Job Discussion Forums

[St Vitus]

My apologies for a negative message. I know all too many of them in this forum are just that. Anyway, I'd like to pick brains about REAL teaching positions in Taiwan. Please don't think I'm conceited but after 5 months in an awful buxiban, I unfortunately discovered that most others didn't appear to be a great deal different, apart from they offered less money.
With 3 years experience (one of which in a British Council school), Trinity Cert and Cambridge exam teaching experience, I know I can do better than a school which advertises, "No experience necessary", "TEFL Cert. not essential as full training is provided," "North American accent preferred."
This says it all i.e. "We don't care about your qualifications and experience as we don't have any ourselves. We favour nationality ahead of such unimportant factors."
And there one can only conclude that Taiwan is a place where demand for native speakers (preferably North American ones) is high and the standard of English teaching is very low. My buxiban was more like a boot camp than a language school. The boss, who k new nothing about English teaching, insisted on an intensive training programme which lasted 5 months!
The kindergarten situation appears to be worse. A friend of mine, a nineteen-year old Canadian, was earning a pile in one. What standards do these places have? I find it dodgy that there are more males working in these places than females. This is particualrly the case when one considers that few countries have an extradition treaty with Taiwan and thus, police checks can never be carried out. Personally, I don't want to simply entertain some infants for a couple of hours - I'm an English teacher!
I'm not criticising the teachers themselves in Taiwan. I'm sure many of them are good at what they do even if it isn't a good job they have. I'm also sure many kindergarten and buxiban teachers are very happy and good for them! However, what scope is there for a qualified career EFL teacher, who is interested in career development in Taiwan? Does anyone have details of university positions? I've heard they're difficult to get. Are they worth it? I do miss Taiwan (I'm back home now) but I don't want to return and have most of my time occupied working for morons in a second-rate establishment.

[Taylor]

Dear St. Vitus,

My only suggestion would be "stay in Taipei!"

Only in the capital city can you expect "international standards" at all.

I spent 7+ years in Kaohsiung. For me, it was fine. But the demand for adult English teachers is not very high. Global Village is doing fine, I guess. (But you know about the lower salaries they offer, I am sure.)

ONE BIT OF CAUTION: Teaching in a university is NOT teaching adults. I don't want sound too negative either. However, the following terms come to mind: hormone-filled, cell-phone loving, arrogant, lazy, pre-occupied, clueless, etc.

Looking forward to hearing everyone's responses!

Taylor
Texas/Taiwan

[chi-chi]

But they are common all over Asia. More men teaching than women? Welcome to the club, the school where I used to teach in Kaohsiung made a steady habit of firing all the women, and was working on having an all-male teaching environment by the time I left Kaohsiung.
Want to do more than entertaining babies? Then better not go to Korea haha. Even in Japan, there is a huge baby market/edutainment!
Teachers without degrees? I understand, the same school in Kaohsiung hired most of their teachers without any college.
I guess what I am saying is that these factors are common all over Asia...they will be just as common in Taipei, Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo.
But, fine. Forgive my long posting as I am bored, unemployed, and in Japan at the moment. As long as they think their method works, if they want to pay good money, that is fine. Learning without using your own language? My knowledge of Chinese, Korean and Japanese-as compared to my knowledge of French and Spanish-can attest to the truth of this.
Oh well dude there is money so if you get bored come on back-
Chi-Chi

[brian]

[St Vitus]

Thanks for the responses so far. Does anyone have any names to recommend, with salaries? Will anyone want to pay to bring an ex-Taiwan teacher back into Taiwan?

[Pop Fly]

[Aristotle]

Go to Japan,
It is the only country in Asia to have something close to a professional working enviroment.
In the two years I spent teaching in Japan I was much better paid, treated and appreciated. Most employers are professional and expect the same from their employees.

[brian]

[Aristotle]

I remain because of people like you Brian. A life without challenge is a life without meaning.
Thanks,
A.