Job Discussion Forums

[ghost]

Ghost has not been in Taiwan long (since August, 2005) but some opinions about Taiwan, compared with Turkey, have already been established.

Money: Taiwan wins on this one. The salary ghost earns in Taiwan is higher than Turkey for less hours. Ghost presently teaches at a High School near Taichung, and nets 67.000 NT (Taiwan dollars) per month, which is equal to $2080 U.S. ($2489 Canadian dollars per month). The salary is tax free as well.

Housing:Ghost pays 8500 NT (Taiwan dollars) per month, for a large 3 Bedroom apartment a 15 minute walk from the school campus. This works out to $264 U.S or $316 Canadian dollars per month.

Teaching hours: Ghost has to be at school from 9-5pm from Monday to Thursday (and 8-4pm on Fridays) - but during the actual school day, ghost only teaches around three to four 45 minute periods per day. This means that ghost teaches no more than 3 hours contact time per day in Taiwan.

Ghost teaches a total of 16 periods lasting 45 minutes per week, for a total teaching contact time of 720 minutes per week which works out to a total of 12 hours contact time per week. For this ghost receives over $2000 U.S per month, tax free. While it is true that ghost is present in school from 9-5pm, during those hours ghost is free to utilize the time as it pleases. Most teachers complete their lesson plans in about 1-2 hours, and spend the rest of the time studying Chinese, or doing other personal work. This is accepted at the Colllege.

Note the High School ghost teaches in only accepts foreign teachers who are Teacher Certified - no backpackers accepted, as is the case in Turkey. This is the policy of the Taiwan Ministry of Education at certain schools and colleges.

Students and class management: The Taiwanese students are far easier to handle than the Turks. There are no class management problems in Taiwan. The only problem teachers in Taiwan face is boredom and apathy from the students, who are present at school from 7am to 6 pm, and then go to Cram Schools " "Bushibans" after their regular school day, so they (the students) are tired.

The students in Taiwan are generally shy and reticent, and lack imagination. Conversation is difficult because many are not used to talking.
Food A full Taiwanese lunch at the school costs just 40 NT (($1.24 U.S/$1.48 Canadian).

Restaurant costs A full meal in a cheap Taiwanese Restaurant costs around 50-75 NT ($1.55-2.33 U.S.). More expensive Restaurants cost around 120 NT ($3.73 U.S.).

From a food and accommodation point of view, Taiwan is just as cheap (if not cheaper) than Turkey.

Transport: Most teachers in Taiwan buy scooters (costing around 10.000 NT ($300 U.S.). Fuel costs are very cheap in Taiwan. Teachers who cover about 25 km a day on the scooter only spend about 100 NT in gas prices per week ($3 dollars U.S.). In Turkey, teachers who live a distance from school would pay more. Ghost does not use a scooter, as he walks to school. Ghost will soon purchase a 'Giant Bicycle' - this company is Taiwan owned and produces some of the best and cheapest mountain bikes on the globe. Good Giant bikes can be purchased for 2400 NT ($75 U.S.).

Internet cafes: Found everywhere in Taiwan. Prices per hour - from 15NT per hour to 25 NT per hour (0.47 cents U.S. - 0.78 cents U.S.).

Beer: Ghost buys beer (Taiwan Beer) in the Supermarket at about 21 NT per can (0.65 cents U.S.). In Pubs and Restaurants prices average around 80 NT ($2.50 U.S.).

Renting DVD'S: Latest releases go for about 100 NT ($3 U.S.).

Language: If some of you folks thought Turkish was hard, you should try Mandarin Chinese - which is MUCH, MUCH HARDER in comparison with Turkish. First of all, in Chinese the four tones used create tremendous problems for foreigners. In addition to this, the writing system is almost impossible to learn as you need knowledge of about 3000 Chinese characters to read a newspaper. Most foreigners in Taiwan simply give up and live in English, with a few Chinese words for greetings and thank you words.

Lifestyle: Ghost and many other foreign teachers find Taiwan boring. There is not much to do here. Most foreigners simply congregate in pubs and socialize among themselves. The Taiwanese are ok, but the language and cultural barriers make it very hard to get to know on a deeper level.

Most foreign teachers in Taiwan admit that they are in Taiwan for the money, with most teachers here saving at least $1000 (U.S.) per month, with many saving around $1500-$1800 per month - keep in mind that the vast majority of teachers teach "Privates" outside regular school hours charging a minimum of 600NT per hour ($18.63 U.S.). Most work an extra 10-15 hours per week, netting an extra $1000 U.S. (per month) in this way, tax free.

People: The Taiwanese are generally friendly and polite, but the language and cultural barriers mean that it is difficult to get to know them outside of school and classes. Turkish people are more similar to us, and foreigners in Turkey generally get on well with many Turks with more scope for friendship and romance.

