Job Discussion Forums

hengbrock · Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 8

I'm looking to move to Taiwan in late April / early May of this year and teach (not sure which age group yet). I am happy to complete an online ESL certification to ensure a job, if necessary. Also, I have read several of the forums saying that Taiwan is pretty safe. I'm hoping that is true for a bigger city like Taipei, which is where I'd like to be.

For people who have lived in or near Taipei:
1. What is a good online source for jobs?
2. Where is a decent spot to live (close enough to the subway so I can find stuff to do)?
3. What can I expect to pay for cost of living, and how negotiable is the salary for someone with a teaching cert vs. someone without?
4. What is there to do? Would I have an easy time finding a gym or at least martial arts lessons?
5. Are there beaches and how far do I have to go to find them?
6. Any other advice, info. you may have?

Thanks, I appreciate any and all advice.

Heather

surrealia · Joined: 11 Jan 2003 Posts: 241 Location: Taiwan

I will do my best to answer your questions:

1. Try some of the links here for jobs:

http://www.geocities.com/allhou/teachlinks.htm

2. Decent place to live? I think it depends on what you are looking for. Peace and quiet? Nightlife?

3. Here's some information about salaries:

http://www.eslisland.com/guide/Average-Salaries.htm

4. The articles here should give you a good indication of what there is to do in Taipei:

http://www.taiwanfun.com/north/taipei/recreation/index.htm

5. An article on beaches:

http://www.taiwanfun.com/north/taipei/articles/0406/0406Beaches.htm

6. My advice: read over the articles on this website. They should give you an idea of what to expect:

http://www.geocities.com/allhou/taiwan.htm

hengbrock · Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 8

Thank you surrealia for your post. I am looking for somewhere that is close enough to walk to some decent nightlife and/or the subway, so I can easily get in an out of cities, access the airport, etc. I am excited to teach english, but I'm also mostly excited to go to the neighboring countries on my vacation time. For that reason, I'd like to be close to the airport.

I'm piecing everything together, except particularly which school and where to live. I have found some very good information in the websites you provided. Thank you.

Heather

citylightsruralcalm · Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 53 Location: The Ilha

You can come to my neighborhood. We can play ping pong together.

hengbrock · Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 8

What's your neighborhood called? I'm awful at ping pong!

Also, to everyone, how does the apartment thing work out there? Do you just show up and get a hotel for a week until you can find a decent apartment or does the school just find one for you? Is it expected to live in shared accommodations?

surrealia · Joined: 11 Jan 2003 Posts: 241 Location: Taiwan

Taipei and now Kaohsiung both have rail systems, as well as some nightlife and proximity to an airport, so you would probably prefer those cities.

About apartments: some schools will help you find an apartment. In other cases, you will probably want to rely on the foreign community to help you out. It's pretty easy to get your own apartment, although it will be more expensive in Taipei than in other places.

This page has some information on accommodations in Taipei:

http://www.geocities.com/allhou/teachaccom.htm

enoch83 · Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 69 Location: Taipei, Taiwan

hengbrock · Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 8

Haha - okay great. I appreciate the responses. I'm looking at schools and finding a job now. Hopefully I can get on this and be there by May. I'll aim to be near Guting, I think that sounds pretty decent. I have a BA, BS and MS, so maybe I'll skip the teaching certificate. I'll skip the secret brothels, but everything else sounds fabulous. I've already planned out the sour candy deal - I've even got friends scheduled to bring it when they come. I'm addicted to it and will DIE without it!

citylightsruralcalm · Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 53 Location: The Ilha

You have 3 degrees? OMG!

hengbrock · Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 8

OK and now I'm confused - do I need a TESL or ESL or any kind of certificate outside of a degree? I'm reading conflicting information on this board!

enoch83 · Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 69 Location: Taipei, Taiwan

as far as I know, and i've worked at two different schools and interviewed w/ several others, none have ever required a cert, and having one didn't warrant a higher salary. its a big generalization to say you dont need one to work in taiwan, but most schools don't require it. imo you;ll be fine w/o one.

if u want to live near Guting, in the DaAn district, its pretty easy to find a place if you go down to ShiDa univ and go to the Mandarin Language center and check the boards (real boards not online Wink

and you can find a room pretty easily. when u first arrive a decent hostel to stay at downtown is Holo Family hostel at 50 zhongqiao fuxing west rd outside taipei train station. its on the 23rd floor i believe, in the lonely planet as well. they'll give u a longterm rate if u stay there for a couple weeks trying to get your housing figured out.
from what i know, most schools don't provide housing, but i think some do if you go through a recruiter that brings you from the states. i've never done that so i'm not sure. maybe someone else can chime in

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

It doesn't get you more dosh but if you don't have a degree you will need a TESOL certificate.
You CAN find positions here with an associate diploma plus a TESOL although I'm not sure if you can get work with a college diploma ... I'm not saying you can't find work with a college diploma just that I don't know if you can or not.

enoch83 · Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 69 Location: Taipei, Taiwan

ya i agree w/ the above, i think the only reason you would need a cert is if you have an associate (2 year) degree, in which the case of the OP, this is not an issue so...