Job Discussion Forums

[Justinelebonne]

After a lot of research, I have decided to move to Taiwan to teach. I have all of the basic requirements, B.A, TEFL and teaching experience. I am English but have an Irish passport.

I have been completely overwhelmed with the contrasting opinions and advice on the internet.

My reasons for going to Taiwan are

-to live in a warm climate
-to live close to a beach
-to become a brilliant teacher
-to experience a new culture
-hopefully to make some money
-I DON�T want to be working every hour; I want to enjoy my new life
-I want some holiday time to be able to explore near by countries

I realize that in reality it will be a very difficult transition. I just need some friendly help to make things easier.

These are the main things that I need help with.

1- Do I find a job before I go? Or do I go there and try and organize one there? I would feel more comfortable organizing before I go, but I have read �horror� stories about people going and their contracts being changed when they arrive.

2-Chain school or not? As it is my first year and I am on my own I am quite attracted to the stability of a chain school. However, I don�t want to work Saturdays and I don�t want to work split shifts.

3-I want to live near a beach and near some of Taiwan�s natural beauty. I have been living in London for two years and am longing for some nature. I realize that Taiwan�s cities are extremely dense and polluted. However, if I can drive to a beach, I will be happy. So far, Kaohsiung, Tainan and Taitung city seem to appeal to me most. Can anyone please help me with my decision?

4-If I arrived in February next year, would that be ok? I have found some extremely cheap flights for then.

I would really appreciate some help.

Thanks

[ESL Hobo]

Most of the jobs are in Taipei.
There are beaches in the north but the best beaches are in the south.
Becoming a brilliant teacher is a great goal to have. Some schools have a good support system and good training but most do not.
You will definitely experience a new culture, but the culture here is very complex and for many people frustrating to get used to.
You could probably save 800-1,000usd per month.
Most schools run from 8am to 12 with a 2 hour lunch then 2pm to 4pm, or have an afternoon and evening schedule. No weekends is typical.
You will get one or two weeks unpaid vacation. The best nearby country to explore would be Thailand. Air tickets are around 7,000NT round trip and you can stay at a youth hostel or cheap hotel.
1) get a contract before you arrive.
2)I have heard good things about JOY English school and Jumpstart.
3)I have heard good things about Kaoshuong and Tainan. Maybe try JumpStart in Tainan. It is a good school and people are easy going in the south, it's always warmer than Taipei and it' not far from the most beautiful beaches in TW, in Kenting.
4 I would check with the schools that are considering being hired for and ask them this question.

Hope this helps.

[123Loto]

I agree: wanting to become a brilliant teacher is a wonderful goal!

I notice that you don't want to be working all the time - however, in reality you will need to accept that to become a good teacher requires hard work and dedication. I wouldn't look at your job as a means to an ends (i.e. as a means to experiencing another culture, taking advantage of travel opportunities, going to the beach, living in a warm climate etc) but as an ends in itself.

That's why it's great that your stated goal is becoming a great teacher. You will feel 100x more satisfied with your life in Taiwan if you are succeeding in this area. And THEN you can enjoy all of those other great things you mentioned in your post.

All the best!

[IrishTony]

Hi

Firstly in terms of the widely differing opinions you'll see, it's to be expected. In my 5+ years in Taiwan I have found Taiwanese, generally, to be both the most friendly and open people I've ever met, and also the most aggressive, arrogant and rude people I've ever met. I'd say drivers in Taipei count for about 90% of the latter
There are frustrations to living here, but the experience in Taiwan really is what you make of it. Overall I've found Taiwan to be a fantastic place to live.

All of the items you list for your reasons for coming can certainly be met here. The salaries certainly aren't the same as back home, but foreign teachers make a pretty good living here and as I understand it (I'm not a teacher) private classes can net you some nice cash. You can live quite cheaply here if you're looking to save some money. Stay clear of the nightclubs and fancy restaurants and you should be fine.
Other than that, Taiwan is a fantastic place for an exotic adventure in life! The culture shock is huge, but again if you have a positive attitude this can be an attractive thing. The climate is roasting for about 6 months (summer temperatures tend to exceed the melting point of an Irish man).

If the beach is a biggy for you, Kaohsiung is closest on your list to Kending in the south, which has the best beaches in Taiwan. That said Taiwan is a small place and you can travel from north to south in about 3-4 hours. If you wanted to live in Taipei, there are some really nice beaches in the north too; fulong beach is popular with surfers.

Having a job before you arrive would of course be best, and many of the schools help with accommodation and getting your work visa. The danger is if the conditions turn out to be less than good, you might be tied to that school (by virtue of your work visa) and find it hard to switch. Some of the teachers on this site should be able to give you some advice.

Finally, I suggest you register with our expat club here in Taiwan: www.taiwancelts.com. There are Irish and English in our club, as well as Aussies, Yanks, Taiwanese, African, etc etc. It's always good to have a few connections when you arrive in a new country!

[Justinelebonne]

Ah, thanks very much Tony.

There seems to be so much negativity in this forum, i was starting to get disheartened!

But I am starting to feel very excited again and cant wait for this adventure!

Oh, and i have decided on Kaohsiung!

Thanks again

[Mr. White]

[ESL Hobo]

The Taiwan Celts, "A drinking club with a Sports problem" I love this quote from your site...very creative!!!