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yellman40
Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject: Newbie considering options |
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I am coming over to Asia mid-2008 to teach, and am heavily leaning towards Taiwan or China. Taiwan seems to have more savings potential (which is semi-important as I want to afford a long holiday in SE Asia and resettlement back in the US afterwards), but China seems to offer less working hours and an easier lifestyle. These are just impressions I have been getting from reading a lot on the boards here.
Also, everyone seems to suggest just coming here to find work. I am all for that, but lining something up seems comforting since I have now TEFL experience whatsoever (my quals: BA from 4 year US uni). I guess I am curious what the interview process is like and how hard it is to find work over there. Also, how is the social life there? I want to go somewhere where I can save a bit and have a great time. After reading a lot, Taichung seems to be a good fit for me, but some posters live by Taipei and I can see myself enjoying that too (however savings seem to take a hit there).
I enjoy scenery, and would like to keep pollution at a tolerable level (which is why I sort of knocked out Kaoshiung).
Anyways... there is a lot of questions/comments in my post, but if anyone can offer up any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. |
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Mangosteen
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 8:58 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Also, everyone seems to suggest just coming here to find work. I am all for that, but lining something up seems comforting since I have now TEFL experience whatsoever (my quals: BA from 4 year US uni). I guess I am curious what the interview process is like and how hard it is to find work over there. |
If you want to find work in advance, you are pretty much limited to Hess or Kojen. I think it's much better just to come here and you'll have a job within a week. 99% of the cram schools just aren't ready to try to deal with someone who isn't already in Taiwan and ready to fill the position. It may sound comforting to line something up in advance, but it should be more comforting to know that opportunities really abound here. It's well worth that leap of faith. It's not necessary to have experience. This is where you can come to start out and get that experience.
At my interview, the first (and pretty much only) question they asked me is when I can start. It's acutally a pretty good school to start out at.
| Quote: |
After reading a lot, Taichung seems to be a good fit for me, but some posters live by Taipei and I can see myself enjoying that too (however savings seem to take a hit there).
I enjoy scenery, and would like to keep pollution at a tolerable level (which is why I sort of knocked out Kaoshiung). |
I love Taipei. It's a fabulous city. But I opted for Taichung because Taipei would have cost probably 50% more in rent, and because it never really stops raining there in the winter. Even during those moments when the rain has not literally falling from the sky, it hasn't really stopped either.
As for the pollution, it varies greatly from day to day. Some days there's a clear blue sky here, and other days I can hardly see a mile through the industrial smog. I can't imagine that Kaohsiung is worse than Taichung on its bad days. I have only been to Kaohsiung twice, and the pollution wasn't very bad on those days. So I'm sure it ebbs and flows there, too.
Two advantages to Taichung over Kaohsiung are that it has a thorough bus system, and it's closer to Taipei. On the other hand, Kaohsiung just opened the first line of it's MRT (subway) system (can someone confirm this?), making at least part of the city easily navigable.
I have never been to mainland China so I can't comment on it. |
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BigWally
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 765
Location: Ottawa, CAN (prev. Kaohsiung "the Dirty South")
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| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Mangosteen wrote: |
If you want to find work in advance, you are pretty much limited to Hess or Kojen. I think it's much better just to come here and you'll have a job within a week. |
There are other schools that accept applications, or in fact, prefer applications from overseas. That way they can train their new teachers to teach exactly how they want, rather than someone who may have taught with "different methods" at different bushibans.
| Mangosteen wrote: |
| It may sound comforting to line something up in advance, but it should be more comforting to know that opportunities really abound here. |
But, it is nice to have that help in setting up your Visa, ARC, getting your health check done, finding an apartment, buying a scooter, and getting acclimatised to the city you move to. A lot of the chain schools will be able to offer some help in some or all of these areas.
| Mangosteen wrote: |
| At my interview, the first (and pretty much only) question they asked me is when I can start. It's acutally a pretty good school to start out at. |
Depending on the kind of school you're looking for this may or may not be good. If you go into a school that is so desperate for teachers, they dont want to know anything about you, you might want to ask "Why are they so desperate?". On the other hand, if you have to go through a hiring process (ie. interview, demo) then you MAY be getting into a more reputable school, that cares more about its teachers, and the quality of learning.
| Mangosteen wrote: |
| I love Taipei. It's a fabulous city. But I opted for Taichung because Taipei would have cost probably 50% more in rent, and because it never really stops raining there in the winter. Even during those moments when the rain has not literally falling from the sky, it hasn't really stopped either. |
If you want big, urban, modern and westernized then Taipei is a great place to look. If you're looking for something that might be a bit more different than home Taichung or Kaohsiung are better options.
| Mangosteen wrote: |
| I can't imagine that Kaohsiung is worse than Taichung on its bad days. I have only been to Kaohsiung twice, and the pollution wasn't very bad on those days. So I'm sure it ebbs and flows there, too. |
During the winter the pollution in Kaohsiung is by far the worst on the island. The Air Quality Index ranks the pollution in KHH double that of anywhere else on the island. Let me give you a visual example.
A beautiful clear day mid-summer:
Another "beautiful" day taken yesterday:
| Mangosteen wrote: |
| Two advantages to Taichung over Kaohsiung are that it has a thorough bus system, and it's closer to Taipei. On the other hand, Kaohsiung just opened the first line of it's MRT (subway) system (can someone confirm this?), making at least part of the city easily navigable. |
The bus system in KHH is basically useless unless you can read/speak Chinese. The only viable forms of transportation in KHH are car/taxi/scooter. The KMRT IS NOT open yet. It was "scheduled" to open at the beginning of December, but everyone really knew it wouldn't be until CNY that the 1st line would really open. The first line will be a north south line, and it will help, but unless you live near one of the North South stations, it wont be a terribly convenient system until the 2nd line opens up near the CNY of 2009. |
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cspitzig
Joined: 01 Nov 2007
Posts: 56
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| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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| BigWally wrote: |
| Depending on the kind of school you're looking for this may or may not be good. If you go into a school that is so desperate for teachers, they dont want to know anything about you, you might want to ask "Why are they so desperate?". On the other hand, if you have to go through a hiring process (ie. interview, demo) then you MAY be getting into a more reputable school, that cares more about its teachers, and the quality of learning. |
Do they actually require a demo from people who haven't done any TEFL and don't have any teaching experience? Do places require a video from people who are overseas? |
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BigWally
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 765
Location: Ottawa, CAN (prev. Kaohsiung "the Dirty South")
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| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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No, typically the demo is done upon arrival. TEFL experience or not.
Although, if the school hires you from overseas, there may be a chance that you dont have to do a demo at all. |
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yellman40
Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:09 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for all of the advice and info offered thus far. A quick question though: what does a demo entail? Since I haven't done anything like this before I imagine that it would be a little scary to do a "demo" with no training beforehand. Would they ask this of me after a little instruction as to what they expect from me?
Thanks all. Also, are all your Taichung teachers satisfied with the city and/or your jobs? |
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