Hey everyone! Thank you so much for your help in answering this question.
I’m from the USA, but have lived in Taiwan off-and-on for the past 2 years or so. I have been accepted into the direct MOE TFETP program in Taiwan, and I have also had my application submitted to a host program via TeachTaiwan. I’m waiting to hear back from both regarding potential placement and will choose depending on timing/location (if the stars align). I feel certain that placement via TeachTaiwan will come earlier than placement via TFETP.
I’m curious - does getting accepted into TFETP pretty much guarantee placement? The literature that they send out after acceptance heavily implies a guaranteed placement; however, I don’t want to put all of my eggs in one basket if that’s not necessarily the case. I have no preference over the location of my placement, and I also understand that placements typically come in late June or early-mid July.
I’m just curious about anyone else’s experience with either program and if you have some insight into whether or not TFETP acceptance (yay) is essentially guaranteed placement (barring any unusual circumstances). I know it varies so much, and any comments are super helpful! Thank you.
Any other details you may provide regarding the state of TFETP and TeachTaiwan this year would be amazing as well! It’s exciting, yet the uncertainty is weighing heavily in the back of my mind. Thanks again!
For fun I applied last year, as I had all the necessary documents at hand. They accepted me but waited until nearly the last minute to contact me. They did a zoom interview and a week or so later made the offer.
I can’t imagine this has changed. It is a real inconvenience for people applying from overseas.
It does sound remarkably inconvenient. It feels as if working through TFETP requires all the stars to align and for whomever gets accepted to be able to pack up and prepare in the course of like two weeks. I’ve read that they receive reports about teachers’ intent to stay or leave in like late March, yet it still takes them until July to finalize placements and start sending out placement notifications to prospective teachers. Super interesting!
I’m really interested in both Taitung and the Matsu Islands as well as other surrounding islands!
When applying and getting accepted through TFETP, I was never asked or prompted to give placement requests. If you’ve gone through this process, do you know if it’s alright for me to simply email and ask something like “Do you have any vacancies in the Matsu Islands or Taitung?”
I made my preferences known up front, and by the time I was accepted had rented of house in Taitung, so Matsu was out. But one of the interviewers was in charge of Lien Chen County, the Mastu Islands and was thrilled that I wanted to go there. I could have had that placement for sure.
So, yes, make it known that you want one place over another, but that will mean nothing if you want anything near any big city, like Taipei, Taichung, or K;twon IMO.
Matsu is boring ah, remote and stunningly beautiful. Hot, windy and connected by ferries and tiny twin engine planes. (And it’s cheap to fly into Taipei for a weekend of hustle and bustle.) I love it there, Beigan in particular.
@septembre2112 Even if you don’t get a position in Matsu, I suggest a visit if you haven’t been. The outlying islands can be quite different and wonderful (@Mr_PBH knows my love for the place)
I’ve been sitting here taking a Google Maps tour of the islands since @Mr_PBH made that comment! Even if I don’t get placed there, I will absolutely visit. Thanks so much for your comment
