Job Discussion Forums

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

By 'private' I mean privately owned schools / language schools not private lessons that you choose to undertake in your spare time.

My wife and I are seriously considering coming to Taiwan in 2007 and have done some research into wages, working hours, benefits etc but we aren't sure what the differences in vacation time are.

In China we have worked for both and, with the exception of vacation time there is little to differentiate the two; whereas private schools will only offer a few weeks vacation over the course of the year, at public schools we were getting close to 3 months paid!!

Can somebody shed some light on the situation in Taiwan and tell us when the school terms begin and end?

Thanks a lot
Wink

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

Wow, thanks for the input.
Perhaps I should have titled the thread "What's the best city in Taiwan' or 'How much should I make?' in order to get some replies.

Rolling Eyes

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

As there are only about four new posts per day on this forum I think you are being slightly impatient (22 hours between initial post and follow up), particularly as the vast majority of posters here have only worked in the private sector (I suspect), so therefore have little to offer you as far as comparative info goes.

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

Ayah...
Sorry about that, patience isn't my strong suit I'm afraid but I'm working on it Rolling Eyes

So, from your post I take it that most everybody is working in private / cram schools? Why is that? Wouldn't you get more vacations in a public school or are these types of positions just not available?
So what kind of vacations DO you get in private schools per year?

Thanks and I'll try to be more patient.

*taps fingers impatiently*

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

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

Can I get two of those please??

That was my understanding also. Here on the mainland both public and private employment is available, which is why I asked the question initially. I didn't realize that public school employment was hard to come by in Taiwan. From my experience here on the mainland the public system tends not to pay so well as the private but offers better (MUCH better) holidays. Private language schools pay well (sometimes double) for the same amount of hours, provide tested curriculums and essentially the same benefits.

Still no answer on Taiweanese holidays?

Do you lot get any?

Laughing

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

The vast majority of jobs are in cram schools, where you will get the standard 2 weeks of holiday time per year, plus the government holidays. If you plan on taking a lot of holidays, you will have trouble finding a job that you like, because no one will want to hire an unstable teacher. You will probably end up as an illegal, working a number of horrible part-time jobs and leaving the country every two months to renew your visitor visa.

Public school jobs are hard to come by, and once again, stability is a major factor that schools look for. No school will offer you a good job if you need extra time off on a regular basis.

Sorry to sound so blunt, but that's the way it is.

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

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

Nice!!
Does alcohol negate the effect of those monster pills?
'Cos if it does I'm gonna need more.
Thanks for the input though I DO appreciate it; doesn't really enlighten me much but it substantiates my initial impressions that paid vacations are a lot less available in Taiwan than they are in mainland China. Nevertheless I'll probably see you all soon.... so to speak.
Anybody know of positions opening up in Taichung in February?

flapjack · Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 7:31 am Post subject:

To work in a public school sytem you need to be a certified teacher, with a teachers license. The holidays are paid for just like the other teachers, which are a few one day holidays here and there, plus chinese new years,about 2 weeks . Summer vacation ,2 months is not paid, unless you work for it. You may also be asked to work during your winter vacation if they can get a class together, but the hours are reduced. Public school teachers get paid a 14 month salary per year plus they get the summer off, 2 months, foreigners don't get that kind of a deal, but public schools are much better than working in the private cram schools. You will have to do a lot of office hours but if you are in nice school the schedule of working from 8am to 4pm makes up for having to work so many evenings.