Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eho]

I'll be done with my contract in September, and I have a handful of options:

Go home,
find another job in Korea, or
go to Taiwan.

I don't plan to renew my contract at my present hagwon (for no blacklist-able complaints), so I'd either need to find help getting into GEPIK or EPIK, or I'll just have to pick Taiwan (or some other country where I speak substantially more of the language [Mandarin]).

I could answer any other questions if anyone who read this wanted some details, but my main concern is about employment. Has anyone worked in both Korea and Taiwan and can anyone give some clear reasons for picking one over the other?

[cincynate]

I also have been looking into taiwan. A lot of information i've been paruzing over is looking for certified teachers. Is this the general case with Taiwan?

[morrisonhotel]

[eho]

I have the benefit of a few Taiwanese friends. Here's what I gathered. (Also, I learned that this whole thread is a giant repost on something completely different.)

1.) Unless you snag a contract and have pre-arranged work in Taiwan, which is rarer than it is in Korea, you're on your own. Have fun arranging your living and job hunting in Mandarin! (這戶公寓每月多少錢?)

2.) Taiwanese "cram schools" are no better than hagwons: mindless repetition, dull topics, profit-mongering, total lack of curriculum standards, a steady batch of unscrupulous owners...

3.) This is anecdotal, but there are supposedly more Aussies in Taiwan, though no overt American military presence.

That's two cons and a pro.