Jonathan,

Please feel free to post it as you wish. Everything I said might not accuraqtely reflect other peoples' experiences. Most people, you see, leave after one year. That's the mistake. That's the point I'm trying to make. The job change is essential to a happy life here. Almost no one is happy with their first.

Neill

----------------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION:

>I am inquiring on behalf of some recent graduates about working conditions in private high schools and/or language centers in Taiwan. I am wondering whether teachers might also face problems in private schools in Taiwan.

ANSWER:

In a word or two "totally not." I have been working here for a little over a year, at the YMCA and a few language centers (bushibans). Everything is above board and what is advertised is delivered. The only possible exception is the promise of minimum hours. Salary, visa, medical, and a general pervasive friendliness is the rule. Once the bread and butter visa job is secured, there is plenty of gravy. The basic minimum offered to non-masters TESOL degree candidates is better than some MA TESOL positions in USA.

In a word or two, "come to Taiwan."

I don't want to ramble on too much, but if anyone else is interested in this subject, please feel free to drop me a line.

A word of warning before I subject you all to this. It is written by and directed to people without MA TESOL. To those of you who replied with MA TESOL, it is a whole different ballgame in the Chinese Universities, a ballgame that I do not know how to play.

I came to Taiwan a year ago after finishing a BA TESL in Hawaii. What I found when I got here can be divided in to two, perhaps three groups. It is all but impossible to secure employment before coming over here, with four notable exceptions. The YMCA hires out of Seattle for the Overseas Corps, Hess (an English Kindergarden) and maybe one or two others, ELS International may be one of them.

The preferred method is the face to face in country interview. Physical appearances mean more than diplomas, except that you will need one to be legal. Physical appearances ranges from color of your skin to the clothes that you wear. A caucasian non-native speaker of English with a BA in History who 'looks the part' is more welcome (unbelieveably) than an African American with an MA TESOL. The face to face interview and the photos required for residency underline this fact. It's really not fair, but it happens. This is not America.

The local paper routinely (but more often in the spring before summer) advertises for English teachers needed. The first group of offers a new teacher would be likely to land is a government approved language center. These folkes will 'sponsor' your working visa, which is good for a year. Of course you'll have to leave the country to get it (Come here on a tourist visa, find a job, run to Hong Kong same day return with a visa, no problem).

These sponsoring organizations all offer about the same NT$420/contact hour (NT$27.5 = US$1). Summer will be busy and you will have plenty of hours. It gets kind of thin for hours in the fall, and there's a real dearth around the Chinese New Years in February. If you do sign a one year contract, minimum hours is deffinately something to ask for. 20 is the high end, 15 is the low. Actually, some folks, myself included, try to keep hours at the sponsor location to a minimum, others want the security. I also forgot to ask for a raise within the first year which I've heard is sometimes possible, but usually not.

The second kind of advertisement in the paper are the non-visa granting types (read illegal, but prevailent). A 1 or 5 year multiple entry permit needs to be stamped every two months. That means leaving the country, Hong Kong for example (until July), and coming back. It is possible to extend a two month visa twice without leaving the country if you are enrolled at a governmnet approved langauge center STUDYING CHINESE. The going rate of pay at these 'illegal bushibans' is in the neighborhood of NT$500-600/hour. depending on location. There are also lots of people who you will meet who will want privates. These are notoriously flakey and shouldn't be counted on for rent. A plan to meet every week might materialize 9 or 10 times in three months. But they will also introduce you to others who want privates, go figure.

The are two big decisions you will have to make before you get here. Location and students. Location is Taipei or not Taipei. Taipei is swarming with foreigners teaching English. As such the market offers as low a wage as anyone will take, depends on how hungry the incoming teacher is. The other option is anywhere else. I have escaped Taipei, and moved close by, but the difference is noticable. There are many other places in Taiwan that are perhaps a bit more rustic, you are less likely to run into English speakers, but your time will be appreciated more.

The second decision is students. Teaching adults is a rewarding and interesting way to get to know the people in Taiwan, but be warned these are all conversation classes. There are very few writing or reading or otherwise academic classes. They often time turn out to be social activities for the students rather than serious study. Teaching children is perhaps more physically demanding. Some places forbid Chinese in the classroom. Some places put you in a classroom with a Chinese teacher.

Some of you asked how to best prepare for Taiwan. The answer is unequivocally "Learn as much Chinese as you can before you come." I mean formalized instruction every day. Don't rely on Chinese friends to teach you a little. Go out spend some money and learn a lot. You'll learn a lot more when you get here, but it is much better to have the base. Please don't make the chronic mistake that I have seen a thousand times of concentrating on the writing system. Forget it. There's not enough time. Just start speaking full Chinese sentences before you come here. I can't tell you how many westerners are here who can barely say hello, much less negotiate a contract or explain the present perfect tense.

Finally, in case this is a little less than enthusiastic, don't worry, this is a realistic, non-rose color glasses report of a first year. The real benefits come in the second year, change jobs after you find where the good jobs are. Teach kids out of Taipei in Chinese for a $700/hr with 6 month raises. Teach business writing in Taipei for $800/hr. Few privates on the side. The first year getting your feet wet is not glorious, but it sets you up nicely, if you play your cards right for excellent second third and fourth years.

PS. I'll pick you up at the airport, my friends got a youth hostel just 15 minutes from the airport. Next day we'll go interviewing. Please bring coffee and cheese !!!

Further questions ???

Neill
neill@asiaonline.net.tw