Job Discussion Forums

Chris12 · Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 98

markholmes wrote:

Unfortunately for me I was an adults teacher. That may explain a lot and maybe why I enjoyed Taiwan more (I was a preschool teacher).

I think it all depends on the person. Some people like teaching adults and some people prefer teaching at a kindergarten and other in between. What scares me is that hardly anyone wrote anything positive about Taiwan. I guess, I will just take a short vacation there next spring.

Rice Paddy Daddy · Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 425 Location: Japan

Chris,

Taiwan is my favourite country of the "Big 3" to teach in!

Each has its merits, though.

chi-chi- · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 194 Location: In la-la land

You are TECO, aren't you rpd?

Chris12 · Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 98

Chris12 · Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 98

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

Taiwan was definitely the best place I've taught (also taught in China and Japan). It's a shorts and T-shirt place. Get yourself a motorbike and ride out into the mountains. The motorbike made it for me.

Also I did kindies, so I had a 9am to 4pm job with no work on the weekends. It was cool.

Also I found Chinese people much easier to relate to than Japanese. I never had any Japanese friends (well one actually), but I had several Chinese ones.

But again I wasn't looking for night life, so I haven't got much idea about that.

Chris12 · Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 98

Frankie Knuckles · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 36

It is interesting to read these different opinions about teaching in Japan and Taiwan. I have taught in both Japan and more recently in Taiwan. I taught adults in Japan and kids in Taiwan. I think it is true that adult classes are more popular in Japan and kids more popular in Taiwan. Also in Taiwan it seemed as though teachers were generally paid less for teaching adults than for teaching kids. I don't think that was the case in Japan. I think pay was similar regardless of whether you were teaching adults or kids. I liked my teaching experience more in Japan cos I was teaching adults. I don't think I am really suited to teaching kids. I can't help but find them quite irritating at times. In Japan I never had to worry about any kind of discipline when teaching adults. Sure sometimes it was boring but I had some really interesting conversations with high level students. Kids can be fun at times and I had some good classes but it only takes a few annoying kids in each class to make the job seem tiresome and frustrating. I think you also need to have a lot of energy to teach kids and I am just not that jump around and act silly all the time kind of person.

I found that Japanese girls are quite different compared to Taiwanese girls. Japanese girls were often quite direct with me and openly flirtatious. It was very easy to meet Japanese women. However, I wasn't looking to meet Taiwanese girls in Taiwan as I already had a Taiwanese girlfriend before I went there. She was my only reason for going there. I generally found Japanese people more courteous and friendly than Taiwanese. I definitely made more friends in Japan. However, that is not to say that there aren't friendly people in Taiwan. I did meet some very nice people in Taiwan but they just don't show the same respect towards one another and towards foreigners that the Japanese usually do. This can be seen most obviously in the way Taiwanese drive compared to Japanese. Both countries have very busy roads with lots of traffic but they certainly have very different driving manners. However, there are a couple of things that I do really like about Taiwan. It has lots of great cheap food and the rent is also alot cheaper than Japan. Rent in Japan is so expensive to the point of being ridiculous. Overall I prefer Japan ,however, Taiwan does have some things going for it and can be a good place to teach and save some money. I think alot depends on what particular city you live in, which school you work for and also the types of people you meet, both foreigners and locals. Those things combined determine how much satisfaction you will find living in either country.

Frank

Chris12 · Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 98

Thank you Frank! I completely relate to what you wrote about teaching. However, I want to let you know in Japan right now there is a big movement to teach kids English. I am an English teacher at two elementary schools and a junior high school. You are right to teach kids and keep them interested, I have to be more energetic than them.
When I first came to Japan, I also taught adults and agree 100% with what you wrote.

I wish I didn't come to Japan first! I don't know if I can leave this place! I wanted to experience by living and working in many places, but no place appeals to me like Japan. I did try Korea, but found Koreans so prejudice and rude that I went back to Japan where I have always been treated fairly and honorably. Well except for once but that is a different story.

Anyway thanks again for your objective input. Maybe one day I will go to Taiwan for a short vacation.

Hap Thorton · Joined: 30 Jun 2003 Posts: 17 Location: U.S.A.

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

Stay in Tokyo!

Tokyo has about 20 million people in the surrounding area, compared with about 4 million in the Taipei County area.

If you want night life - no comparison. You could hit a new eatery or pub every night for the rest of your life in a place like Tokyo or Seoul.

Not in Taipei.

Taipei is a dud.

Hickville.

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

I've only worked in Taiwan and Korea, but visited Japan.

Although I haven't worked in Japan, just visited, I predict that I would like working in Japan more compared with Taiwan and Korea.

So my list for preference goes: 1. Japan, 2. Korea, 3. Taiwan

Taiwan - the heat/humidity, pollution, and general boredom and lack of culture in the country really got to me.

Korea has a lot more culture, nature (hills and small mountains everywhere, even in Seoul!), and for an outdoors person like me - ideal. Korean people are more emotional compared with Taiwanese. I prefer Koreans to Taiwanese.

Japan is more interesting, the culture more interesting, the people live in an ecologically more developed country, despite their wealth (everyone rides bikes, and tries to combat other bad aspects of modern living).

Overall, Japan wins hands down.

In Korea, I make $2800 u.s a month and save $1500. In Japan, I would make a similar salary, but only save about $500-$600 a month, but I would pick Japan for quality of life.

The Japanese are shy and reticent, but once you know them, they will open up. You have to find ways to get into their circle. If you are not in, they will not care.

Ghost in Korea