A quick overview:
I was hoping to come to tw for one year to learn mandarin this year, but to support myself, wanted to teach 3 hours or so (whatever i can get part time) in the evening.
I have heard over and over that one needs a Bachelor’s degree from a uni to teach. I have a 3 year college diploma i obtained in Canada
So I called the local Taiwan trade office (the one that handles visa applications) and they said that the college diploma is ok, and that if I pay them a fee they can fill out the appropriate forms to approve it for work reasons. Im not totally sure the woman i spoke to understood what I was saying however… 
When I asked them to clarify, I was told that it is up to the employers (schools) in Taiwan if they will accept it, and that the government will accept it?
Is this the case? thanks
If you come to study, you’re on a visitor’s visa (student visa) and you cannot work legally. But that doesn’t much stop anyone.
Do a search and you’l get lots more information on this subject.
[quote]When I asked them to clarify, I was told that it is up to the employers (schools) in Taiwan if they will accept it, and that the government will accept it?
Is this the case? thanks[/quote]
It’s completely wrong. The employer submits your paperwork to the government and the government approves or rejects it. The employer has NO say in the matter whatsoever.
Based on this person’s obviously complete lack of knowledge about even such a basic question as this, I would think VERY carefully before believing ANY other nuggets of “information” she might care to divulge to you.
being Taiwan, im wondering if the government sometimes selectively denies one person, while approving another with the same qualifications?
Anyway, i just wanted to say that i did do a search on the forum and that is why i thought i would ask to clarify, thanks JDsmith and sandman for your quick replies.
you might be surprised to hear that taiwan sometimes selectively denies one person, and then magically approves them on the second/third application. some years back, the deadline to submit all documents to the school i was at went from 4-6 weeks (or more) for this very reason: enough time to resubmit an identical application …
I went into the taiwan cultural and economic office last week, and inquired about my prior question as to whether they would take a 3 year college diploma as acceptable to teach.
The woman again said that it is up to the school if they will accept it.
I then asked if the ministry of education has a list of approved schools.
She says she did not know, and that I would have to go to Taiwan first, get an employer to sponsor me, and then see if they would accept it or not.
Very useless info, and when i asked her if she knew someone or a phone number in the moe or other dept that could answer this question, she didnt know.
The purpose for my trip was to study mandarin full time for one year, but just teach part time for just enough money to keep afloat without burning through my savings.
I have a really good job in Canada, i just wanted to broaden my horizons for a year or so.
My friend from CN says I can live very cheaply there, so that may be the route to go. It is unfortunate that TW does not make it easy for non residents to visit/work/ etc.