Comments on: How to Get Started Teaching in Taiwan http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net Everything you need to know about surviving as an English teacher in Taiwan. Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:01:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: admin http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/teaching-in-taiwan/comment-page-1/#comment-736 admin Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:08:18 +0000 http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/?page_id=41#comment-736 CarlJ, Where is your wife from? Sounds like she is a public school teacher, but if she is Taiwanese then it won't matter, because she'll be treated like a Taiwanese. If your wife is not Taiwanese, then she should be OK finding work in a public school. However, if I understand correctly you are not a certified teacher, so it means cram school work would be your only option. You say you'll be 50 something by that time, then you are correct in guessing it won't be easy finding work, at least not in a cram school. Licensed teachers don't face this issue, well at least not as much as those working in cram schools. My honest suggestion? Try China. You'll be able to teach in a university and they won't care what your degree is in. Best of luck and I hope that helps. CarlJ,
Where is your wife from? Sounds like she is a public school teacher, but if she is Taiwanese then it won’t matter, because she’ll be treated like a Taiwanese. If your wife is not Taiwanese, then she should be OK finding work in a public school. However, if I understand correctly you are not a certified teacher, so it means cram school work would be your only option. You say you’ll be 50 something by that time, then you are correct in guessing it won’t be easy finding work, at least not in a cram school. Licensed teachers don’t face this issue, well at least not as much as those working in cram schools. My honest suggestion? Try China. You’ll be able to teach in a university and they won’t care what your degree is in. Best of luck and I hope that helps.

]]> By: CarlJ http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/teaching-in-taiwan/comment-page-1/#comment-734 CarlJ Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:19:11 +0000 http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/?page_id=41#comment-734 Thanks for the wealth of information. Both US natives (wife lived in Tainan and Japan as a child, I traveled Asia and Middle East as a US Military officer) We are considering teaching English in Asia, looking at a 5 year plan, i.e. relo to Asia in 2017. No, we're not asking you to predict the future. Wife has taught public school (K-2) for 25 years with degree in elementary education. Mine is B.S. in Economics and Bus Admin. My concern is the age issue. Will this be untowardly difficult for us to do in our 50s? While I never say never, a realistic outlook is preferable. Your thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks for the wealth of information. Both US natives (wife lived in Tainan and Japan as a child, I traveled Asia and Middle East as a US Military officer) We are considering teaching English in Asia, looking at a 5 year plan, i.e. relo to Asia in 2017. No, we’re not asking you to predict the future. Wife has taught public school (K-2) for 25 years with degree in elementary education. Mine is B.S. in Economics and Bus Admin. My concern is the age issue. Will this be untowardly difficult for us to do in our 50s? While I never say never, a realistic outlook is preferable. Your thoughts would be most appreciated.

]]> By: admin http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/teaching-in-taiwan/comment-page-1/#comment-724 admin Sun, 08 Jan 2012 03:01:46 +0000 http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/?page_id=41#comment-724 @Jill, That's right. A contract in Taiwan isn't worth the paper it is written on. This is probably a little harsh, but people need to be aware that Taiwan and many other countries operate completely differently than what many are used to back home. Do teacher's leave early? Definitely! Do schools try to stop them from leaving? No, but they will "fine" you and use other tricks which are illegal, but it doesn't stop them from doing it. However, most schools provide you with a probationary period, so you can leave anytime you want, usually within the span of a month, before actually staying for the remainder of your contract. Good luck! @Jill,
That’s right. A contract in Taiwan isn’t worth the paper it is written on. This is probably a little harsh, but people need to be aware that Taiwan and many other countries operate completely differently than what many are used to back home. Do teacher’s leave early? Definitely! Do schools try to stop them from leaving? No, but they will “fine” you and use other tricks which are illegal, but it doesn’t stop them from doing it. However, most schools provide you with a probationary period, so you can leave anytime you want, usually within the span of a month, before actually staying for the remainder of your contract. Good luck!

]]> By: Jill http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/teaching-in-taiwan/comment-page-1/#comment-723 Jill Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:42:01 +0000 http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/?page_id=41#comment-723 Hi! You state that the contracts in TW aren't as rock solid as here. I am currently home in the U.S. and am looking to secure a job before i go. I was wondering, is it common for teachers to break their contracts? In other words, how binding is it? My biggest worry is that I will accept a job and if i end up hating it, I don't want to be stuck. I am a very upbeat individual I just like to take every precaution and do my research since I am already nervous enough going over there. Thank you! Hi! You state that the contracts in TW aren’t as rock solid as here. I am currently home in the U.S. and am looking to secure a job before i go. I was wondering, is it common for teachers to break their contracts? In other words, how binding is it?
My biggest worry is that I will accept a job and if i end up hating it, I don’t want to be stuck. I am a very upbeat individual I just like to take every precaution and do my research since I am already nervous enough going over there. Thank you!

