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chaiplz
Joined: 20 Mar 2011
Posts: 108
Location: Boston, MA
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 Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:35 am Post subject: What to do first/Looking for 'Taiwan Mentor' |
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I'm taking my TESL classes throughout the month of May at a local uni here in Boston, then planning on finding a job in Taiwan.
What can I do now to sort of help me later? I'm looking at mandarin courses, but are there papers and legal documents I should be requesting now to save a headache later?
Is Taiwan a good place to start my TESL career? I did an exchange program for a year in Brasil after high school, then came back to the states and just graduated with my bachelor's. From my research it looks like Taiwan is a good starting point (especially when my student loans start to chomp at my heels!) This is something I've always wanted to do, I want to make sure I do it right.
Lastly (ish) - is there anyone out there that knows good schools to apply to that AREN'T in Taipei? I really want to work with younger children, but do these jobs pay less/ are harder to find? I guess I'm looking for someone with first hand experience to be my buddy .
Oh -- and I really am open to pretty much anywhere in the world, my only requirements really are that I make ok money to pay student loans. So if you've had different experiences in other places that you loved, please share  Seriously, Russia? Albania? Greenland? Falkland Islands?
Thanks lots
Kels |
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TaoyuanSteve
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 1028
Location: Taoyuan
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| Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:27 am Post subject: Re: What to do first/Looking for 'Taiwan Mentor' |
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| chaiplz wrote: |
What can I do now to sort of help me later? I'm looking at mandarin courses, but are there papers and legal documents I should be requesting now to save a headache later? |
Your necessary documents will be your original degree parchment and valid passport.
| chaiplz wrote: |
| Is Taiwan a good place to start my TESL career? I did an exchange program for a year in Brasil after high school, then came back to the states and just graduated with my bachelor's. From my research it looks like Taiwan is a good starting point (especially when my student loans start to chomp at my heels!) This is something I've always wanted to do, I want to make sure I do it right. |
That depends on you and what you want. It certainly suits me fine, but some do not like it.
| chaiplz wrote: |
| Lastly (ish) - is there anyone out there that knows good schools to apply to that AREN'T in Taipei? |
Any particular reason you are against Taipei? I recommend you don't commit to, or rule out, any locales until you know something about Taiwan.
| chaiplz wrote: |
| I really want to work with younger children, but do these jobs pay less/ are harder to find? |
Pretty much the opposite of your presumption. The children's market is the largest by far. Most jobs are for children's teaching, as are some of the highest paying, on average. |
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Shimokitazawa
Joined: 16 Aug 2009
Posts: 458
Location: Saigon, Vietnam
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:30 am Post subject: Re: What to do first/Looking for 'Taiwan Mentor' |
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| chaiplz wrote: |
I'm taking my TESL classes throughout the month of May at a local uni here in Boston, then planning on finding a job in Taiwan.
What can I do now to sort of help me later? I'm looking at mandarin courses, but are there papers and legal documents I should be requesting now to save a headache later?
Is Taiwan a good place to start my TESL career? I did an exchange program for a year in Brasil after high school, then came back to the states and just graduated with my bachelor's. From my research it looks like Taiwan is a good starting point (especially when my student loans start to chomp at my heels!) This is something I've always wanted to do, I want to make sure I do it right.
Lastly (ish) - is there anyone out there that knows good schools to apply to that AREN'T in Taipei? I really want to work with younger children, but do these jobs pay less/ are harder to find? I guess I'm looking for someone with first hand experience to be my buddy .
Oh -- and I really am open to pretty much anywhere in the world, my only requirements really are that I make ok money to pay student loans. So if you've had different experiences in other places that you loved, please share Seriously, Russia? Albania? Greenland? Falkland Islands?
Thanks lots
Kels |
Korea or Japan will be much better alternatives in terms of compensation, if that is your main consideration.
Second, careful about wanting to be based outside of Taipei. This can really backfire on new-to-Taiwan TEFL'ers. If you haven't lived or taught in Taiwan before, maybe give yourself a chance and ease into life here by living in or near Taipei City. Then, after you get your legs, learn some mandarin, etc., you go and hunt for that job in the sticks or some other location.
