Job Discussion Forums

[SandyG20]

I would like to communicate with any teachers who have worked the MOE teacher jobs in Taiwan - especially those recruited through Footprints Recruiting. Would like to hear/read your experiences. Thank you.

[archon121176]

I worked for the MOE for 2 years, and have just reapplied through Footprints. I hear that Footprints is reputable, according to my sources in the Taiwan Ministry of Education. Do you have any specific questions?

[SandyG20]

Two years - great - then tell me all about your experiences - names of schools, towns, pay, anything else you can think of. I only know what FP is saying - so would like some first hand knowledge. Thank you.

[archon121176]

"Two years - great - then tell me all about your experiences - names of schools, towns, pay, anything else you can think of. I only know what FP is saying - so would like some first hand knowledge. Thank you."

Hi. I lived in Changhua County, halfway down the island from Taipei, just south of Taichung. It is a "rural" area, by that I mean you see rice paddies. I lived in a small town with the nearest train stn conveniently 15 min away. The climate was nice, and the air was better than in Taipei or (worse) Kaoshiung. I found the place to be relaxing and friendly.

I worked at two Elementary schools (4 days at one, 1 at the other) and taught mainly Grades 3-5. I occasionally taught at High Schools. Students were mainly well behaved and a delight to teach, but you must be prepared for the fact that not everyone is an ESL student. You will encounter Special Ed kids and students who can't even say "How are you?" right.

I was given 12 out of 35 teaching periods for prep. There was no standard curriculum, although the MOE provided Learning Outcomes guides to be followed. There was a great amount of professional autonomy, provided the foriegn teacher stuck to teaching listening and speaking skills. What the MOE wanted was these two skills, the reading and writing was basically covered.

I was paid every 5th day of the month. I never had trouble, cuz the friendly school accountant was competent (some colleagues elsewhere complained of late pay, sometimes a month late- probably due to MOE bureaucracy).

I had a co-teacher. He and I became very good friends, and still are. I would say that any headaches come with the other side of living in Taiwan, namely the daily living needs and the language gap.

Do you have any more questions?

[VelaenOscuridad]

Hi, I'm not the OP but I do have an interest in taking a job with the MOE. Are you paid a salary comparable to other ESL teachers, or does the Ministry pay a reduced rate?

Also, are the conditions in the elementary school at which you worked acceptable? Was anything excessively dirty or run-down?

Thanks in advance!

[archon121176]

"VelaenOscuridad"]Hi, I'm not the OP but I do have an interest in taking a job with the MOE. Are you paid a salary comparable to other ESL teachers, or does the Ministry pay a reduced rate?

Also, are the conditions in the elementary school at which you worked acceptable? Was anything excessively dirty or run-down?

Thanks in advance!

--

The MOE job is a very good paying position, compared to private ESL schools (you work 16 hours for the same money people in the private sector make in 25 hrs). You get a stipend for housing, and the position is tax free.

It's a public school! There is an acceptable level of cleanliness that anyone would want. You are working in a public institution, and they have decent standards in regards to sanitation, safety, etc.

[SandyG20]

Thanks Archon - can you describe a typical teaching day - in each school?

When did day begin, end, ages of students, subjects taught - how many hours in each school?

How did you get from school to school?

What was apartment like?

How did you get food (since it was a rural area) and other necessities?

Transportation availability - day to day and across the island - for those of us who won't have a scooter (especially in the beginning).

Payscales, vacation time - paid or unpaid (I want to see the island and countries nearby on vacation time).

Availability of western clothing and shoes (ok I have read up on this - but maybe you know where to get them?)

Are the people kind and helpful in the everyday things - like helping you get to the store and such?

Food? easy to get? Especially in a rural area? I do want to eat local food - but wonder how this works when you can't read the labels.

It all sounds exciting - so eager for a response.

Thanks Archon.

[archon121176]

[quote="SandyG20"]Thanks Archon - can you describe a typical teaching day - in each school?

OK, read below.

When did day begin, end, ages of students, subjects taught - how many hours in each school?

I would get to school at 7:30 (I walked 10 min from my apartment), classes begin at 8:40 and end at 3:55. There are seven blocks, each 40min. Except Wed. PM and Thurs PM, I was expected to teach 24 blocks a week. Usually this meant on those two days, busy mornings and quiet afternoons. I taught all ESL to Grades 3-6, student ages 8-12. I sometimes taught in high schools. As well, I would teach teachers and admin English, plus voluntary classes of higher profiency students.

How did you get from school to school?

Mostly by my scooter (moto chur), or sometimes when asked to teach farther away, the principal would pick me up.

What was apartment like?

Small, with a private bathroom (western toilet, thankfully). I could have rented a larger place but, hey, I'm cheap...

How did you get food (since it was a rural area) and other necessities?

I shopped for morning breakfasts and snacks, bought dinners at local canteens and cafes or from stands. I never needed to spend more than 150nt on food on a weekday, and only on the weekends would I "spoil" myself and buy 200nt a day. Weekend mornings I would go to "Beautiful&Breakfast" to have my "dathn been" (egg omelette) and "ca fe" (guess this) with my Taipei Times (english newspaper).

Transportation availability - day to day and across the island - for those of us who won't have a scooter (especially in the beginning).

Unless you are posted to the remote parts of counties (which is rare), transportation to rail stations is good, when locals volunteer to drive you there (good to have good rapport here). Taxis are useful, but friends are better. From trains, getting to major centres or around the island is easy. The Gao Chur (high speed train) is excellent. Or if needed you can take a plane to islands. When you have a motochur, get a poncho and sturdy helmet...

Payscales, vacation time - paid or unpaid (I want to see the island and countries nearby on vacation time).

