I enjoyed my year in Taiwan. The teaching part was ok, but not something I could see myself doing for more than a year. I’m back in my home country (US) now, working in a cube, making a little money, getting prepared for grad school. A little boring but not terrible…
Has anyone out there made the successful transition from English teacher to a different profession (finance, marketing, something along those lines…) in Taiwan, Taipei in particular?
If so, what kind of money are you making? My apologies if the question is too personal; what im really getting at is, are you making Western money in Taiwan (salary-wise)?
I was. Went from underground English teacher to bona-fide editor at a securities company. From there I could have transitioned into being an analyst or salesperson if I’d had the inclination.
Hourly rate didn’t go up much, but had some FAT bonuses at wei-ya time.
I do casting, translating (which is a joke with my Chinese ability) for production companies, modelling, I babysit models from time to time (can be fun sometimes too), and sound engineer (BADLY).
I have never been a full time teacher.
I make anywhere from 100 nt to 3000 nt an hour.
I work as a recording and mixing engineer. Until I get married in the winter I still have to have a 6 hour per week teaching job for my ARC, go figure, but as a recording engineer I am fully booked until oct.
There’s lots of jobs if the inclination to hunt them down strikes you.
I’ve met many people here that made a transition. Although having some qualifications in something is incredibly useful, being a foreigner, you can “wing-it” with so many things just because its not that hard to be more competent than the locals in certain areas. (at least in my experience).
Having conversational Chinese will open many doors but is certainly not essential nor a guarantee into something special. It is however a great thing to have. (I’ve never met anyone that regrets having it, but met plenty who regret not bothering).
I myself taught perhaps 1 class before getting a job as an engineer. (lucky break, but i have the qualifications).
I think some of the kinds of jobs that people transition well into are those that carry a natural language advantage, but also those that the locals aren’t traditionally good at (I’ve met foreigners who are successful in marketing, photography etc… creative aspect)
I think the key is to come here with your eyes and ears open, perhaps study a bit and start looking around, but don’t take a teaching job and get into a routine… I think there really are plenty of opporunities waiting to happen here.
Remember that whilst many people may not quite be making Western rates, if you choose to, you can generally save far more than back home. Its what you save and invest that counts, not what you make.
In most countries, the majority of expats are not teachers. In any case, in many of these countries, the minority of foreigners that are teachers have the proper certification–the host country governments require it. Only in countries such as Japan, Korea,the PRC, and Taiwan, do a majority of caucasian foreigners involve themselves in the education field, albeit as non-certified performers. I don’t consider uncertified teachers to be fully-fledged expats. Don’t get me wrong, you can make a lot of money in a zoo, but it is still a zoo.
I don’t consider anyone hired locally to be a full-fledged expat. I make no distinction between teachers, editors, and former international development whatsit flunkeys.
It’s interesting to hear what some people do over there other than teach. I met very few people who were not teachers or studying Chinese. It just could have been the circle I traveled in. In any event I do think you are right Tycoon, it is more about what you can save than the actual money you make.
Flunkeys? hahahahahhaha. Dude, my new job kicks ass over the old one. And I’m having too much fun revealing three years worth of gossip knowing that they won’t touch me cuz of the new gig.
I do remember a poster of your band within the ministry. An inside contact?
Flunkeys? hahahahahhaha. Dude, my new job kicks ass on the old one. And I’m having too much fun letting go of three years worth of secrets knowing that they won’t touch me cuz of the new gig.
I do remember a poster of your band within the ministry. An inside contact? [/quote]
Hmm. Yes, yes, of course. However, fully-fledged is not. Those pesky hyphens’ll git yer every time.
An inside contact? Could very well be. I know lots of cowboys and boyscouts. In a completely non-gay manner, of course. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Dude, let’s not point out each others grammar mistakes. I’ve read plenty of piss-poor CNA stories, and I challenge you to say the same about the Fund’s annual reports. Anyone with half a brain, reasonable work experience, and a good schooling pedigree can easily see that I revolutionized their reports. Am I arrogant and potty mouthed? Hell ya.
Actually I think your band’s poster was put up by an ex-deparmental director that was later promoted upstairs — a really good guy :bravo:
Anyways,“flunkey” is an accurate description. They did work me like a slave and treated me with no honor. However, I do respect the Catholics within that organization (who do know about loyalty), the former SG and now head representative in France, and the former division director (who I believe is a fan of your band).
However, by being a flunkey, keeping my ears open, and rooming with a colleague who liked to talk, I did learn about the floozies within the organization.
Just saw your last show sitting next to a Taiwanese woman who loved it even if she had no idea what it was. “Now that” she after the secnd song “is real music.”
Strongly agree with Sandie’s definition of expats.
That rules me out then. And shouldn’t other’s have an apos… aspot… one of those comma thingys in it?
Anyway, I only do a third of those stories and they’re all perfeck, even though I’m usually half-asleep after an afternoon at my real job.
[quote=“sandman”]shouldn’t other’s have an apos… aspot… one of those comma thingys in it?
[/quote]
I’ll have to ask my mother She’s the Chief of the Board…She should be made an honorary Taiwanese citizen–considering she made the annual reports what they are I’m good, but she had the leisure time to make sure it was friggen world class. The smartest woman I have ever met–bar friggin none.
Anyways, based on the taike monkeys running the show now, I think it will soon return to BC (as in Before Chewy, not Before Christ). That means monkey English.
She’s the Chief of the Board…She should be made an honorary Taiwanese citizen–considering she made the annual reports what they are 