Job Discussion Forums

[Symphany]

I am considering teaching in Taiwan and I have a few questions

1. Are there any language schools that are mainly made up of adult learners in Taiwan? I'm okay with a school that does adult and children's classes as long as there is a fairly even mixture of the two, or a leaning towards adult classes. Are there any school chains or independent language schools like that?

Are university/college positions within reach for someone with a BA and a TEFL cert?

2. How much money can you save in Taiwan? On average?

3. Are there a lot of interesting attractions (I know everyone has their own definition of interesting) -- by interesting I mean a variety of attractions, some museums and natural sites, some bars and clubs, some shopping and markets or malls? Are the people easy to get to know, expat or local?

4. Are there suburbs that are fairly clean and less polluted than the city centres that can be worked in and lived in?

5. How does Taiwan fare against mainland China? I know the wages are generally lower in mainland China but how about other aspects of life, like culture -- think smalltown USA vs Paris....what are your feelings on it?

[surrealia]

I can answer some (but not all) of your questions.

1. There are quite a few language schools that cater to adult classes. The biggest ones are GVC or Global Village and Wall Street Institute. There's also Lado, which caters to business classes. Unless you have a Master's degree, you are highly unlikely to get a university job. And even with a master's degree, it's getting harder and harder to find a university job.

You can find some listings of schools in Taipei here:

http://www.geocities.com/allhou/schootaip.htm

2. It really varies depending on how many hours you are willing to work, and what kind of pay you are offered.

3. Taipei has all the things you listed, but you will find less of those things in other areas.

4. I found most of Taiwan to be polluted. If you can find work on the east coast (Hualien, Ilan, Taidong) the air is better over there.

5. Sorry, I don't know about China.

[killian]

taiwan. over and over again.

better wages, better standard of living, better quality of life. if you desire to see beggers, poverty and the hopeless disparity of wages in an allegedly classless society, then china is for you.

work in taiwan. vacation in china.

[CWanders]

[Jordean]

Not to sound like a wuss, but would it make sense to "transition" by teaching a year in Taiwan and then moving over to the mainland. Or is it better just to take the plunge?

[Horizontal Hero]

[forest1979]

I'll reinforce some of the comments made by HH.

I find China a very exciting place to visit. But to work there, I would have to take several large doses of adventure pills, and have someone wave some wand so that I know Mandarin in a flash. From my experiences of visiting China if you don't know the language it's a major, major problem. However, take nothing away from China, it's a country really going places and if you want to see a country develop itself at breakneck speeds go and witness the country's history in the making.

Taiwan, well there's Taipei and to some degree there's the rest of the country. For any newbie to Asia I would recommend Taiwan first for a variety of reasons. One being financial. Far more money is to be earned in Taiwan so if anyone is serious about going to China then take a year in Taipei to set yourself up with the culture, language and the money...with some cash on your hip China is a great playground.

[SEndrigo]

Very interesting thread guys!

Now that we're discussing mainland vs. Taiwan, does anyone here have any experience living in Shanghai?

I'd like to know some comparisons between Shanghai and Taipei, mainly, which city is more expensive/cheaper, which city you found more interesting, etc.

[StayingPower]

Shanghai is way up there. Many can't even live there, rent's gotten so outrageous.

But to the OP, I'd like to say that Sindian, in Taipei County, is one of the cleanest places to live around Taipei. You can smell the fresh air by at least a 10% air quality difference when you come from Taipei. No kidding, may be even more.

That's a lot considering your respiratory system. They've just recently proven that "biological" changes occur to those with a prolonged exposure to air pollution, meaning it gets in your bloodstream, effects you psychologically, and effects your mental performance. Studies were taken in Taipei. Just think too of smoking and how that's just as similar.

Nonetheless, your other questions is the sos. Adults are not the line of business here, but kids. There's no money in adults for the schools. Sure, you might find a "mixture," at a school but it won't add up. You might find, too, that children are much easier to teach, since you will at least have some balance of ability and not have to coerce a conversation ad lib, meaning there will be 'no balance' between speaking ability teaching adults and very little textbooks to rely upon. Then, you'll be stuck with students who are lower level than others, and those of better ability taking all the attention, thereby embarassing some and making them quit. And then, you will be held responsible. So, if you don't want an ulcer, think this is a smoother way, teach children between the ages of 8-13 to make you feel at least you're not having to go to the doc for regular illnesses you thought your fault.

Besides, those schools that'll pay you most have illegal propositions since all are and know they have you over-the barrel and will pay you more to counter-balance this. They can make more money with kids, and you. Not so the Universities, which are beauracracies of red-tape, can close your eyes and say you're lazy.

[pest2]