Job Discussion Forums

[Drizzt]

Hello everyone,

I've been in China for the better part of a year, and to be honest I love it here. I currently teach at a university in Shanghai which is great. The reason I'm thinking of coming to Taiwan is strictly monetary-I find I cannot save a cent in China!

I'm hoping some of you who have been in Taiwan could shed some insight on a few questions I have.

1) Are there plenty of opportunities for teaching adults in Taiwan? From what I've heard the majority of the job opportunities there are for teaching kids.

2) If there are, what are some of the names of respectable language schools that offer courses to adults?

3) What is the average starting hourly wage for teaching adults in Taiwan? (I can only assume it's less than teaching children, but that's just a guess)

4) With my qualifications (listed below) will I have any trouble landing a job if I just show up, or should I secure a job, possibly through a recruiter over the internet first?

5) I've heard that I should arrive before July to find work, because otherwise I will have to pay some extra taxes, is this true? My current contract in China ends at the end of June, so this is actually quite important!

I have a BA, CELTA certificate, and about a year's experience teaching ESL. I am 27 years old. I've taught high school and university level (and a few summer camps teaching little kids-I will never do that again!)

My ideal job would be about a 25 teaching hour work week with only adults and a 2-day weekend. I am certainly flexible, but the closer I can come to this ideal the better

Thanks for any input!

[teacha]

1. That's true, most are for kids. Jobs are more secure by far in China, they evaporate on you at somebody's whim less frequently in China then in Taiwan. That's because there are more teachers in Taiwan than ever, sadly the pay has been the same FOR 10 YRS ! It's nice to hear someone be honest about the fact that life may be cheap in China but you still will never get off the hamster wheel with a dollar in your pocket, so really....what's the point? Ooooohhh right "the experience".......and lung damge.

2. Stay away from David's, Wall Street, Global Villiage......I can't say there are any respectable ones.

3. You will have trouble getting a good job that's not a scam or turns out to be a scam (details, terms, etc.) once you arrive but if you go through a recruiter you are certain to be scammed. I sugget use them once you arivved and give up on getting a ob on your own. Use a recruiter as a last resort only. If they are paying you every month, they are stealing some of your payheck for sure, even if the shool pays you, likely a chunk goes to the recruiter.

4. - 5. Yes it's true. You are a good candidate and should do better than many, but keep in mind, as in America, people with MA's apply for the same jobs you will and sometimes are STILL turned away because someone has more experience! Really you never know, you may get a boss that is turned off by experience because they have an agenda and experience is threatening. Your "ideal' is doable.

[Drizzt]

Thanks Teacha,

I will definitely be wary of recruiters, I actually was deceived by one during my first gig coming to China. I was told a particular location, teaching level, and number of hours, but after my plane arrived in Beijing everything had changed!

I did a little research yesterday and stumbled upon "Kojen", which seems to offer ample opportunities for teaching adults, any opinion on them?

[teacha]