Job Discussion Forums

Mike S. · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 91 Location: New York City

Hello ESL teachers in Taiwan,

I�ve been teaching in Mexico on and off for the past 15 months. I�m fed up with the lack of respect and/or low wages that I�ve experienced. I�m ready to make the big leap over to Asia. I've never been there and only speak English and rather poor Spanish. However, I have a BA and a TEFL
certificate. Does anyone on this forum, like their job, living situation, etc. in Taiwan? Thanks in advance for your responses!

BigWally · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:37 pm Post subject:

i wouldn't be doing it if i didn't love it....the money is great, the job is decent, the apartment is beautiful, the kids are fun, the people are good....what more can you ask for out of life?

Mike S. · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 91 Location: New York City

Thanks for your reply! what school do you work for?

StayingPower · Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 252

I work for a company that'll criique you every day, in writing, and have you sign them, with a stern-faced, featurless woman named Catherine making sure you do so right away; that has mothers sit in on your classes on a daily basis, some with sexually explicit wardrobe; and a school that films you, even records your teaching, to make sure you don't make mistakes. I work for Gram in Shu-lin. Just ask for Dave Edwards. He was in Mexico too.

As for your comments, I don't know. I feel there's some disrespect, or a cultural-superiority mindset here, which makes your self-worth seem nothing. The managers at least are sure to wake you up to this fact, and even make you feel, your value is not the fact you speak English, but rather, whether or not you can cope with their dislike they have to pay you at all for such a cultural slight, thereby making sure you teach according to insensible standards to prove they know better.

What's more, the living conditions are harsh. The diet's not great, the weather's inclement, and the creature comforts of back home are something you're going to have to work hard to earn.

Korea may be a heck of a lot better.

scarab1169 · Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Posts: 42

Then, Stayingpower...why the heck did you come to Taiwan? I love Taiwan,living is great and I love teaching! My employer may not be that great, but I love the kids and the lifestyle.God...you cannot have everything perfect! Oh yeah...did you know it actually snows in Korea in winter time? So...how can the weather be better in Korea than in Taiwan?
Come to Taiwan - experience it and you might be surprised!

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

Just remember that happy people don't usually feel a need to go online and post about their lives, so the opinions expressed here tend to paint a more negative picture about life in Taiwan.

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

I had some pretty high and low moments in Taiwan, including running away from the last school I worked at. However, the way you describe Taiwan, Stayingpower, makes me wonder if we even lived in the same country.

If its that bad, leave, and I say that nicely, not in an agumentative way.

mizzo · Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Posts: 29

I'm sad that I'm leaving soon. If I were to come back I would probably choose another company. But, I love the kids, the people, the food, the scooters.... and the list goes on.

StayingPower · Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 252

Hey, all I'm doing is posting a contrasting view that may have credible truth. "Respect", in view of the employer/employee relationship, is seriously lacking here. It was, too, one of the main questions, wheras many of you chose the so-called 'superb' environmental conditions over this.

And I didn't say I don't like Taiwan. Wally's comment didn't do the OP's inquiry full-justice, though I'm glad he's so optimistic, and I wish and try to be myself. Heck, I live by one of the hugest and prettiest riverside parks in Taiwan, something I've praised ever since I've gotten here.

I love the sunny days, the fact I can swim in the river, go hiking nearby.

I like the conveniences, the living standards.

I like meeting the people, their civilities.

But I don't exactly agree with the living conditions being all that comfortable, all that rosy.

MomCat · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 297

Mike S.

I like it here. It's quite different that the States and it's the differences that I'm here for. I don't see any point in traveling half way across the globe to have more of home.

Cat

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

BigWally · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:19 am Post subject:

i think in general people in the south are more laid back, and relaxed....not that it makes them better people than in Taipei, but I think you'll run into many more "lifers" and more serious teachers in there....it seems a lot of people in the south are up for fun, travel on the weekends, partying, sports...

but...this is just my opinion from what i've seen, and i havent spent much time hanging around Taipei, so take it all with a grain of salt....

that being said, I would never move to Taipei over Kaohsiung...I'm at home in the Dirrrrrrty South....

AQUA MARINA · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:27 am Post subject:

I'm glad I'm not the only one who left my previous school. By talking to different teachers, I've found out it depends on the school and it's directors. The last place didn't give me room to breadth.
Maybe they don't give much positive feedack at most schools.That can be discouraging.I find the Taiwanese don't show much affection, hard to read sometimes.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

I love Taiwan but I don't love the school that I work for. I enjoy the students I teach privately since I can design my own classes and the parents make sure they don't act like little monsters.