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Moving to Taiwan from the Mainland

 
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Niederbom



Joined: 13 Feb 2010
Posts: 66
PostPosted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 9:10 pm    Post subject: Moving to Taiwan from the Mainland Reply with quote
I currently work at a TOEFL training center in the Mainland. But, while I'd like to stay in China for a 2nd year, I think I might enjoy living in a non-Communist China a bit more.

I'll have a BA, non-teaching work experience, 1 year of teaching experience, Intermediate Mandarin, and a TEFL certificate.

EDIT: Sounds like everyone wants licensed teachers to work for long hours and little pay. Maybe the Mainland is really better. Could someone please point me in the right direction?
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Dr_Zoidberg



Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 406
Location: Not posting on Forumosa.
PostPosted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Teacher licences are required for those wishing to work at elementary or secondary schools. While you can work at a university in China with your educational background, you will not be able to do so in Taiwan; for that you need at least a masters degree.

Sooooooooooooo, that leads you down the rabbit hole to the wonderland that is the Taiwanese buxiban.
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creztor



Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 476
PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nieder,
If you have a dislike or just don't want to teach children, seriously consider staying. Without an MA, teacher's license or some serious connections, you will be stuck in a cram school teaching ankle biters all day. Also, as you pointed out already, the pay for having a teacher's license is not that much, if any at all, better than working equivalent hours in a cram school. I would honestly do a lot of homework/soul searching as to WHAT you are looking to find in Taiwan before you seriously consider moving here.
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Rooster_2006



Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 984
PostPosted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
creztor wrote:
Nieder,
If you have a dislike or just don't want to teach children, seriously consider staying. Without an MA, teacher's license or some serious connections, you will be stuck in a cram school teaching ankle biters all day. Also, as you pointed out already, the pay for having a teacher's license is not that much, if any at all, better than working equivalent hours in a cram school. I would honestly do a lot of homework/soul searching as to WHAT you are looking to find in Taiwan before you seriously consider moving here.
Agreed.

I think the OP's statement that he "might enjoy living in a non-Communist China a bit more" assumes that he will somehow be freer in Taiwan.

Bottom line is, from the perspective of the actual foreign English teacher on the ground, which country is "democratic" and which country is "communist" really doesn't matter. Our freedoms are determined by the visa laws, not by the government type.

OP, why do you want to live in Taiwan?

There are some things in Taiwan that are definitely better than the PRC. The climate is better, the people are nicer, and permanent residency is easier.

On the other hand, there are many things that are worse, too. Your choice of teaching jobs will be abysmal compared to the PRC. Without a teacher's license or MA, happy kid wrangling! You will only be eligible to work in a cram school (teaching at PS will be against the law and uni teaching will be out of your reach). Your standard of living will not be nearly as high relative to the locals as in China. And you'll have to re-learn the writing system, since Taiwan uses traditional characters...

Perhaps you have a very big reason to move to Taiwan -- you're an avid surfer, you are doing a master's degree on the Pepohoan aborigines, you want to learn the Minnan dialect, or you have a Taiwanese wife.

However, unless you have a very strong reason to come here, I wouldn't recommend it.
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JZer



Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
PostPosted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 1:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
If I was starting over again, I would definitely go to Hangzhou or Guangzhou. I would definitely give Taiwan a pass.
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