Job Discussion Forums

robert.near · Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Ottawa

Hi kids,

I'm planning on coming to Taiwan in October with my girlfriend and thus far have done, in my own estimation, a fair amount of research. There are, however, some unanswered questions.

Firstly, an associate who is in Taipei right now has given me a list of average prices. He says 15,000 TND plus a two month deposit for an apartment... or 8,000 TND for a room with roomates. Other expenses include 15,000TND for a scooter. Are these prices accurate? We're thinking about going to Kaoshiung where I've heard the cost of living is less. How much is a train ticket from Taipei to Kaoshiung? Should I be expecting less or more than those averages in Kaoshiung?

Secondly, as we're coming over in October, we'll be taxed 20% on our income for the remainder of the tax year. That's fine with me, but my girlfriend is only planning to stay until next March. That means she'll only be here for 3 or 4 months of the 2006 tax year, and consequently, will be taxed the full 20% for her entire stay in Taiwan. People I've talked to have said that you can apply for an early return... but is that right? Or do they have their facts twisted? If we're taxed at 20% will it be possible to save any money? I must admit, the possible financial benefits of TESOL is one of the reasons I'm coming over.

Thirdly, what sort of clothes am I expected to wear whilst teaching? This may seem like a rather mundane question, but I'm 6"4 with size 12 US feet. I've been told that it will be difficult to find clothes in Taiwan. So, I'm just wondering if I should stock up on collared shirts, dress pants and shoes (I currently only own a few pairs of jeans and sneakers!).

Fourthly, my Dad seems to think that the requirement of bringing my original diploma is B.S. Currently, it's hanging in his office and would be a pain to take it out of its frame, move it, etc. Is the original that neccessary?

Lastly, I've been told that every other city in Taiwan other than Taipei is 'boring'. In your opinion, is that right? I'm not very interested in partying a whole lot. But I do enjoy seeing cultural sites and natural beauty. Either way, we're 90% sure we're heading to Kaoshiung, as we have friends in the area, so I'm just trying to prepare myself for what's in store. I've been told to expect a week or two weeks of job searching. Is this time frame overly optimistic?

Thanks in advance and sorry if these questions have been answered a thousand times. I've checked the journals and buxiban.com and tealit and haven't found answers, so I'm hoping you can help.

Cheers,
Rob

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

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

robert.near · Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Ottawa

thanks for your help guys. Much appreciated. Too bad about the tax return. I'll make sure to bring my original diploma over and try my best at getting a job. I'm sure more questions will pop into my mind over the next few weeks.

But right now I have to book my flight!Anyone know any good travel agents in Vancouver?

teacha · Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 186

Kaoshiung is the most poluted part of taiwan! It is a toilet and the water is beyond toxic as is the air. Taipei is boring so whatever to that question. Your girlfriend will never get a job with an ARC so she will have to work illegally. OR she could tell them she will be there for a year, get an ARC jet, and be banned from teaching and entering the country for breaking her ARC....the school reports you. The more rural you go the lower costs are and the easier it is to get a job. 2 weeks is not a reasonable length of time, especailly in Oct. Try a month to 2 months. Don't use a travela gent go directly to the airline site and get the ticket shortly before you leave. Any other questions, just ask.

robert.near · Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Ottawa

I just wanted to say that reading this board really depresses and scares me. I try to get excited about going to Taiwan and the adventure that faces me. I talk to friends and associates who have taught in Taiwan, hearing their words of excitement and encouragement. After all of this positive thinking I think, 'Yeah. I'm ready. I can do this. It'll be fun'. But then I log onto this website to do some research and learn a little bit more about what I'm getting myself into, and it all comes tumbling down. There are no jobs, everyone will try to screw you over, wages are low etc. etc.

I leave on Tuesday, so I'm hoping and praying that it'll all work out in the end.

teacha · Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 186

Good luck. Report back regularly. We do care about you.

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

Pop Fly · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 429

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

Again I would like to say ignore teacha. As far as I'm aware he doesn't live in Taiwan and spent very little time there. I believe he struggled to find work, but then, if he presents his on line persona at job interviews that is hardly surprising.

I believe teacha was once calling himself ephemeral real (you may want to do a search for this joker's posts which were quite bizarre). Is he also AKATDN? Not sure about that, but you could do a search and read some of those posts too. You may have to search A.K.A.T.D.N.

