Job Discussion Forums

[jooksingmui]

Hi, I am new to this forum and is thinking of going to Taiwan to teach English. However, I am overwhelmed by the number of private schools there are in Taiwan. I am unsure of which to choose...I am not even sure if I should go through an angency or just go to Taiwan and take that risk and hopefully find a job?? Please if anyone can help recommend a good school to apply to or agency that is reliable, I would appreciate it. Thanks

Jooky

[clark.w.griswald]

Check out www.buxiban.com I think that you will find that it is a good start as far as what you are looking for.

[Ki]

Come here and look for a job. Many schools will want you to start straight away which won't be possible from overseas. If you absolutely must have something lined up before you come and insist on using a recruiter then make sure that you sign your contract with the school and NOT the recruiter. This way you will make sure that the recruiter doesn't take half your pay check. Also good to avoid any trouble with them.

[jooksingmui]

my only concern about going to Taiwan and then looking for a job is whether the school will help me get the Work permit and ARC??? Anyone had trouble getting that...

[Ki]

Most schools will give you an ARC. I think this really needs to be done from within Taiwan anyway. A recruiter cannot give you an ARC no matter what they claim. Just come over with a 60 day tourist visa. I like to tell them I am coming to see my SO. It does help to have a friends ID number to pass on to them.

[jooksingmui]

Thanks for your help..i was just looking at the Buxiban website and was looking through the immediate jobs and found some schools...need to know if anyone has heard or worked for them and whether they are reputable: Polaris International Academy, Big Byte??

[clark.w.griswald]

Big Byte is spoken well of by it's past and present teachers. They have a good curriculum and an appreciation of serious teachers. The program and school are generous and well equipped and the staff overall pretty happy. Positions there do however involve the teaching of kindergarten aged kids so you would be well advised to carefully consider this.

Polaris is a relatively new school for me so I don't know much about it. I believe that there may be a foreign staff member among the administration of that school which can be a good or a bad thing depending upon how you look at it. I tend to think that it is a good thing though as it can enable the management to better understand what the foreign teachers are thinking.

It seems to me that both schools are worth a look but as always you should exercise a degree of care and research. Ask for contacts for past teachers.

Finally, wherever you choose to work please be sure to post about your experiences - good or bad - so that furture teachers can benefit from your experiences.

[dvasas]

The best thing is to come here and decide I can't imagine chosing a place to work for without having met them, it could be a year or longer and deciding over email to me doesn't make sense.....best to see things first.

[wood]

It's often the case that schools don't know
when they'll be looking for new teachers.
People leave without notice and ads are
posted accordingly. I'd say that your best
bet is to show up prepared for interviews.
Check tealit or any of the local newspapers.

In Taipei, it shouldn't take anyone who is legally
qualified more than a month to find a job.