Job Discussion Forums

AmandaS · Joined: 04 Jul 2010 Posts: 1 Location: Canada

My boyfriend and I are planning on moving to Kaohsiung, Taiwan to teach EFL/ESL for the first time and there are three questions I haven't been able to find satisfactory answers to.

1. I am curious to know what it's been like for other people and their partners trying to find jobs at the same school or even in the same part of Kaohsiung? We both have BAs and are TESL/TESOL/TEFL certified. Do you see this presenting any problems?

2. We plan to stay in a hostel while we search for an apartment. Are there any organizations or services set up in Taiwan to help English-speaking expats find long-term accommodations?

3. What is the cell phone situation in Taiwan? If you were us and wanted a pair of phones to be used strictly for local calling (mainly each other), what would you do?

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

1. This depends on luck, but there's a good chance you could find work not too far apart.

3. It's easy (and relatively cheap) to buy cell phones here. You can buy without contract and use paycards if you want.

scarab1169 · Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Posts: 42

Hi and welcome,

Well I currently live and work in Kaohsiung and will give you my "perspective" on things.

1. I think it's going to be EXTREMELY hard for you and your SO to find employment at the same school. Job situation in Kaohsiung is a bit hard at the moment, so it's really going to be very hard. You guys may have to opt to find employment at different schools.

2. To find long term accomodation, I would recommend you to the yahoo group Kaohsiung Living or Connect Kaohsiung. It's a place where the community advertises appartments, stuff for sale, some schools also advertise on there, and some activities too.

3. Cellphones and "pay as you go" options are available , but maybe you'll need help from a Taiwanese person or somebody who can speak some Chinese to set the initial number up. To top up, you simply go to any convenience store and buy a value add card and add value to the phone.

Hope it helps, and if you have any more questions please don't hesitate to ask.

lisamtl · Joined: 30 Nov 2007 Posts: 4

How did everything go? Did you find work?
I am planning on moving to Taiwan with my boyfriend in the spring. He has taught in Korea, I have never taught abroad, i was under the impression that schools would favor couples.

Taylor · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 384 Location: Texas/Taiwan

Dear Readers,

I don't think most schools would favor couples. In my experience, couples that arrive together tend to leave together. This leaves the school needing to find two teachers.

However, I guess there are plenty of teachers looking for work nowadays. I just wouldn't emphasize it to anyone in charge of hiring.

Also, the students might make a big deal about it if they see you together. This would get annoying really quickly...

Taylor
Kaohsiung

EG in Taipei · Joined: 10 Jan 2011 Posts: 12 Location: Taipei , Taiwan

Some of the larger chains don't mind couples at all. I know several married couples who found work at HESS and Happy Marian. In the North, both Hess and Happy Marian can be a very negative experience, depending on the branch. I have heard better things about the South, but all of the schools have franchises, so you will have very different experiences depending upon which branch you get.

The chain schools will also help you find housing. Be wary of any school that includes housing. It's usually pretty awful. You will be much better off on your own.

You will need to get an ARC in order to work here. Once you have one, which every employer will be responsible to get for you, you can get either a pre-pay or a plan. It's a lot less expensive than in the US. It will help a lot to get someone who speaks Chinese to help you, but you can do it on your own.