Job Discussion Forums

JRJohn · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 175

I am an experienced English teacher. I care about teaching. I am really interested in the Far East, and I am interested in the mandarin language. At times I really wish my degree had been in mandarin. I am attracted to the promise of saving money in Taiwan, as I have heard positive stories. I applied for a job with kojen. But I was told I'd have to come to Taiwan before the interview, and before my visa is applied for and their contact told me most teachers there are under 26 and the school dislikes regional accents. So I thought, no.
I am over 26, and have a Scottish accent. I got the impression most buxibans wanted Americans only. I also got the impression that most of the jobs available now are low grade, and with split shifts. Job security is poor, and you only get one day off per week. Is it possible for me to get a better job, in a smaller buxiban, with a kindergarten schedule, or 2 days off per week? I have lots of experience but I don;t have PGCE or DELTA. I have more than enough money to look for a job in Taiwan if I have to.

romanworld · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 388

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

rxk22 · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629

Geraldo84 · Joined: 24 Oct 2010 Posts: 6

I just got a job with Shane and they give you two days off per week, check them out. They are run through an agency called Saxoncourt.

rxk22 · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

rxk22, definitely.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

I don't know. I am doing pretty well teaching English.

Geraldo84 · Joined: 24 Oct 2010 Posts: 6

markcmc · Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 262 Location: Taiwan

There's quite a lot of work in Taiwan at the moment. At least, I'm having no problem finding it. Finding a great job is harder of course.

If you are an experienced teacher & care about teaching, then you won't find a good match with 90% or more of private language schools; regardless of country.

robertokun · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 199

robertokun · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 199

Pretentious Parrot · Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Posts: 17

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

Getting 80k from one employer is bloody near impossible. Sorry to sound like I am being harsh, but unless you work somewhere that gives you 30 hours a week of classes and you have been there for several years and have reached the upper limit of 7xxNT an hour, then it is more than difficult to earn that kind of money from one employer (at 600NT an hour, the average starting rate, you would have to work about 33 hours a week to earn that kind of money, good luck). Sure, work two part-time jobs and run yourself into the ground doing kindy in the morning jumping around like a monkey and then teaching afternoon to late evening classes. There are only a few schools that hire on a constant basis and you can see this because they run the same ads year in and year out. You know how small the market really is when you see the same ads popping up again and again. Is there work available? Yes, but more of it is becoming part-time and there are more teachers. When your boss sits you down and tells you that there are fewer students enrolled compared to last year, then you know the market is crap.