Kaohsiung is polluted, but its not a bad place to live. Much more relaxed than Taipei.

simplelife · Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 4

If you are mostly coming to save money, and you girlfriend will stay only for a short time, then Taipei is good bet because it quite easy to settle in there with the MRT and other conveniences. But like many posters have pointed out, competition is greater than it used to be. I'm a relative newbie, and having had very minimal expectations in the beginning helped me greatly. Having all of your questions answered kind of kills the adventure doesnt it? Pay little attention to the subjective and find out for yourself...Kaohsiung is a polluted mess though, INMO.

ramakentesh · Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 145

Reality time...
Teacha is trying to warn you that your expectations of what Taiwan will provide you and what will ultimately occur when you arrive in taiwan may be very different - in the past maybe it was better but now it isnt as easy.

Expect to find that there will be jobs available only in the following forms - 40 hours a week in a city or location outside taipei with a pay rate between 50-60K NT or work in Taipei that is almost always part-time hours - between 10-14 hours a week all in the afternoon in the times that all the cram schools like to operate.
In Taipei its impossible to get by on 25 hours a week work unless your getting paid above 650 an hour and as a newbie - even if your the most qualified educator in the world - you wont be unless you have experience teaching in Taiwan. Well maybe you could survive if you live in a roach-ridden dive or share with other people and eat only zhurou jiao all day every day...
The other cities have their pros and cons. But downtown Tainan/Taichung/Taipei/KS are all pretty similar.
If your looking for something a little different and are chasing natural beauty I suggest you look at a satelitte photo of Taiwan. You will see that the urban development begins north of Taipei and runs the whole length of the west coast down to near Kending. national park.
The only areas that arent over developed are on the East Coast - particularly south of Hualien on the coast or the rift valley towards Taidong.

Expect to find that your offered many jobs, but will find yourself unwilling to work for people who obviously have no time for you and who in many circumstances will try to take advantage of your good intentions. When I say this I dont really need to prove the point - you'll understand wh�at I mean when you get here. Most teachers you meet will either feel the same way or relate to this kind of behaviour (the minority unless you frequent this site Smile

)

Expect the working conditions to often be quite confrontational and bad - especially for a newbie.

When others say that we might be being negative for daring to offer an alternative view of the situation in Taiwan I just say - wait until you get here. Go out and meet other teachers where you decide to live and at the clubs and pubs - hear their stories and follow up with your own experiences as a newbiew here and Im sure you will find things to be very different to how they are portrayed by some people on these forums. I mean you can wear rose-coloured glasses if you need to - I have no problem with that - buts its all about measured evaluations of a situation. Compared to other countries, you are treated worse here for less cultural and financial gain in my opinion.

ramakentesh · Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 145

If you want to save money teaching ESL - GO TO KOREA!!!
Korea has a tax rate ranging from around 3 to 7% penalty rate, your accommodation is paid for, and your airfare is reimbursed. Much better deal.
If you want a cultural experience try Beijing. I loved it.

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

The teaching market in Taiwan is a lot more competitive now than it has ever been in the past. Gone are the days when all you needed was to be able to speak English to get good work here. Nowadays you need to actually compete for the good positions and impress upon the employer why they should employ you.

To this end meeting the legal requirements of employment as a foreign teacher, being professional in the interview process, having a good personality, and showing a willingness to work with the school, are all things that will increase your chances of getting the desired position.

It is unfortunate that some foreigners come here with such high expectations that these expectations can't be met, and these people then blame this fact on everyone and everything but themselves.

My advice is for you to continue with the research that you are doing, find out as much as you can about what is required here, and then give your best to the interview process. Don't become critical of things if they don't go your way but instead try to understand what you may be doing wrong and improve upon that so that you can get the position that you want. No one is going to hand you the perfect job just because you may think you deserve it, you are going to need to earn that position.

robert.near · Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Ottawa

hi guys. I've been in Taiwan for about five days now. Today has been the first day of the 'official job search'. My girlfriend, Carolyn, already has an interview tommorrow morning.

I've applied to a lot of jobs, we'll see if I get any responses. Unfortunately I don't have a phone line yet, so email is our only way of communication. This'll probably hurt our career prospects, but we're looking into getting a phone number.

What you guys are saying seem to be true: lots of 14 to 20 hour week jobs. But hey, I expeced this... even Carolyn's cousin who worked here three to four years ago had two part-time jobs to pay the bills. Like Griswald says, if I have lower expectations than things should be fine. Maybe my ignorance will save me and instead of saying 'damn, stuff was better in Korea... I'll just be happy with $20 an hour and quaint apartment. I don't see why you'd have to have more than 25 hours a week to survive, though, as long as your rent is cheap. If I worked 20 at around 550NT I think I could actually save a bit (you're talking to a person who was a starving student for four years!).

I had another question for you guys. People say to stay away from chain schools. Why is that? Getting jobs there seems relatively easy, the pay, while comparatively lower than other places, is compensated by more hours, and they offer a curriculum, which would be good for a new teacher like me. So, why should I stay away from Hess and the like?