Job Discussion Forums

linzbc · Joined: 04 Feb 2009 Posts: 29 Location: Arlington, VA, US

I have a potential job lead right now. It's for a small school teaching 8 and 9 year olds, they said full time is probably 18-22 hours per week. We haven't discussed salary yet, but a friend said that they will probably pay me 650 nt/hr.

1) if I want to study chinese on the side, do you think I'd have enough time to do this? Even though it's 22 teaching hours, I really don't see how that will turn into 40 working hours per week, I feel like I would have plenty of time to learn Chinese... but I have no idea.

2) I'm in Taipei, and the only school I know of is Taiwan normal university Mandarin training center. Are there better schools? The summer session is 10 class hours a week.

3) Is there a more informal way of learning chinese than mandarin training center? I really need to learn some basic things so I have an idea of how to survive here, but I don't want to stress myself out at first with too much school and a full time job. Has anyone had success with language exchange?

4) Do you think 650 NT is a good salary for someone with teaching experience (but not ESL teaching) in Taipei? Do you think I can survive here if I only work part time? I've heard 650 is a normal rate in Taiwan, but Taipei is much more expensive than the rest of Taiwan.

Mr. White · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Posts: 36

I have a potential job lead right now. It's for a small school teaching 8 and 9 year olds, they said full time is probably 18-22 hours per week. We haven't discussed salary yet, but a friend said that they will probably pay me 650 nt/hr.

Better find out the pay and hours as otherwise you are pissing in the wind.

1) if I want to study chinese on the side, do you think I'd have enough time to do this? Even though it's 22 teaching hours, I really don't see how that will turn into 40 working hours per week, I feel like I would have plenty of time to learn Chinese... but I have no idea.

It depends what time of day you are teaching and whether you can get to Chinese class when they are being run.

2) I'm in Taipei, and the only school I know of is Taiwan normal university Mandarin training center. Are there better schools? The summer session is 10 class hours a week.

There are lots of places to study. What are you looking for?

3) Is there a more informal way of learning chinese than mandarin training center? I really need to learn some basic things so I have an idea of how to survive here, but I don't want to stress myself out at first with too much school and a full time job. Has anyone had success with language exchange?

Formal classes keep you on the right track.

4) Do you think 650 NT is a good salary for someone with teaching experience (but not ESL teaching) in Taipei? Do you think I can survive here if I only work part time? I've heard 650 is a normal rate in Taiwan, but Taipei is much more expensive than the rest of Taiwan.

That is a good hourly rate (assuming your boss is not crazy and you don't get shafted every which way). Finding a stable boss is FAR more important than finding a higher hourly rate.

linzbc · Joined: 04 Feb 2009 Posts: 29 Location: Arlington, VA, US

Mr. White · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Posts: 36

englishmaster · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 118

You could look at the ads in the expat magazines for Mandarin tutoring. That way would be more flexible. If you want or need the structure of formal uni classes, then go for it, but I think one-on-one lessons with a private tutor (a professional one, of course) might be best if you are teaching so many hours.

When I lived in Taiwan, I saw a professional tutor only two hours a week (not counting homework time, of course) and learned quite a bit from her.

Good luck.

Ki · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 475

I may be in the minority but I would prefer the frank advice over any subtlety. Wages offered vary greatly. But feel free to accept the 350 an hour job over the 650 one.

Wide eyed wanderer · Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 30 Location: Canada

This is coming from a newbie that hasn't gone overseas yet.

From what I understand NT is the same as TWD- New Taiwan Dollar. And from my research the average pay scale it between 50,000-70,000 TWD/month. So you may want to double check on that or tell them to give you the pay rate in TWD. Also I was talking to several people teaching overseas and they said to never accept a job that expects you to work more then 20-25 hours per week because you actually spend all most just as much as the class or more preparing lesson plans, at least at first. Once you get used to teaching or have learned some tricks of the trade you don't spend nearly as much time on lesson plans as you used to. So you may want to hold off on language classes till you are settled in your job and can get all your work done.