]]> By: admin http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/teaching-in-taiwan/comment-page-1/#comment-668 admin Sun, 27 Nov 2011 07:57:25 +0000 http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/?page_id=41#comment-668 @Luca, Unfortunately, you can't legally teach in a cram school in Taiwan. Check this site but you need a passport from an English speaking country in order to work here. If that is the case, I would strongly recommend you stay in China. You won't be able to find any work here legally teaching English if you hold an Italian passport. Good luck. @Luca,
Unfortunately, you can’t legally teach in a cram school in Taiwan. Check this site but you need a passport from an English speaking country in order to work here. If that is the case, I would strongly recommend you stay in China. You won’t be able to find any work here legally teaching English if you hold an Italian passport. Good luck.

]]> By: Luca http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/teaching-in-taiwan/comment-page-1/#comment-667 Luca Sun, 27 Nov 2011 07:38:35 +0000 http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/?page_id=41#comment-667 Hi mate, My name is Luca, I`m from Italy, 30 years old. I am living in China for 8 years around but I`m considering to move to Taiwan. I own two bachelors (one in natural science another one in business mandarin), I studied 1 year in UK for english full-immersion course. I have been teaching both Italian and English in middle-high schools and training centers. I have been searching for more info about teaching in TW but I couldnt find much. What would you recommend? Thanks in advance Luca Hi mate, My name is Luca, I`m from Italy, 30 years old. I am living in China for 8 years around but I`m considering to move to Taiwan. I own two bachelors (one in natural science another one in business mandarin), I studied 1 year in UK for english full-immersion course. I have been teaching both Italian and English in middle-high schools and training centers. I have been searching for more info about teaching in TW but I couldnt find much. What would you recommend?
Thanks in advance
Luca

]]> By: admin http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/teaching-in-taiwan/comment-page-1/#comment-635 admin Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:34:38 +0000 http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/?page_id=41#comment-635 Kylen, Employers prefer a BA holder than someone with an AA + TEFL, because many employers are not aware that they can hire an AA + TEFL holder. It doesn't make a difference what your Bachelor's or AA is in, but I will warn you that some employers will turn you away if you don't have a Bachelor's. Good luck. Kylen,
Employers prefer a BA holder than someone with an AA + TEFL, because many employers are not aware that they can hire an AA + TEFL holder. It doesn’t make a difference what your Bachelor’s or AA is in, but I will warn you that some employers will turn you away if you don’t have a Bachelor’s. Good luck.

]]> By: Kylen http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/teaching-in-taiwan/comment-page-1/#comment-634 Kylen Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:18:50 +0000 http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/?page_id=41#comment-634 This resource has been wonderfully helpful to me, thank you for providing this. You said on the "who can teach" page that people with 2 year diplomas + TEFL can teach as well as people with a Bachelor's... I fall into the former category. I'm wondering if one is usually preferred over the other? And it's a Theatre Arts (acting) diploma, I'm wondering if that will make a difference. Thanks! This resource has been wonderfully helpful to me, thank you for providing this. You said on the “who can teach” page that people with 2 year diplomas + TEFL can teach as well as people with a Bachelor’s… I fall into the former category. I’m wondering if one is usually preferred over the other? And it’s a Theatre Arts (acting) diploma, I’m wondering if that will make a difference. Thanks!

]]> By: admin http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/teaching-in-taiwan/comment-page-1/#comment-528 admin Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:58:28 +0000 http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/?page_id=41#comment-528 @Mike, The MRT in Taipei extends into New Taipei City, aka the old Taipei county. I don't know which stations are in New Taipei City, but it does have MRT stops. Your best bet would be to check the official website. Good luck. @Mike,

The MRT in Taipei extends into New Taipei City, aka the old Taipei county. I don’t know which stations are in New Taipei City, but it does have MRT stops. Your best bet would be to check the official website. Good luck.

]]> By: Mike http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/teaching-in-taiwan/comment-page-1/#comment-527 Mike Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:04:04 +0000 http://www.teachenglishtaiwan.net/?page_id=41#comment-527 hello again, i was wondering the difference between new taipei and taipei in regards to how transportation works. Does New taipei have metro stations that will take you into taipei? hello again, i was wondering the difference between new taipei and taipei in regards to how transportation works. Does New taipei have metro stations that will take you into taipei?

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