Job Discussion Forums

[EngineergoesESL]

Hello all. I'm planning on taking the plunge into the world of international ESL in October with my girlfriend, and I had a question about qualifications I'd like to have resolved. We're planning on Taiwan as we both speak Mandarin but have $US debts and can't afford to live on the mainland. We also both have bachelor's degrees (electrical engineering for me, international politics and east asian studies for her), but we'd like to get a certificate to improve our abilities as well as possible pay. Unfortunately, we don't have time to take off from our jobs to do a long classroom course, so distance learning over the internet is an appealing choice. ICAL is very tempting, but I need to know if this is an accepted form of certificate in Taiwan. We both have some ESL experience, so it's not a matter of training so much as a more appealing resume and a bit higher salary.

Thanks,
Josh

[St Vitus]

You'll get a job no problem. The only prerequisites in most cases are graduate, American or Canadian, male, under 40. It is a sad reflection of the misguided demands of the Taiwanese and the low standard of English teaching here. Nevertheless, if you want to be in Taiwan, you can do whatever you want. I'd say a Cert. is probably a disadvantage here!