Job Discussion Forums

hoddinot · Joined: 27 May 2004 Posts: 4 Location: new zealand

I want to teach in Taiwan next year. I have a B Ed and I have been teaching in New Zealand for 30 years. The only problem I have is my age! I am 57. Is it possible to get a job at my age? I love teaching but I know the Asians like young inexperienced teachers.
Looking forward to your replies. Owen

MTurton · Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 107

I'd gun for a high school position at your age. The Bushiban market requires too much energy. You'll need to come here, pick a town, and starting looking for high school positions there by going on foot from one to the next. Not many are advertized.

Michael

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

How about the chain schools that focus on adult classes: Wall Street, Global Village, Gram?, Taipei Language Institute?

Best wishes,

Taylor

ScottSommers · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 82 Location: Taiwan

The adult chain schools are what Mr. Turton was referring to when he advised steering away from bushibans. My feeling about working in busibans is that it's not the energy issue that's important. The real difference between bushibans and institutional teaching is that bushibans are designed to be temporary teaching. They are commercial companies whose only goal is to maximize teacher-student contact hours. As a result, you get none of the resources that you need to develop yourself professionally. Committed and professionalized teachers find working in this segment industry to be very frustrating.

wood · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 202

ScottSommers · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 82 Location: Taiwan

You won't find that places like Wall Street etc., that specialize in adults, are any easier to work for. And I include in this Lado Business English that pays 800 an hour. The lack of professional support, significantly less money, and in the case of company classes, the travelling time, all add up to eat through your energy.

If you have a choice when you come here, don't work in a bushiban--kids or adults.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

Please read this.

http://www.geocities.com/taiwanteacher2002/Success.html

If you need any further assistance fell free to contact me at,
[email protected]
Good luck,
A.

Danny · Joined: 02 May 2004 Posts: 20

go for it!
I know guys your age working in kindergartens and preschools in Taiwan. The stigma associated with men working in kindergartens in countries like England and Australia doesn't hold for Taiwan. True, most business-like schools, like bushibans, prefer young (under 35) attractive teachers. Work is still more than possible for a 57 year old, especially if you possess some of the other qualities preffered in an English teacher, like being white (another bias category) and sometimes even having teaching experience.
Good luck, you'll be fine.
D.