Job Discussion Forums

SpedEd · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 143 Location: Shanghai

Hello people:

I'd like to hear some opinions as to why the schools in Taiwan will bug me day and night to work for them but won't budge a nickel for things like airfare to Taipei (from Seoul) or a place to live. It seems to defy market demands and contrasts a lot with Korea. Now, I could understand this if there were an oversupply of teachers there but given the # of calls I'm getting to fill vacancies this doesn't seem to be the case. Thanks in advance.

mangoholic · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:30 am Post subject:

Can you tell us what type of schools in Taiwan want you so badly? And actually, IMO, the market for teachers in Taiwan has reached saturation.

housecat · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 104 Location: usa

I'd say the there is surely no shortage of teachers in Taiwan. Do you have special qualifications? How did these Taiwanese schools hear of you?

Taiwan and S. Korea are very different places. Korea generally will pay for air fare and housing arrangements, but that is not usual in Taiwan. While I found that I had more innitial support in S. Korea, it was a much more difficult place to live (for me--and I'm a woman).

Taiwanese will usually offer airport pick up, loan advance of salary to cover deposits and assistance finding an appartment, & help buying a scooter, but generally that's about it. They may help with getting your work permit and health insurance, since you are required to have those to work there, but some do not. However, Taiwan is generally much easier to function in, in my opinion, so that even if you don't have a lot of school support for this kind of thing, you can usually do okay on your own with minimal effort.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

I think that the reason that they are not negotiating is that they don't feel the need to negotiate. I think that they may be right!

If you don't want the deal then someone else will take it and they know that. Airfares are not standard in Taiwan and perhaps the school has never done this before and always been able to find suitable teachers, so is not interested in starting now.

If it is a good job, you like the sound of the pay and conditions, and previous and/or current teachers confirm that the school is legit then perhaps you should just take it and pay your own airfare. If you hold out you may end up losing.

SpedEd · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 143 Location: Shanghai

Is there anyone who can confirm the benefits of paying the money upfront versus having someone else do it? Essentially, what does Taiwan offer that can't be found elsewhere for the same money? I'm shopping the market and I have several countries that I'm interested in working in.

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

If you're looking simply for money teaching English, why not consider UAE?

They'll pay for your airfare, housing, and pay you, tax-free. At least that's according to what I've read and heard from others on this board.

However, I have also read that they require a Master's degree, in most cases.

killian · Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 5:23 am Post subject:

taiwan and korea do things in different fashions.

taiwan requires you to get an AIDS test. if one were to fail that after having been brought over on the company's dime it would be difficult for the company to ever recoup such an outlay.

so far, in korea my school hgas said nothing about any kind of health check and i'm off to japan on monday to pick up my work visa.

however, whatever you can swing outside the norm is up to you and the school. i once worked at a taiwan school that comped my airfare after i agreed to re-up for another year.