Danger and safety: The major worry for foreigners in Taiwan is the danger from scooter and motor cycle accidents, because Taiwanese drive fast and their ideas about road safety rules are not the ones we were brought up with in the West. This means accidents are common with sometimes devastating consequences - many teachers are injured and maimed and have to be shipped home.

Food: You can eat Chinese/Taiwan food if you like that, but there are all the major Western fast food places as well if you prefer. Some Taiwanese dishes are strange because they (the Taiwanese) will basically eat anything that moves - all kinds of strange looking beasties and more. And sometimes you will find strange pieces cropping up in your soup, like a pair of animal eyes or such - surprises are always around the corner in Taiwan.

Dating: Western guys have quite a bit of success dating Taiwan girls, but Western female teachers do not arouse a lot of interest from Taiwanese men (contrary to the situation in Turkey). So dating is different depending on whether you are male or female.

More information on Taiwan will follow in the weeks, months to come.

[dmb]

Thanks for that Ghost. Are you thinking of returning? From your last few posts it seems as if you miss this place.

[molly farquharson]

oh entraillicus, i would be really interested in the answer

[saloma]

Maybe I am the only one on this forum who can really appreciate ghost's post, since I am in Taiwan, but want to make the jump to Turkey. (The Taiwan forum is kind of ho hum)

Ghost is right. He has only been here for a month and he is spot on about everthing.

BTW - Efes is better than Taiwan beer.

[Henry_Cowell]

I prefer chicken to turkey any day.

[dmb]

Even at Christmas?

[ghost]

[saloma]

[howmucharefags]

Ghost come back to Turkey. You know you love it and it sounds like the Taiwanese food isn't too hot judging by your current weight.......

By the way, is there a Taiwanese equivalent to Efes Extra? What about local spirits?

[ghost]

[saloma]

Ok, in Taiwan's defense though.....

If you come here, make a lot of money and pay off your debts, there is one thing Taiwan can offer. Travel.

You work hard, make your cash and then, if you work at a language school, it's possible to take a month off and travel. China and Japan are an hour and a half away. Thailand, Laos, Cambodia - four hours. Bali, India, Malaysia - just a bit more. I just returned from 3 days in Singapore.

It's possible to explore this part of the world very easily from Taiwan.

So when you can't take the food, people, and traffic any longer - hop on a plane.

31 loves to point out how many people can't make a living in tefl, Ghost is pointing out that it is possible, but be prepared to pay in other ways.

[dmb]

well said Saloma. we all chose to enter EFL, no one forced us and for whatever reason we chose to live where we do and remain in this field.

[ghost]

Yes - in Taiwan, the financial rewards can be substantial, but in the case of ghost, it is basically a question of sticking it out for 10 months of 'grind' with just a three week break for the Chinese New Year in January-February 2006 - and if you are living somewhere you don't enjoy, 10 months can seem like an eternity.

And in the case of ghost, as the employment is at a High School, with a fixed schedule for the year, short holidays are not an option, contrary to the case of the more flexible arrangements in the ubiquitous language schools in the cities of Taiwan.

The ideal situation in TEFL would be for teachers to teach in countries they really enjoy and be paid very well as well, but of course this is seldom the case.

In most cases, the high paying jobs are usually in countries which many TEFL teachers find less interesting or constricting in other ways - places like Saudi Arabia, Korea, Taiwan come to mind.

Many teachers find they love teaching in places like Indonesia, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia - but in those locales, the average salaries for TEFLERS are not high, usually in the $500-$800 bracket per month, and sometimes even lower, but such is the quality of life in some of those countries, that some TEFLERS see it more as a voluntary job in exchange for a stimulating lifestyle, with good relationships with the natives also in the equation.

Turkey, is a fairly good compromise, because although the salaries are not that high ($1000-$1500 per month) the fringe benefits (subsidized housing) and relatively (still....) low cost of living can provide a good lifestyle for TEFL teachers in Turkey. Many teachers in Turkey can save about 25% of their salary, which although not that much, still gives them the opportunity to travel and lodge and dine throughout Turkey, thanks to the superb Intercity Bus system in Turkey, which in ghost's opinion, is one of the best in the world, and certainly superb value for money....with all those funny little extras that travellers get on the Turkish buses.

Taiwan does not provide the same infrastructure for cheap hotels as Turkey does, so the teachers there are basically restricted to staying where they teach, with occasional day trips to other places.

Also the weather in Taiwan can really get you down, with high humidity throughout the year, and a lot of rain.

It is a matter of choice and perspective, but teaching in different countries provides individuals with a lot of ideas, and they (the teachers) constantly re-evaluate their opinions about the situations they are in, based on their previous gigs.

[Henry_Cowell]

Did ghost start writing about herself/himself in the third person in Taiwan or in Turkey? What is it about a particular place that causes this type of psychotic disorder?

[dmb]

Ghost has always been 3rd person singular. We love him for it.