Job Discussion Forums

[MsDelightful]

Hello all,

I'm considering going to Taiwan to teach, but want to be sure of what I'm doing before uprooting and flying thousands of miles there. So I'm considering going through Hess in Taipei in one of their company (i.e. not franchise) schools. This should be safe enough right?

I have another problem. Though I was born and raised in Britain I am ethnically Chinese and can speak mandarin. Although being able to speak chinese should be an advantage, I know how downright racist Chinese people can be, and how a large part of getting a foreign teacher is in the face value of having someone white working there. Do you think I'd suffer discrimination/ just general bad times with the schools because of this? Does anyone have experience of this?

Final question. I don't really want to make tefl my career, I just want to go to TW to experience living in China and improve my mandarin. But I wonder if it will look bad on my CV as its something anyone can do, and I've already done a gap year before. Also I'm 24 now, having already travelled a bit and worked in various jobs and did further study after a degree. Would this plus a year in TW just scream directionless to an employer? And by the time I come back I'll be 25, too old to get a proper job starting at the bottom?

Not that I know what I want to do - what's everyone's views on life after tefl?

My that was a long post, thanks for reading!

[GWUstudent]

I'm in the US, so maybe things are different in the UK, but 25 is young! I don't understand why you would be too old to get a "proper" job?

I've taught overseas a few times now and am finally working on my MA. I'm in my late late 20's. I guess I could ball myself up with worry about my age or how someone might interpret my resume. But, I've chosen to try out as many new, interesting things as possible, and have had some amazing experiences living abroad. I have some wonderful memories and photos to reflect on while I'm here in the US preparing for whatever comes next.

I feel that if a potential employer looks down on my overseas work experiences, then that job probably isn't one that I would want. But, I am going into an international field, so I have the feeling my work experience will be in my favor. It certainly has given me interesting things to talk about in interviews. And my recent teaching experience in Bhutan has gotten me into some interviews I probably wouldn't have had a chance at before.

I think it all depends on what type of employment your going into after TEFL. If your planning to use Mandarin in your future career, try and highlight your teaching experince in Taiwan. Take a Mandarin class and put that on your resume too.

But...if you were directionless before TEFL, and come back directionless, then, well...that will probably be reflected in your resume and at interviews.

Good luck!

[DirtGuy]

Let me see if I understand you: You are 25 and worrying about being too old to get a "proper" job. Is that right?

I'd kill to be in your position!!!!!!!!!

Racism amongst Taiwanese? Is the Pope Catholic? Is the rabbi Jewish? You're not going to be there forever so have your fun and leave when you've had enough. Just go and have a good time.

FYI: When you get sick of dealing with Taiwanese, and rest assured you will, go up into the central mountains and east coast and get to know the mountain people. Accept them on their terms and you will discover the nicest people you could ever hope to meet.

DirtGuy

[trukesehammer]

Racism in Taiwan. Hmmmmm, now there's some food for thought.

You know, I was chatting with a couple of my buddies the other day, two of whom are Black, and we all agreed we'd much rather deal with Taiwan's brand of racism.

[MsDelightful]

Hi,

thanks for the replies. Anyone else with some stories with their experiences of life after tefl, trying to find a job and how this year in taiwan was recieved etc? Does anyone regret doing it cos it was bad for their career?

Maybe I am worrying too much for this age, and I'm not an obsessive planner but don't want to wake up one day when it's too late to plan!

Also does everyone think going with Hess in Taipei would be reasonably safe? I really don't want to live through some of these horror stories I hear on these boards.

Really unsure about whether to go
Thanks

[yanksrock1]

Well i can add a bit to this.

I taught for Hess in Taipei for a year. It was a positive experience for me personally. Career-wise, I'm not too sure because I would fall under the directionless before and after teaching abroad catagory.

Teaching in Taiwan got me a spot in an investment bank, by sheer luck... Way on the bottom and I'm 27. Yes, it is tough being on the bottom at 27. The recruiter I had an interview with, it turns out, his wife taught in TW for 3 years, so we hit it off. Thing is, I wanted my shot at corporate America and I got it. Now I have to live with it...lol Teaching in Taipei for 20hrs a week and a corp job are quite different.

Anyway, I think you should go for it. Even if you don't end up teaching for life, it doesnt look bad on your resume. Hess isn't perfect, but if you just want to go for a year, I think you should go with them. Just make sure you are in Taipei and near the MRT. Don't let them place you in the boonies especially if you want to take language lessons.

Good luck and feel free to message me if you want some more info..

[atiff]

Just two comments:

Working in Taiwan can set you up for other careers depending on what you do here - many of our teachers have management training and experience from working as Head Teachers, or specialist experience from working in curriculum development, web design, marketing, recruiting, etc. I assume the same can be said for many other big schools.

Also, if you want to learn Mandarin, you don't just have to be in Taipei City. From what I am aware, Hsinchuang (Taipei County), Tainan, Kaohsiung and Taichung all have centers with good programs for learning the language, too.