Korean Job Discussion Forums

[panthermodern]

I have been sniffing around thinking about a change in employment and to make a long story short I have recieved some job offers for Taiwan.

Now, these offers look better the Korea on paper, but are they really? Has anyone who has worked in Taiwan came to Korea and thinks Korea is a better better deal.

I am a bit warry because the offers I have been getting are for a lot more money the Korea pays.

[TheUrbanMyth]

I believe that Taiwan does not pay for housing. That may be why the monetary offers are higher. In order to make a fair comparison you should find out how much comparable housing (to yours) would cost in Taiwan and factor that in. Again though, that's just what I've heard

[waterbaby]

Hi Panther...

Here are some threads that compare Korea to Taiwan (and some other Asian countries) that I thought might interest you.

1. Should I Move to South Korea?
2. Korea vs Japan vs Taiwan
3.Coming Back to Korea from Taiwan - Advice
4. Korea or Taiwan?

[Dalton]

If you meet the qualifications I would look into Hong Kong. An Ontario Certified teacher I know just chose Hong Kong after lots of research and two years in Taiwan.

[Dalton]

Here's a Taiwan site I found useful when asking myself the same question last year. It may be a bit dated but it had a lot of info.
Teaching English in Taiwan

[Patong Dong]

I have taught in both Korea and Taiwan and personally made a lot more money in Taiwan. Even with paying rent I came out slightly ahead as most schools arrange a place and then count part of your salary as a housing allowance - at least in my neck of the woods (Changhua County)

The big difference for me was the amount of privates and how much they paid. I was in a smaller city but there was still money there and foreigners were hard to come by and once I got one private the offers poured in. I taught other schools as well as a police station where they just showed me guns and then left class to answer calls. I was able to live completely off my privates (that sounds bad) off my private classes and send more than my regular salary home each month. Thsi was the same for all 4 teachers at my school.

Besides the money Taiwanese weather is better but I enjoyed Korea as a country more. Then again the Taiwanese never irritated me like the Koreans could. But at least I never slept outside in a parking lot for 3 days because of a 7.6 earthquake in Korea.

So I guess this doesn't help at all and only confuses the issue further, sorry!

[rapier]

I'm considering the taiwan option now..teaching options are getting fewer here and the economy's suffering..there's a vague possibility of political/nuke problems ahead..etc etc.
I heard that in Taiwan the schools make you learn Chinese in tandem with your teaching- sounds interesting and useful. The kids can't be any worse than koreans, probably better, and the money, weather, everything sounds similar, probably better..giving it thought.....

[chi-chi]

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[Patong Dong]

Chi Chi that simply isn't true. Don't you feel just a little uncomfortable putting up such a misleading reply?

I did 2 tours of duty in Taiwan, both in the central area, Changhua and Taichung, and I can 100% say I never encountered any exceptional difficulty due to my lack of Mandarin - no more so than in taipei. In fact I learned very little compared to the Korean I picked up in Jeon Ju as so many people could speak some English.

There are hundreds of foreigners in Taichung, there is a magazine geared soley to foreigners in the area, dozens of bars, restaurants, stores and even sporting activities. There is even an expat ice hockey team.

Taipei is the only place on the island where there is a market for privates and a market for adult classes? That is such an astounding statement I can only assume you never spoke with a single individual whom had taught outside of Taipei. I taught adults regularly and I made more money and had to turn down more privates in the small town of Yuanlin than anyone I had met in Taipei and Taichung. When I moved to Taichung I had to accept less for private classes than I did in Yuanlin. I had two classes a week - 90 minutes- where I was paid NT$2000 per class. There were a number of foreigners down there that came on tourist visas and only taught privates!

As I had arrived in Taiwan after the IMF crisis in Korea there were a large number of teachers who had also made the jump. No one I knew had the same complaints about their "bushibans" that they did about "Hakwons". My Chinese boss was a crafty son of a...he would always try and out negotiate you, but once a deal was made he never backed out. As for the face comment, the Chinese don't consider us to have face when we arrive so don't worry about whether you are going to lose it.

Sorry after two years in central Taiwan I just think it is important to point out that your reply is utter fiction.

BTW, did you get your name from living in Chi Chi? I could understand your perspective a little more in that case.

[chi-chi]

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[chi-chi]

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[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I did both, and have answered this question a quadrillion times. So search past posts of me regarding Taiwan.

[chi-chi]

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[waterbaby]

But it's always good to get new perspectives...

[chi-chi]

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