Job Discussion Forums

[Tancred]

And by "a flurry", I mean precisely six.


Hi,

I'm entertaining the idea of coming to Taiwan to teach. After spending four tedious and pointless years clawing up the corporate ladder in Canada, I've realized that the whole socailly tepid and neutrally-coloured office environment is just not for me. And while I never had a huge desire to be a teacher, I must admit that when I taught in Korea four years ago, it was a helluva lot more fulfilling than what I'm doing now.

Anyway, I've read a few of the threads comparing Korea to Taiwan so I won't rehash all of those questions here. But I do have a few specific queries that I'm hoping some of you might be able to answer so as to make my decision a little easier.

1. When I taught in Korea I was 29, and I think i was still regarded as "over the hill", since the average age of foreign teachers seemed to hover somewhere around 15. Now, I'm 34. Can I expect resistence from some employers? I don't have a Teacher's degree of any sort (just the standard university BA), so am I destined to while away the year in some shady school somewhere in the wilderness? Will my age be a factor, and since I suspect the answer is YES...how much of a factor will it be?

2. One of the highlights of my Korea trip was that I really got into the piano. I'm hoping to continue taking lessons in Taiwan. Is piano-instruction as prevalent in Taiwan as it is in Korea...or, more specifically...will I find a willing instructor when I don't speak the language?

3. Speaking of language...I would love to learn Mandarin, and this actually weighs in on my decision to come to Korea rather than, say, Japan. Is it realistic for me to expect that, if I study really, really hard and do my very bestest to learn the language, that I will, at the end of the year, at least be able to communicate on some level in Mandarin? How hard is it to learn, compared with other languages?

4. Realistically speaking, assuming I don't spend the year hermetically sealed in my apartment, how much can I expect to save over the course of a year? In Korea, I spent quite a bit and was still able to bank $10,000 CAD, which was great. Can I expect the same in Taiwan?

5. Is the beginning of the new year a good time to go or does it matter when?

6. What is the nightlife like there in Taipei or in any of the smaller cities?

Okay, that's all I can think of right now. I hate the fact that I had exactly "6" questions. If one's going to do a list, one should always round it up to five or ten...not six. But I can't conjure up another four questions just like that, so this will have to do.

Any info ya'll could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

T.

[mizzo]

Here's a few answers hope you find them helpful

1. I know a few people much older than you who have no problem finding/keeping work in Taiwan. But.. I'm a little younger so I can't speak from personal experience....

2. I see lots of ads for piano lessons.. and if you take them in Taipei you should have no problem finding and English speaking instructor.. you could probably find one in other big cities, too.

3. Most people who want to learn Mandarin go to Taipei.. I came not knowing any Mandarin and not having any interest in learning but once I got here I changed my mind. I live in Keelung - no Mandarin classes.. But one of my co-teachers (Taiwanese) agreed to tutor me and I can now carry out basic conversations (after about 9 months of learning) and even write a little.


4. I work minimal hours (about 20/week plus occasional subbing) at a big chain school that apparently doesn't pay very well, I go out and do something every weekend (sometimes clubbing or to a pub, but not every weekend) and I've managed to save some money/go on some trips. Not $10 000.. but I'm not complaining. If you choose to work more, you could probably save that much. (and again I live in Keelung.. much cheaper COL than Taipei)

5. Not really sure what time is best to find a job.. just try to arrive in the country (even if you're unemployed) by July so that you don't lose a lot of money in taxes... you can find more info about this.. i won't go into it.

6. Nightlife's pretty good. Not so much in Keelung.. just a few pubs and bowling and stuff like that.. But Taipei is really close and nightlife's great there.. one thing i miss is just chilling out and watching a GOOD band play.. I've only seen one band I liked here in Taiwan.. most of the music in nightclubs is the trash that you find anywhere.. you know.. the popular stuff..

[Tancred]

Hey, thanks for the thorough reply Mizzo. It was both helpful and reassuring.

If anyone else would care to confirm or contradict, please go nuts.

T.

[Tawa]

Hi Mizzo

Can you just expand on the July arrival for tax reasons please??

(sorry Tancred, not trying to hijack your thread in any way, but im looking at the Taiwan prospect with similar questions to you)

Cheers...Tawa

[mizzo]

ok... I'm sure there are multiple threads on here about this.. but i'll repeat it.

basically.. for the first 6 months that you're here (180 some-odd days.. 183 sticks out in my mind but i may be wrong) you'll be paying 20% tax. the year counting from Jan 1 - Dec 31. After 6 months, the rate drops.. depending on how much money you make, it will drop to a much lower rate.. usually to between 10 and 14 percent (i think...) and when you file taxes the following year, you can get the difference back...But.. once Dec 31 rolls around, if you haven't reached this point, you go back to day 1 and all of the money you paid in taxes is lost. you'll be paying 20% for the following 6 months (Jan 1 on wards) and then get that money back after the six months.. I'm probably confusing you.. here's an example

I arrived in November 2006. I worked one month (December) in 2006 and paid 20% tax. This is lost forever because Jan 1 came and I hadn't reached the magic point. But it was only one month so I'm not too broken up about it. Then, my counter restarted and I paid 20% until (and including) June when my rate dropped to 10% (as noted in previous posts, I make less than average, apparently).. So, when I file my taxes I will get back about half of what I paid in taxes from Jan-June but nothing from what I paid in December.

The magic date to come to Taiwan falls in early July. They count the days according to your passport, and not your employment, and you may leave the country (for holidays, visa runs, whatever), but the total days in Taiwan must add up to the magic number of 180-something. So.. if you come in August.. it kind of sucks because you'll pay 20% for 5 months and not get any of it back... i know you can find more info on this and many other pressing issues on www.tealit.com

hope you choose to come to Taiwan. despite some other posts you will read on here, most people, myself included, really enjoy living and teaching here.

[BigWally]

good explanation mizzo....

and you are right, the taxes thing has been talked to death, just do a quick search and you'll find multiple threads where the tax laws have been gone over many, many times

[mizzo]

thanks Wally