Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Justin Richard]

I would like to met/talk to teacherswho have taught in both Taiwan and Korea for at least two or three years. I lived and taught in Taiwan for eight years and Korea for four years before returning.

[zhanknight]

Interesting, what were the differences between the two? We were thinking a lot about Taiwan before coming to Korea.

[kardisa]

[Justin Richard]

I worked/taught English to all levels in Taiwan for eight years. I had taught in Korea for four years before moving to Taiwan. I have since returned to Korea and I am teaching again here.

To Kardisa:

I suppose it is generally true that the owners of language schools in both Korea or Taiwan would take advantage of an English Teachers's situation. The difference is that in Taiwan a contract is based on hourly pay. You simply get paid for the hours you worked. In Korea it is just the opposite as most teachers are paid a monthly salary. Because if this in Taiwan teachers are required to punch in or clock in and clock out. If you are late or leave early you are docked. Each school is different but being a minute late can result in a $100NT deduction.

The issues with taxes and health insurance are the same as generally most schools would under report a teacher's income to save on health insurance premiums and taxes. Again this depends on the school but it is generally true.

Yes, in Taiwan teachers who have a teaching certificate from their home country have the best benefits and would not have any problems with taxes or health insurance. They get long paid vacations as well. The International in Taiwan for example the Taipei American School or the Taipei European School are the highese paid in Taiwan and would earn more than $100,000NT on a salary.

I live in Taoyuan. The two main schools there are Principal American School and Frobel American School. The hourly pay is low but I used to have 35 hours a week.

If you teach at a regular language school you would be lucky to have 20 hours a week.

I never had a problem finding work in Taiwan. In fact, at one point I had 11 different sources of income including privates.

I started a family in Taiwan so I had extra pressure to find and keep jobs. From July 2005 until January 2010 this year I always earned more than $100,000NT except during February because of the long unpaid Chinese New Year holiday...I usually earned between $120,000NT and $130,000NT a month.

I think the market is more over-saturated right now. I am not sure how long I could have maintained that income. I really pushed myself and regularly worked on the weekends. Taoyuan was actually a great place because it was close to Taipei. Chungli and Linko. It was possible to travel and have extra work. The Foreign Affairs Police or Immigration were never a problem for me.

Yes, you are right no housing and no airfare. The 13% tax is over taxed so about 7% is refunded to you the following year. Not much help if you need it.

The culture of giving face or saving Face I always found to be stronger in Taiwan. I actually learned alot about Korea in Taiwan.

There were many things in Taiwan that I did not like but my daughters were born there and we had the chance to enjoy a good life and learn Chinese.

We decided to move to Korea because my wife is Korean and for our daughters in go to school. Korean elementary schools are a little better than Taiwanese schools.

I have only been here for 5 months and have only just gotten used to Korea again. I still think about Taiwan alot. I rode a scooter for 6 years in Taiwan and now drive a car. Sometimes a see a scooter here in Korea and I imagine what is was like and can't remember the feeling of riding a scooter. It is strange.

When I first come to Korea I missed Canada and complained about Korean things and then moved to Taiwan and remembered Korea and complained about Taiwanese/Chinese things and now I have returned back to Korea and find myself always remembering Taiwan. But I am happy and feel lucky to be here and have such expereinces.

I think my experiences are different from most other teachers but I think that generally Taiwan and Korea are the same but it depends on the city you live and the school you work and on your general outlook on life.

Both places are be great or both places can be terrible. It depends on your outlook and goals in life.

I still have a student in TAIWAN and teach him on Skype once a week. I will always remember TAIWAN.

If you want to know more send me an e-mail. The teaching style in the classroom is a little different too.

[zhanknight]

Fascinating - great reply. Thanks!

[engrishprease]

[teacherinseoul]

Taiwanese people take pride in their friendliness. Pride isn't necessarily a good thing, but I think that it works in this case. The general populace is very welcoming (at least in Taipei).

Taiwan is also more foreign than Korea. The weather is different, the scooters are different, the shops are different, the food culture is different and the markets are different. Taiwan isn't third world, but it's rustic.

I had my fair share of negative experiences in Taiwan (with buxibans), but still look back fondly on my time there.

[kardisa]