Job Discussion Forums

pcdavid04 · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 19

most of my experience teaching english is with adult students. as a result, i think i would be most comfortable with adult classes in taiwan.

is it possible for a rookie teacher to come to taiwan and teach strictly adult classes?

are there schools that are adult-only?

am i asking for trouble with adult classes? are the kids classes a better choice for someone starting out?

thanks for your time

matchstick_man · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 244 Location: Taiwan

There are adult only schools. Global Village, Wall street are some of them. There's far more jobs teaching children though.

It doesn't appear to me, that you are starting out as this seems to be where your experience lies. I taught both adults and children last year. I have a personal preference for teaching children but that may well be due to my personal teaching experience mostly being with under 13s.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

Chain schools offer the lowest pay rates for the most amount of work regardless of the students age. Chain school programs are also centered around getting more money from the students as opposed to effective teaching.
Teaching children requires less out of class preparation than adults and offers more hours.
Teaching business English is by far the most lucrative specialty for English teachers. It also requires the most preparation time.
Please read this.
Link to Success!
Good luck!
A.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 11:28 am Post subject:

Of course we can't generalize but I have heard a poster that adults in Taiwan don't like to be very direct with their opinions in class.

I teach a lot of adults in Europe and I know that if people aren't telling you what they think it can be hard to generate a class discussion.

I'm currently trying to figure out if I want to teach children (I have a lot of experience there too) and adults or only one or the other.

I am aware that a lot of it depends on the teacher.

But has anyone else had the experience of teaching adults that wouldn't speak out?

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

It's not just the fact that Taiwanese culture dictates that subordinates keep their mouths shut and opinions to themselves. Most adult students will come to class after work which makes it even more difficult because they are tired and stressed.
Good luck!
A.