Job Discussion Forums

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

I meet the minimum requirements to teach in Taiwan (associate's degree and a TEFL certificate). I'm going there in 10 days to go job hunting. I already have my plane ticket that goes from Seoul to Kaohsiung.

I've been reading these forums and seriously I'm getting the sh** scared out of me. I'm reading things like that for every 30 applicants, only one gets selected, and that the market in Taiwan is over-saturated, and that many people who are well-qualified can't find any jobs. Oh, and the CNN articles about hordes of fresh college grads who can't find jobs pouring into Asia to take bottom dollar at language mills (and no, I'm not one of them, I've been in Asia for almost the last three years).

Seriously, I'm really getting worried and starting to think that buying a plane ticket to Taiwan was a bad idea. Here are my qualifications:
- Associate's degree with an Area of Focus (AOF) in Korean and another AOF in history
- CELTA
- 22 years old, Caucasian (I know it's wrong, but employers do care about this)
- Nearly 1.5 years of INFORMAL experience tutoring and working a few part-time hagwon jobs in Korea as I did my Korean language studies
- LIMITED Chinese courses (CHI 101 and some Chinese character classes at Yonsei, but my Chinese is horrible)
- I'll be hunting for a job in-country instead of from outside the country, so they'll actually get to meet me face-to-face
- I'm willing to take a job in a rural area and am not even considering Taipei (nor am I interested in teaching there)

I'm going to be job-seeking in and around Kaohsiung. Do I stand a snowflake's chance in hell? All I need is a basic buxiban job...

As a backup, I'm going to apply for the TaLK program in Korea, but I'd much rather work in Taiwan. I've lived five years of my life in Korea and am quite frankly sick of it and want a change...

steve_c · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 3:35 pm Post subject:

OK, first, take a deep, relaxing breath. You're going to be fine.

Some positive things to think about:

Kaohsiung City has a popuplation of 1.5 million, with about 3 million in the metro area. You'll have a vast number of buxibans to submit your resume to. (To compare, I live in Taoyuan City, which has a population of about 400,000, and I see many, many buxibans on the few streets that I normally travel; I'm sure there are dozens more that I haven't seen)

You meet the minimum gov't education requirements (AA+TESOL); however, if you can demonstrate that you are reliable and flexible and fun, these qualities will probably take precedence. And, unfair as it may be, your being young and having a white face is also a plus.

Of course, I'm no expert on the employment situation here, but, based on what you've said, I personally feel you should have no problems finding a buxiban job. Now, whether that job has the pay, benefits, and working conditions that you'll find acceptable is another story. And so is adjusting to life in Taiwan.

If you're up for the challenge, I think you'll succeed. Good luck to you, and welcome to Taiwan!

ESL Hobo · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Posts: 262

Young and white, you should have no problem at all finding a buxiban job.
When interviewing just be outgoing and cheerful.
In fact, It might be a good idea to try several schools and pick the one you like the most.

JoeyKocur · Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 10

While the previous posters are correct about you finding work, your real problem is an ARC. Taiwan law states that a B.A./B.S. is required.

Check out www.tealit.com and you will see. The min. required for a work permit (ARC) is a Bachelors. But do not take my word for it, check out that site and see for yourself.

Regardless of what others post on this thread, I'm telling you the facts required to live in Taiwan legally as a teacher.

IMO, you should be worried. Taiwan has finally caught on that many teachers never graduated university. And some are being thrown out of the country, minus a fine depending on if you've overstayed your visa.

Just yesterday I spoke with an official with the MoE and she told me Taiwan's plan to expel college dropouts. It starts with the public and private elementaries, Jr and Sr high schools. Now to qualify for these positions, you must possess a teacher certificate (NOT TEFL, CELTA, etc). You can have a PhD, but if you're not a "teacher", no go in the govt school systems.

Taiwan's second phase is to get rid of teachers who teach at language schools illegally (w/o a degree). She asserted the process is already started, and should be completed sometime next year.

I have known this lady for several years, and her info has always been early and accurate. She works for the govt, and I trust her.

Rats have informed the govt about foreigners going to Thailand and coming back as university grads, and Taiwan has finally gotten the message.

Harsher rules are on the way, not easier ones. And please dont shoot the messanger.

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

Yes Rooster, you meet the minimum requirements. I have hired people with the same degree as you have.

Don't pay too much attention to tealit. It's got some useful information, but it also has a lot of misinformation, and following advice from them can get you into a lot of trouble.

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

JoeyKocur,

I don't mean to shoot the messenger, but if a legitimate, accredited AA + CELTA is not substitutable for a BA, then why does every Hess advertisement say it is?

I will not be teaching illegally without a degree. I will be teaching legally with an associate's degree and CELTA. There is a huge difference between some guy who gets a BA in Thailand in six months and me. My AA degree required passing courses and tests that were all either recognized by the US Department of Education (taken at Northern Virginia Community College) or ACE-accredited (AP, CLEP, and an NYU Language Exam).

There's no logical reason I should be denied a working visa, since I meet the minimum requirement of AA + TEFL, but I hear that Taiwan doesn't like "distance degrees." My degree is 100% legitimate, accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and quite a bit of the credits were done in a brick-and-mortar school, but I'm more concerned about whether Taiwanese immigration will see it that way.

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

steve_c · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:37 pm Post subject:

JoeyKocur · Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 10

Greetings,

It was not my intention to start anything. So sorry if anyone got offended.

But did you notice another school with these requirements? Every other job posting I found required a four year degree. I wonder why that is?

She called it about the public schools two years ago, and was spot-on. I take her at her word, as she is clearly in the loop.

Let's "ttt" this in a year, but yall win for now.

GO WINGS!!!

JK

steve_c · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:20 am Post subject:

JoeyKocur · Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 10

Not yet...Game 7 is tonight @ The Joe (morning for us, of course)

I just hope I can watch it online, as I dont think it's on tv.

Best,
JK

motown · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 68

marleymg · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Canada

I was going for the pens, and I won $30 at my work pool - whoo hoo.
See you in Taiwan...
thanks for all the info - I find my self in the same colluded situation as many and its nice to hear all the insight.
Better luck next year Michigan...Go Canucks!