going to Taiwan to learn the language and experience the culture, and am contemplating taking classes at Taiwan Normal U.

I've got a master's in education and state certification in New York. I also have experience teaching ESL students in elementary school in the US for about 2 years, and I would like to experience teaching in a different cultural context.

If I do a fall quarter at Normal U which begins in September, would it be difficult for me to find a good teaching job after the end of the quarter in November?

Does anyone have experience with learning Chinese in a somewhat formal setting and teaching English simultaneously?

Any ideas and suggestions welcome.

Thanks!

[Aristotle]

You won't have trouble finding a job. If you have an Masters in Education and valid teaching certification try the international schools.
http://www.shambles.net/pages/Countries/tw_schools/
Good luck,
A.

[nyctfalum]

Wow, great website! Thanks!

Anyone have ideas as far as the possibility of teaching at a university and the experience there? (I'm just trying to figure out the different options).

Thanks!

[myesl]

Do NOT study at NTNU's MTC/CCLC. They're teaching is total crap. Most of their teachers are also very racist, but they wouldn't be to you since your the Messiah, overseas Chinese

With your qualifications you can get a coveted uni job. Sure they complain almost as much as the bushiban types, but they make more and teach less.

Plenty of people teach and learn, both full time. I sort of did.

[nyctfalum]

Thanks for sharing your perspective.

Would you have alternate suggestions for learning Chinese that you prefer to Taiwan Normal University?

[myesl]

I wish I could. I've _heard_ that Chinese Culture University (文大) has teachers who take their work seriously (their chinese classes are in the city, not on the mountain), that Taiwan U. has two programs (one cheap, one expensive; the expensive one supposedly being very good), and if you're in Kaohsiung Sun Yatsen U. (中山大學) has very nice teachers.

I did study briefly at TLI about 5+ years ago. What I could gather from my experience and those of other TLI students is that it depends on the teacher and the fact that TLI is a business. For example, I had a private class and my teacher really dragged her heels no matter well I knew the material and no matter how many times I asked her pick up the pace. Conversely, I've heard from people who kept asking their teacher to slow down and she wouldn't. In hindsight, I would say if you think hard on how you'd like to study and work this out with your teacher ahead of time, maybe things will work out fine.

Of course, if you'll have your visa from your job and if you're a self-motivated person, I would suggest studying mostly on your own and arrange some privates to both practice your speaking and listening and to ask questions about the things you don't understand. But most people need to be in a class or else they won't pick up the book.