When I was there, the pay started at 61,000 plus 5000 housing stipend, no local taxes applied to us. I got up to 65,000 plus stipend before I left. Top of the scale is 80,000. If you get good evaluations, you get 50% to 100% of one month salary as bonus. My contract gave me 2 weeks off, but later contracts gave my friends 1 month off, perhaps a bit more too.

Availability of western clothing and shoes (ok I have read up on this - but maybe you know where to get them?)

You are in clothing and shoe heaven here. I'd recommend just bringing what you need, and buying these items once you settled in. Any small urban centre will have a zone of decent stores, with all kinds of things sold. You just have to browse to get inspired (I myself bought a Nehru suit that was on sale, just by looking around).

Also, re: clothing. Ask where the laundromat is, if you won't have a washer/dryer. As with anything essential, get the business card of any establishment. Get yourself a bag with a long strap that goes around your neck, for rides on motochurs. They are cheap, stylish, and convenient for wallets, cellphones, etc.

Are the people kind and helpful in the everyday things - like helping you get to the store and such?

Taiwanese people are friendly and helpful, and eager to practise their English with you (contrast that with anecdotes from friends in Japan and Korea). They are very giving of their time and efforts, so be grateful and return in kind. If you can learn essential Chinese phrases, their shyness will lessen. They are eager to help and be your friends.

Food? easy to get? Especially in a rural area? I do want to eat local food - but wonder how this works when you can't read the labels.

You cannot starve in Taiwan. Just ask what certain foods are called, and try new things. You can go get food in local supermarkets, corner stores (try to avoid 7-11), night markets, market stalls, cafes, breakfast places, etc. "Rural" means you can see rice paddies but it's still fairly urban. "Isolated" means you have to get home on a mountain road, or there are few people around.

It all sounds exciting - so eager for a response.

Any more questions?

Thanks Archon.[/quote]

Any time.

[PeterDragon]

1) How does one apply for a MOE job? Can it be done without a recruiter? And what recrutiers would people out there recommend?

2) Is the deadline to apply for MOE this year really June 1, or is it worth my while to keep job hunting throughout June?

3) What's the monthly food cost if you buy your own groceries instea of eating out?

4) What are the costs for utilities, phone and internet on average.

[chon nom]

I'd like to know how to apply with MOE too. Also; my wife has a TEFL
too, and is certified in the US with 12 years experience(LA Unified)s. Overseas experience in both Korea and Thailand. Thing is; she wants to
actually teach; she's sort of tired of/overqualified for the Dancing
Monkey thing. Any advice?

[archon121176]

1) How does one apply for a MOE job? Can it be done without a recruiter? And what recrutiers would people out there recommend?

Footprints Recruiting is the MOE's recruiter now. Used to be CECN in Canada, but CECN had problems. The Illinois DOE had a contract, as did British Council, not sure if they do anymore. Footprint sounds good, as does DeWey.

2) Is the deadline to apply for MOE this year really June 1, or is it worth my while to keep job hunting throughout June?

It is June 1. But plenty of good jobs come up on Footprints and DeWey, etc.

3) What's the monthly food cost if you buy your own groceries instea of eating out?

Cheap. At least when I was there before the rising cost of fuel. I rarely paid more than 5000nt a month on food.

4) What are the costs for utilities, phone and internet on average.

You can't own a private phoneline until after 2 years residence. Going to 7-11 to get calling cards for my cell cost me 600 a month on average. I didn't have my own wasjing machine, but the laundromat was 70-100nt per wash. Electricity and water was 500-1000 per month, depending on the weather

[archon121176]

I'd like to know how to apply with MOE too. Also; my wife has a TEFL
too, and is certified in the US with 12 years experience(LA Unified)s. Overseas experience in both Korea and Thailand. Thing is; she wants to
actually teach; she's sort of tired of/overqualified for the Dancing
Monkey thing. Any advice?

Apply to Footprints Recruiting. To clarify, only certified teachers may apply. Teaching in Taiwan public schools is not the dancing monkey regime experienced in bushibans, but it can be fun and a positive challenge. You have more professional autonomy in planning what you want to teach, provided you follow MOE Learning Outcome guidelines.

[housecat]

I'm also interested in doing this next year (2009). Can you tell me if air fare is provided up front? What about teachers with a dependant child? Will the child's costs be covered, ie. air fare, education, and health care?

Those are my bigest concerns. Thanks!

[773]

[housecat]

I have to second 773, here. I wore American size 8.5 shoes and still found shoes--once in a while. I could either pay an arm and a leg at a department store, or sometimes find a pair at a night market where the quality was dubious. But . . .

I had a baby in Taiwan and while pregnant gained a shoe size. My only opions were men's shoes--sprots shoes and dress shoes that looked very obviously manish--or flip flops. I wore flip flops only for almost a year! I ended up ordering a pair of shoes online from the states and paying to have them shipped to Taiwan--and even that was difficult because I couldn't find any sellers who wanted to do any international shipping.

And even if you ARE an American size 8--that's considered a LARGE in Taiwan. No, I'm not making that up or exadurating.

However!!! I was a bra size 34DDD in the States (since I'm sharing I'd like to add that it was all natural) and found finding bras in the States impossible without special ordering huge industrial looking things. I was able to find bras in Taiwan that were beautiful!! The problem was that I just lucked into this little specialty bra shop in Kaohsiung, in the Hsin-Hsien night market, that catered to hard to fit women. Once I got pregnant, however, all bets were off! I topped out at an H cup and there was no hope for me after that!

So, if you're over a size 8, or unusually perportioned, you need to bring your wardrobe to Taiwan. Taiwan IS a clothes and shoe heaven for some women, but not for all of us. Good Luck!![quote][/quote][quote][/quote][quote][/quote]