Job Discussion Forums

[carolynne]

Hi,
Just wondering about the cost of accomodation, food etc.
What is a 'reasonable' salary, and what kind ofinterveiw process should I expect?
I read some aweful post about three horrible interviews and I'm not too keen on an experience like that!
My friend (who I'm writing for) has degree, CELTA but no experience. Any recommended schools?

Oh, also: How much would Mandarin lessons cost... With a good teacher? In simplified Mandarin characters? (Is mandarin widely spoken outside Taipei?
Many thanks,
Carolynne

[demaratus]

hi, I am by no means an expert but here is what I can tell you from my expierience.

A resaonable salary all depends on the working conditions and benefits which you get. $600 nt seems pretty common for starters in kaohsiung though many people seem to be settling for less. 4 or 5 weeks vacation should also be a part of the deal. I work 28 hours a week and I think it is a pretty decent wage. If you are really ambitious, working privates and kindergartens (both usually prohibited by your arc school) are abundant and can make a good supplement to your income, though teaching that much can make a person burn out quickly.

I pay $7500 nt per month for a great 3 bedroom place near chengching lake with one roomate. I live in Fengshan, a suburb of Kaohsiung. I believe that my rent is fairly common out here, I know of people hwo pay less and some people who pay more.

food is as cheap as you make it. Rice and noodles being the cheapest at about 30 nt for a meal. Western food is widely availble and is generally more expensive than chinese fare. mcdonalds for example, is everywhere but a big mac meal costs roughly $110 nt, which can by up to 4 meals of chinese food. There are of course high end options here as there are at home if you care.

the cost of lessons varies but my roomate pays $380 an hour, for one on one lessons from a school. He is very happy with that. And yes mandarin is the norm pretty much everywhere in Taiwan.

I hope that helped.

[kuberkat]

Hi! After five years in Taiwan, I am happy to share the good, bad&ugly. They are all to be found. Manage them well and you will be fine.

I left because, once you have some experience, you can work in countries where you receive a salary higher than in Asia for half the teaching hours, more money, paid air tickets and about 2 monts' paid vacation leave annually. But first you need the experience, and that is what Taiwan is great for.

Most schools will welcome beginners, but even with a CELTA (fight for some extra pay for that: it's a solid qualification and THEY NEED TEACHERS) you do need orientation, on-the-job training and guidance. Pay is gradually increasing, and you shouldn't accept less than NT600 per hour. Do be sure that you have about 25 guaranteed hours per week, though. Until you know the ropes, keep one job. When you are more experienced you can go for the dollars, but be systematic: the main hazard in Taiwan is burnout. For your first 6 months, look at NT55 000-60 000 per month, and after that you can work you way up. Private students (one-on-one) are profitable at NT800 per hour, motivated and energy-conserving. And they require discretion, though most emplyers don't mind tutoring gigs.

You will aslo find that, thanks to the pollution and designer viruses, you will get mysteriously and violently sick every month or so. Everyone does. Take good care of your health in every way you possibly can. It is more important than money.

I can very highly recommend (without receiving any commission!) the Hess group to any beginner. Their orientation program is the best, they train you thoroughly and you will walk away from your first year with a TEFL certificate to boot. There is a strong wiff of McEnglish about them, but you will always have the backup and development opportunities you need. They also run several programs, so you don't need to find other employers when you want to start making more money. Hess provides opportunity for promotion or development, if you're interested in that aspect of the work. They're also the first buxiban to podcast for newcomers: check out their Mandarin Survival Guide on iTunes podcasts. (The companion booklet is part of your handy info pack if you join them.) Their website is www.hess.com and well worth checking out. I could recommend the Shane and Joy schools as well, but Hess is lainly a cut above, and the best choice for a newcomer. (I spent two years with Hess, left with their good name and landed a job at a classy private school later. Their ex-teachers are in high demand.)

Advice? Do set up a savings plan before you leave home: it is tricky to arrange in Taiwan, and bank accounts pay minimal interest. Too many people still live from one paycheck to the next after several years in Taiwan. Unnecessary!
Do stay healthy. Get out when you can. Make time for yourself out of the big city. It's a jungle out there.
Do undertake a meaningful hobby or study rogram while in Taiwan. The TLI Mandarin courses (in Pinyin or Mandarin Phonetic System, simplified or traditional characters) are outstanding. Mandarin will serve you well in a ny city: in the coutry Taiwanese is more prevalent.
Use your time well.
As they say in Taiwan, Jia You!

[MoggIntellect]

Kuberkat, may I ask what qualifications you have? Just curious because I would love to go to the Middle East and I see you went from Taiwan to Oman.