Job Discussion Forums

[She]

Hi I�m new here and I apologize if similar threads have been started in the past but I�ve got a few questions I�d like answered so I hope you don�t mind.

So a bit about me, I am Taiwanese (was born there to Taiwanese parents, etc etc) but I�ve spent the last 16 years of my life growing up abroad. I�m 20 this year, in Australia and finishing up my Bachelors degree (Health Science, major in Nutrition) at the end of this year. I am fluent in spoken Mandarin and Taiwanese (reading is okay too though I�m not very confident with my writing) and I go back there every year as I have family over there so I am familiar with the place.

I am exploring the option of moving back to Taiwan next year and finding work. I do have previous work experience with children in Taiwan (I worked for 2 of my summer breaks at a kindergarten in a teacher�s assistant position, downright crap pay.. NT20,000/month but seeing as I was just 17, it seemed like okay money). I don�t like kids that much but can tolerate them. So basically, I am thinking of teaching English. Just a few questions I have-

1. Apart from my degree, what other qualifications would be useful? I�ve heard mention of a GCertTESOL? Or a CELTA? I really have no idea, please advise.

2. My accent might be a problem. I have an Australian (slight British) accent and I know Taiwanese people are all for North American accents. I can put on a slightly convincing phony American accent but it�s not very good () Is this something I should even be worrying about?

3. I am Taiwanese, I look Taiwanese (read: not Caucasian). Obviously I know this will be to my disadvantage but should I expect to encounter this as a major barrier when finding work?

4. Where do you suggest I look for work? Private English Language schools? Bushiban? Kindergarten? School? Where else could I consider?

5. If it was with bushiban say around the Taipei/Keelung area, what are some �better� ones to consider? I know of Hess, Giraffe, etc.. but they just seem so commercialized and I�m not sure I�d work in that sort of environment (2 of my younger cousins used to go to Hess and what they did learn seemed a bit bleh IMO)

6. Is there much opportunity to teach adults? Such as with just conversation skills?
7. Is there anything else I should be aware of?

I apologize for this somewhat long post but would appreciate it if any one of you were able to offer advice.

thanks!

[Taylor]

Dear She,

You mentioned that you will graduate with a BA soon. Are you sure you really want to change career paths (from Health to Educ) so soon? Is there a good demand for your major in Australia?

Are you sure that teaching English will really fit into the 'grand scheme' of your future plans?

I know that two positions in the US now which have the highest demand are nurses and truck drivers. Is Australia very different?

Best wishes.

Taylor
(Kaohsiung 7+ years)

[She]

Hi Taylor thanks for your reply

[TaoyuanSteve]

I don't want to discourage you, but you should know that you will have problems. Work will not be impossible to find, but it will be generally more difficult and you will likely be offered less money. My girlfirend is also an FBC and was born and educated in Canada. She has endured a lot of discrimination. The problem is people here just won't accept that you are foreign. You are not a 外國人 You are a 華僑人. This is a black and white issue (or shall we say yellow and white?) for people here. In their minds, you are Chinese. Therefore when an ad states it is looking for a foreign English teacher, they are almost certainly looking for a caucasian.

You may have to accept a job as a lower paid Chinese English teacher. Not necessarily. But prepare yourself. Drop Hess a line. I know of one overseas Chinese who worked for them as a foreign English teacher. See if they are interested. Again, I don't want to discourage you altogether, but you should know the realities of the English teaching industry in Taiwan. Think it over. Send some resumes. See what the response is like. If you come, be prepared to tough it out for a while. Good luck.

[She]

thanks Steve

I've come across several Taiwan born and educated english teachers there before.. and to be honest, their english aint that great, nor is their pronounciation.. and I figure if I have better skills, I've got to be in with a chance right?

[markholmes]

[TaoyuanSteve]

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

She,

There are lots of Canadian and American born Chinese teachers here.

They do just fine getting work.

[TaoyuanSteve]

Rice Paddy, are you an ABC? I am not, but my partner is. I have seen the trouble she has had to go through to get work. If she isn't flat out refused, she is offered significantly less money. I have known people who have come here and left again because of the difficulty getting a teaching job. Take a look around your staff room at work and ask yourself if the staff of foreign teachers reflects the ethnic make-up of the society from which you came. It most likely does not.

She, you can get work. But I am warning you as someone very close to an FBC that things will not be as easy for you as they are for Caucasians here. The schools usually want Caucasians. Some even state it in their newspaper ads. I remember when my girlfriend and I were looking for work. We went to one school that was looking for teachers. They said they'd take us both. Their offer to me: 700nt per hour. To her: 400nt per hour. We both graduated from the same university back home, from the same department. We also had similar levels of experience. The teacher interviewing us (herself an ABC) explained that the wage difference reflects the demand for caucasian teachers.

I think it is stretching things to say that FBCs "do just fine getting work." Yes, they do generally find work. You can too. However, FBCs have a much harder time of it than we whities. Be prepared for some let-downs if you decide to come.

[Aristotle]

I would recommed applying to large kindergartens outiside of Tainan and Taichung. The race oriented ban on foreign teachers (ie no whites or blacks allowed) in kindergartens has forced these schools to hire only overseas Chinese in these areas.
Good luck,
A.