Job Discussion Forums

[Michael Kennedy]

I currently live in Michigan and have been working in for the same company for about 4 years and getting pretty burned out. I am currently getting TEFL certified and thinking about getting a job over there. I am just wondering is it worth going there and giving up my job, apartment, car etc? Right now I have a job making about 40k but I am miserable at my job and just wondering if I would be making a huge mistake by moving over there. I have plenty of money stashed away for any emergency situations that should come up. I have lived in other countries before and speak other languages and adapt fairly quickly.

[Aristotle]

Hi,
I worked on Taiwan for more than 30 years teaching English. I now work in Korea six months a year and then run a tiki bar in Thailand, the other six. I work in Korea because it pays nearly twice as well as Taiwan.
The visa and work situation is about the same but the weather is much cooler in Korea and the people are down right cold in comparison to the Chinese people on Taiwan.

You are not going to make a lot of money on Taiwan but you will have a great out of culture experience.

Good Luck!
A.

[Michael Kennedy]

Money is not a huge issue because I have saved a lot after working 9 years busting my ass for the huge corporations. I am looking to break free so Taiwan sounds like a good place.

[MomCat]

Michael, I'm sure you realize that no one but you can answer this question. Anyone else can only give you their point of view or their experiences. And I'll do that but it's only one voice.

[Michael Kennedy]

Yes I have a BBA in business. Lol I am not really running away I am in the situation now where I can be semi-retired and want to be out of the cubicle. Yes I have a place to put my car and the payments are only $200 a month for another 3 years so it is not that big of an issue. Yes I can stand humidity no problem. I love hot weather. If I had a dozen other options, yes I am open to other options but in terms of income from teaching, I am not quite at the point where I can afford to go to Mexico and get a job only making $800 a month but at the same time I am not one of those broke kids straight out of college that goes to Korea to save money. What I am basically looking for is a teaching job where I am get $1400-1500 a month so I can have a few hundred left over every month to take vacations to near by places and also would like to teach in a spot that isn't real cold so Taiwan seems to fit the bill for me. Any other questions?

[MomCat]

[StayingPower]

M.K., you're going to have to take quite a financial risk by just coming here, and you'll have a lot of start up costs, whereas in Korea you don't have much to lose(they fly you over, give you an apartment, fly you back, offer more security.) But in Taiwan, you'll face financial insecurity unlike what you now don't have. Believe me, you'll have to find your own apartment, buy your own furniture, buy a scooter and sacrifice a lot. In Korea, all of these things are given you apart from the scooter.

In Taiwan, you'll have to find your niche too, as teaching kindergarteners will probably be your first job offer; and you'll have to beware of a lot of the big chains that constantly dump teachers and have an astronomically high turnover rate, ie., HESS, Koejen, Jordon's, Kid's Castle, Giraffe, and other generic, not-so-secure, discrimminatory and unsound work environments.

If you do choose to come here, your best best is to find a position teaching at either an elementary or high school. There's no immediate gratifcation in Taiwan, whereas in Korea you can make money from the get-go. Perhaps, too, that'll give you some experience in this job field. A TEFL certificate really doesn't mean much to them, as I've had one for over five years and have never been asked to show it.

[archon121176]

Mike,

I can't speak for the majority of those who've taught in Taiwan because I worked for the Taiwan (ROC) Ministry of Education. In that job I got stipend for rent, and it was tax free. That's because I have a government teaching certificate. So, my experience is a bit different...

But, without trying to give you advice, I can tell you my impressions of Taiwan. The rising Canadian dollar meant I lost saving power while there. It is hot, and cold in the winter. You can get lonely, especially in rural counties like I was. The language barrier is huge, and causes logistical and communication problems. The only way around that is by making Chinese language a daily hobby. Certain things like the way of used toilet paper disposal and bad drivers and pollution got to me in my two years in Taiwan.

On the other hand, the people are sincerely friendly, the girls are sweet, and the kids are nice. You could try to get a job at Global Village, or one of the chain schools. With your experience and education you would stand heads over other foreigners in a job search. You might even fall in love with a lovely Taiwanese lady.

All I'm saying is read about the pros and cons of Taiwan, and make your decision. Korea has good money but cold people. In Taiwan it's the opposite. Hopefully Canada's currency goes below 90 cents US, so I might return. Think in terms of money, social relationships with locals, the foreigners you meet, the job opportunities of Michigan.

Go to Taiwan because you WANT to, not because you HAVE to.

[BigWally]

[SanChong]

[Michael Kennedy]

Thank you for the advice. In terms of picking up my own expenses, if I have to do that, then I don't mind. I am able to draw about $1200 a month in interest off the bank, so if I have to spend a grand here or there it isn't going to kill me. In terms of pollution and all that was described to me, I have lived in some pretty crappy places in Central and South America that were pretty disgusting and did not mind them one bit. One question I do have is how cold does Taiwan get in the winter? Because as long as it is above 40 F I am a happy camper. Korea does sound like a good choice. I have friends who live in Busan, who love it so very Southern South Korea would not be to bad.

[MomCat]

Try here for weather info:
http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V5e/index.htm

Someone recommended Global Village??!! The bottom of the bottom of the chains? Strange.

Michael, may I ask what you're looking for in moving to Taiwan? I'm just being nosy. Well, that's not completely true. I'm always hoping to interest stable, intelligent, adaptable, competent teachers into considering Hsinchu.

Cat

[Michael Kennedy]

In terms of what I am looking for. Well one of the number #1 reasons Taiwan is a good location for me is because I have worked in the wholesale distribution business/export business for several years and have a lot of contacts in the industry I work in. I am looking at starting out teaching while I slowly build up an export business with my contacts over in the U.S. I currently have a few small wholesale companies that I can freelance for as a buyer part-time and hopefully if I find the right product mix and start the business off right, I could eventually rent a small warehouse and hire two employees part-time within 2 years. The type of export business I am looking at starting is in the computer hardware parts and Taiwan has lots of opportunity for this industry. It is kind of hard to explain because it is a little technical but I know Taiwan is the place for me. In terms of what I am looking for in teaching. I am basically just looking for a regular teaching job. I know there is both positives and negatives with any job and I am prepared to take the good, the bad and the ugly like anything else in life. It's crazy because I just got my evaeluation at work today and my boss said "I don't know where I would be without you, your the best employee I have" and I am getting a nice raise but sometimes you have to jump ship and take risks to make things happen and I am ready to make things happen.

[markholmes]

You should go over to www.forumosa.com. I bleive they have a business forum that might be of use to you. I got some good export tips a few years ago.

[Michael Kennedy]

This is indeed a good website. Yes I have buyers already in the pipeline. I just need to contact manufacturers over there and see what kind of margin I can get and then I am off to the races.