Why Teach English in Taiwan?
Why teach English in Taiwan? It is a very good question. There are many other countries in Asia where you can teach English. I’ll be honest, I’ve only ever taught in Taiwan. However, there are a few good things about Taiwan that make teaching English here worthwhile.
One of the good things about Taiwan is just how cheap it can be to live here. For many people who are thinking about coming to Taiwan, you’ll be surprised at just how much cheaper rent is for starters. You can save a bundle on rent alone. You can also save even more if you are happy to eat local food. Living in Taiwan is much cheaper for me than it is back home, and I don’t live like a hermit.
Another good thing I find about teaching in Taiwan is the flexible working hours. This will depend on where you work, but if you want more time to pursue things that are important to you beyond just work, then teaching can offer you that. You’ll still have enough hours of work to make more than enough money to live on and have time to do what you really want.
Experience Something Different in Taiwan
If you are looking for a complete change to your way of life, then Taiwan will deliver. This can be good or bad, but if you want to take some time off from your current daily routine and really throw a wrench in things, Taiwan will do it. The culture, food, way of life, work environment and places you can go to in Taiwan is something most people will never find back home.
Believe it or not, there are times that I find teaching to be very enjoyable and rewarding. This goes beyond just making money and getting rich, but there are some experiences such as helping children learn English and seeing them grow up that other jobs can never deliver.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I am interested in teaching English in Tawaiin for two reasons,; one I love teaching, have been working at a Montessori school for five years in different capacities and two: I am surfer and I have read a few things about Tawaiin’s untouched surf potential. Do you think it would be possible to get a teaching job near the coast?
@Wallace,
The east coast of Taiwan would be your best bet for surfing. Forget the west coast. You should look in Hualien or Taidong for jobs. The downside is that these cities are very small, so you may not find heaps of jobs, especially in Taidong. The alternative is to look in bigger cities that are as close as possible to where you want to surf so you can still go surfing on the weekends.