Job Discussion Forums

scb222 · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 175 Location: Brisvegas, Oz

hi all you taiwan teachers,

ive been watching the relaity tv show taipei diaries, about teaching in taiwan, and am very interested in winging over that way. ive currently teaching in turkey. what i'd like to know is, is taipei diaries anything like the real deal? some teachers on the show were supposedly getting $1000 a month. possibly or not? anyone know where jaymie is, i thought he was kinda cool?

cheers!!

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

Isn't Jamie the Canadian who was arrested here and is facing life imprison or the death penalty for drug importation and dealing? I know that one of the guys involved with that documentary is now in prison - I am just not sure which one.

In answer to your question, native speakers of English with at least a university degree can secure legal employment here and earn good money - although not a fortune. If you don't have a degree and/or do not hold a passport from the government here declares to be a native English speaking country then you might want to reconsider your decision to come here as you will not be able to secure legal employment as a foreign English teacher.

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

I'm not sure if Jamie himself was arrested, but certainly someone who worked with him on that low budget film is now in prison for drug smuggling. If he had any sense at all I'm sure he is a long way from Taiwan now. Perhaps he's in Thailand getting another enema.

I watched that English teaching show with my parents a couple of times. It made me cringe. I felt they had used 'teachers' from the lower end of the spectrum. Or perhaps the reality of it was too close for comfort!

Anybody else have thoughts about that?

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

I was under the impression the the "Taipei Diaries" were about the wacky and zany escapades of a drug-dealing scumbag who is spending years in prison.

Episodes include the hilarious antics of fellow prisoners who beat him silly,
a fun-loving warden who "loses" his appeal documents, and a classic episode where his mother spends her days crying until she dies a broken women.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?p=360618&highlight=#360618

aaah yes....the glamour of drug-dealing! Rolling Eyes

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

Uh, so where can I get a copy of this show? Did anyone make a copy and would they like to sell it? Have heard so much about this program that now I really want to see it.

DirtGuy

scb222 · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 175 Location: Brisvegas, Oz

Watch Reality TV www.realitytvchannel.com it's being shown right now, nightly at 6.15pm CET.

scb222 · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 175 Location: Brisvegas, Oz

heavens!!! after looking at the posted links I am quite shocked. I guess I really shouldn't be. Jamie was always looking to make money, set up a business, whatever. and there was an episode where he and some mates smoked pot. Still I cant believe it. I feel a bit sorry for him, though it was SUCH a stupid thing to do. Cant believe too that he got away with it for 2 years as well. Does anyone know what sentence he got???

trukesehammer · Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Posts: 168 Location: The Vatican

scb222 · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 175 Location: Brisvegas, Oz

yes, pardon, that was meant to be $1000 a week!

773 · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 213

Standard starting pay seems to be around $1500 to $2000 a month. I have been here for nearly 6 years, and am making about $2500 to $3000 a month for teaching about 30 hours a week (I get paid by the hour, so my salary month to month depends on how many working days were in the month).

scb222 · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 175 Location: Brisvegas, Oz

do you have a work permit/visa, or do you still need to do visa runs every 2 mths??
thanks.

scb222 · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 175 Location: Brisvegas, Oz

do you have a work permit/visa, or do you still need to do visa runs every 2 mths??
thanks.

scb222 · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 175 Location: Brisvegas, Oz

do you have a work permit/visa, or do you still need to do visa runs every 2 mths??
thanks.

773 · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 213

scb222 · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 175 Location: Brisvegas, Oz

did you get your first ARC before you arrived in Taiwan, or did you have to go there, get a job, and THEN get your ARC? Im eager to give Taiwan a try, after having already taught in Korea, Laos, and now in Turkey. But having to do visa runs seems expensive and risky to me. I mean risky in that if they dont let you back in then all the stuff i left in my hostel room or apt will be lost forever.