Job Discussion Forums

zandmoloney · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 16

Hello everybody, my plan is to come to Taiwan in about a month to find a job. I have one years teaching experience for a private langauge school in Nanning, China. Also I have a BA and CELTA.
With my experience should I have any problems finding work in Taipei?
Is the time of my trip going to be a problem? From what I have read and heard the best option is to set up a few interviews and come over, what are other people's experiences of finding work over in Taiwan?
Also should I think about using an agency?
Thank you in advance,

z

ramakentesh · Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 145

My advice would be to get here and see for yourself. I organised interviews before I came and nearly all of them trid to take advantage of my perceived ignorance...
I wouldnt expect people here to view your experience with any particular interest - my fiancee is a registered primary teacher in Australia with three years experience and a reputable TESL qualification and the schools all just pulled the old 'no experience in teaching english in Taiwan' routine and offered her the lowest pay rate.
And with your experience, dont expect to be challenged or allowed any scope in trying to make your lesson-plans more interesting - often your standing their reading dictation to kids who have been learning for nearly 12 hours without a break and your boss may perceive the children laughing and enjoying themselves as poor child-control.
Not every school is bad - there are some shining lights out there - they just arent the norm...
Once your here you can meet the good ones and the bad ones face to face.
My last bit of advice would be really take your time with your choice...

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

I will be arriving in February and I was just concerned about one thing. When you go to get your work permit, how does the government know if you have a real diploma? Do they actually read it? The reason that I am asking is that my college for who knows what reason prints diplomas in Latin (so the MOE probably won't be able to read it). Is this going to cause me a problem when I go to get the work permit? I will also have an MA degree but I think I should not play that up unless I am applying to teach at a college. I don't want to seem over qualified.

teacha · Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 186

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Thanks!!!

teacha · Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 186

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

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Well as long as I don't fail the MA comps, I will have a Master's degree as well. So if need be, I can show it to the authorities. It will be printed in English. Though I am going to play down the MA since I think I will only be able to get a job in a cram school for now. Maybe after a year I will see if I can move up.

Does anyone know of the need for German teachers? I would be interested in teaching German and English at a univeristy in Taiwan.

teacha · Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 186

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

I am sure that they teach German at colleges in Taiwan. I know Taiwanese people who have studied German. Of course German teachers are not in as great of demand as English teachers but that does not mean that they are not needed.

teacha · Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 186

Theoretically yeah, I guess, but I'd forget the theorical possiblily you'd get a job that was waiting for you to teach German when you arrive....it's not too likely.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

ramakentesh, so how long did it take you to get a job? I read that you where offered a job at JOy even though you wear unhappy with the interview process.

ramakentesh · Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 145

Joy was only one of the employers I encountered in Taiwan who would basically start lying to you from the get go and act like they are going out of their way to help you while you are undeserving of their help...
We were super picky because life is too short to waste it on arseholes...
We got a job in about three weeks, but it would probably take about two months to set yourself up with enough hours to begin saving in Taipei - although im yet to meet anyone here who actually does save - Taipei is expensive - why im not sure...

teacha · Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 186

ramakentesh · Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 145

Well i put it this way. Four of us in Austtrali decided to go and try ESL work in asia. My two friends went to Korea, I went to Taiwan - because Ive studied Mandarin at university and in Beijing and because I loved mainland China so much.
I also had a friend who came to Taiwan in the 90s and loved it - he studied here.

My friends in Korea are loving it - have already in two months saved $2500 australian - find the koreans funny because they always say what they think and are having a fairly positive experience.
They get their airfare reimbursed, get accommodation for free and work less hours than we do.

We on the other hand got scrwed around from pillar to post by employers who are honestly so used to employing weirdo westerners that they expect yu to be weird, dishonest and a bad worker and treat you in a confrontational and demeaning way from the start - then offer you crap hours and ordinary pay.

Taiwan is an ok place - but even Dave Spelling admits that it isnt the most interesting place to live in Asia. If the money isnt that good, the working conditions are ordinary and there are more interesting places culturally in asia than Taiwan then my advice would be to think about it carefully.

All the best.