Korea is full of TEFL teachers who came to Taiwan and tried to live and work in other areas and it didn't work out too well for them. It's a much harder start for new people doing it that way. As a result, people tend to get fed up and discouraged. It demotivates them wanting to continue here.
Something for you to consider, at least. |
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chaiplz
Joined: 20 Mar 2011
Posts: 108
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: What to do first/Looking for 'Taiwan Mentor' |
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| TaoyuanSteve wrote: |
Any particular reason you are against Taipei? I recommend you don't commit to, or rule out, any locales until you know something about Taiwan.
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I've lived in very large cities, and I have lived in small cities.. the 'medium' cities have been the best fit for me. I wasn't ruling out Taipei, just seeing if there was a chance I could get something outside (if, by other's experiences,they thought it would work) 
Thank you guys for your responses! They have been very helpful  |
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TaoyuanSteve
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 1028
Location: Taoyuan
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 6:09 pm Post subject: Re: What to do first/Looking for 'Taiwan Mentor' |
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| chaiplz wrote: |
| TaoyuanSteve wrote: |
Any particular reason you are against Taipei? I recommend you don't commit to, or rule out, any locales until you know something about Taiwan.
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I've lived in very large cities, and I have lived in small cities.. the 'medium' cities have been the best fit for me. I wasn't ruling out Taipei, just seeing if there was a chance I could get something outside (if, by other's experiences,they thought it would work)
Thank you guys for your responses! They have been very helpful |
OK and my original advice stands. You haven't lived here before. Trust me. You'll know what I mean once you've been here a while. There is a huge gap in development between Taipei and most other cities. Living in a "medium" city where you are and living in a "medium" city here are just incomparable. |
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chaiplz
Joined: 20 Mar 2011
Posts: 108
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 5:23 am Post subject: Re: What to do first/Looking for 'Taiwan Mentor' |
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| TaoyuanSteve wrote: |
OK and my original advice stands. You haven't lived here before. Trust me. You'll know what I mean once you've been here a while. There is a huge gap in development between Taipei and most other cities. Living in a "medium" city where you are and living in a "medium" city here are just incomparable. |
Ok, thanks. I was also factoring in Brasil, but I have honestly never been to Taiwan so I'm definitely taking your advice
Thanks again, you're all very helpful (not just on this thread, but all of them) |
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mankindmatt5
Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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My advice is this
If your main priority is too save money to pay off student loans, DO NOT come here. Your going to end up shelling out money for flights, visas, housing deposits and spending time here looking for a job - after about 3-4 months you may have made most of that money back. By the time you're earnings have started mounting up, the amount of money you can save is pretty minimal.
Compare this to S.Korea, return flights paid for, accommodation ready and waiting and paid for, a large salary that in honesty is actually hard to spend. If you work at a public school you get paid holidays too. Much much better for your needs
I think the reason people come to Taiwan is that it is a much more livable place than the other Far East TEFL hotspots. I experienced zero culture shock coming here, a lot of people speak excellent English, easy to live a Westernised lifestyle etc etc. My feelings are that Taiwan is somewhere to come to experience a bit of respite from the extremities of living in China, Japan or Korea
So I would say go to one of those first, because otherwise you won't appreciate Taiwan for what it is |
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Shimokitazawa
Joined: 16 Aug 2009
Posts: 458
Location: Saigon, Vietnam
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| Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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| mankindmatt5 wrote: |
My advice is this
If your main priority is too save money to pay off student loans, DO NOT come here. Your going to end up shelling out money for flights, visas, housing deposits and spending time here looking for a job - after about 3-4 months you may have made most of that money back. By the time you're earnings have started mounting up, the amount of money you can save is pretty minimal.
Compare this to S.Korea, return flights paid for, accommodation ready and waiting and paid for, a large salary that in honesty is actually hard to spend. If you work at a public school you get paid holidays too. Much much better for your needs
I think the reason people come to Taiwan is that it is a much more livable place than the other Far East TEFL hotspots. I experienced zero culture shock coming here, a lot of people speak excellent English, easy to live a Westernised lifestyle etc etc. My feelings are that Taiwan is somewhere to come to experience a bit of respite from the extremities of living in China, Japan or Korea
So I would say go to one of those first, because otherwise you won't appreciate Taiwan for what it is |
OP, this is a good, solid post. Consider carefully the points made here before deciding on a job in Taiwan. |
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