Job Discussion Forums

[DaCraig12]

After receiving my TESL certificate I had been planning on teaching in China, but it seems they are now enforcing age limit of 60. I am 60, in good health, and feel very capable. I am wondering whether Taiwan has an age restriction too. From the Taiwan job posts that are seen on the internet, it is not mentioned, so maybe it is a non-issue there. Are there older folks like myself working?

[creztor]

Most cram schools will turn you away. Your best bet would be adult schools, but I think they would also turn you away simply because there is a lot of supply, or maybe a university if you had the required credentials. Basically, very little chance.

[123Loto]

I'd agree with creztor - definitely do your job hunting before you come into the country anyway... very, very few EFL teachers in Taiwan are over 50 years old...

[DaCraig12]

This idea of mine came from tutoring Taiwanese students at UC Berkeley who were in a 6 week residential summer program last August. They had been to the cram schools and thought I was a better teacher than what they had experienced. It was a nice complement. Of course I was only tutoring, not teaching in a classroom.

I have a bachelors and a 250 hour TESL certificate from UC Berkeley with 3 years teaching experience and a 30-day license in California. I am supposing then from what you are both saying that a higher degree like a masters TESL and many years experience could possibly qualify those over 50 for university level TEFL in Taiwan.

Although it does not hurt to try from home so as to first have a job in hand, I get from other Taiwan posts here that the market is flooded with ESL teachers; the old supply and demand scenario. Any other observations or ideas are appreciated. Thank you.

[atreyue]

Hey OP

Sorry to say, but the other posters are pretty spot-on about the age thing. I am 47 and about at the upper limit of what is employable in this region - guys in the 50's or 60's may have a better chance in Thailand?

Good luck to you.

[forest1979]

OP - If your Taiwanese students had been taught English by a Taiwanese person then by and large they would have been taught English in Mandarin under a very rigid teaching manner, so yes you would be right in saying you could be a good teacher for them.

However in Taiwan there are certain 'ghost' rules within the TEFL system. It is certainly advantageous to be young, have white skin and have fair hair.

Whilst persons over 50 can in theory find work in practice it is almost impossible unless some school is at its wits end. Today the market is increasingly competitive for jobs and your age will certainly count against you.

For a university post you need a minimum of a masters and has been stated on previous threads the availability of instructor positions is not as prevalent as it once was. Whilst you might have a TEFL qualification from a renowned university in Taiwan such qualifications count for very, very little. I am sure you can find more information on this if you search the threads.

[123Loto]

I'd try Vietnam.

I did the CELTA course there earlier in the year. You need to check out if your TEFL qualification is recognized - but it sounds like it should be!

Every single one of the graduates of my CELTA course who stayed in the country and tried to get work were employed with in 4 weeks of finishing the course. They were all ages, and for some English was their second language.

It's becoming more and more obvious that the starting pay is equal to Taiwan, if not higher. ($18USD is typical, though many people I know scored higher pay rates).

The living costs are lower. And they don't have enough teachers. It's a bit more "wild west" than the "big 3", (Japan, Korea, Taiwan) but could be a good option for you.

They won't hire you via email. I tried about 30 applications and got one phone interview. They might be more interested if you phone them.

However, in my opinion you'd do all right to turn up and beat the streets.

Hope that helps!

[markcmc]

Most of the points above are true. It will be very hard at 60 to find work in Taiwan, especially if you don't have a lot of experience in the field. For a teacher with a few decades of experience it would be a lot easier.

[beenthere96-2005]

[Jawnie]

I'd like to hear more about this for Taiwan. Is this the law or just a policy? And, are there circumstances in which older teachers can get hired? For example, if a person is a good teacher, still alert, healthy, active, etc., are there instances where such individuals are able to work?

For example, in China, mandatory retirement at age 60 is the policy of the Chinese government. But, it is commonly understood that a qualified and competent older teacher can work if the school is willing to support and sponsor the teacher.

[Dr_Zoidberg]

[EG in Taipei]

The age limit definitely applies to bushibans, which want young people they can control and believe that if a teacher is attractive that students will continue to sign up. Since you are 60, must have had a previous career. Sometimes you can get work by leveraging your previous career's experience, especially if it is in the corporate world or a technical field. There is definitely a cultural bias against older people, but no codified law. My Mother in law is in her 50's and is working in the States because she can't get work here.

[Ikki]

May as well face it-the over 40 set is pretty well SOOL in E. Asia. Not just Taiwan...a recent job ad in Japan required applicants to submit a FULL BODY shot photo to get the job ... for 200K/mo. !!!! Yep: Be pretty, handsome, thin, blond and young....

The powers that be complain about the 22 year old "frat boy/girl" who doesn't know how to teach, etc. And how these barbarians feel they're more interested in travelling/partying, etc.

When,yet, it's said & done? They dismiss the young punks BUT do not welcome older, qualified teachers.

Japan's JET: a superb program but NO ONE over 39 will get on that gravy train....

[markcmc]

There is no law to say that older teachers [under retirement age] cannot be hired; it is the preference of many - but not all - employers, to hire younger staff.

I know of teachers in their 50's and 60's teaching English in universities in Taiwan; and I know of several teachers in there 40's working in language schools. The point is, if you have no experience of TEFL, and you are over 40, it will be extremely difficult to find a job. If you do have good experience of teaching English, and TEFL certification, then you should be able to find a job.

I'm 49 and I have no particular problem finding work, other than having to apply to many institutions, as many teachers do. I have not been applying to private language schools; perhaps my experiences would be different if I had. I am due to begin teaching in a university here soon. I do have a lot of experience and an MEd TESOL, which makes a difference.

[123Loto]