I used to work at a buxiban as the only foreigner but recently got a job at an adult language chain. Many of my new co-workers are the most self-absorbed performers I
I know, just know this is going to become a flamefest.
Anyway, here’s my 2 cents.
There are two distinct groups of English teachers in Taiwan, from what I’ve seen. There’s the group - which seems to be a minority, unfortunately - who are here teaching English as an actual job, who take it seriously and are generally good people and good teachers. Then there’s the more visible group, and what seems to be the majority - the idiots who are teaching here solely to make some money, drink like fish, and screw anything that moves. There’s also a few who teach English because it’s the best way they’ve found to be able to stay here, maybe to fund Chinese studies, maybe because the actually do like the place, whatever.
Well let’s see…IMHO someone who really wants to TEACH would go through the trouble of getting a teaching degree in their home country and then most likely would stay in their home country to launch their career. Those teaching in other countries, once again IMHO, are doing so primarily because they want to live/work in a foreign country…teaching is a means to that end. The majority of those following this route are younger, immature, and free from the constraints that might exist ‘back home;’ therefore, are more likely to party more and be more self-centered. Teaching here, or in any foreign country, for most people is not a career-building experience nor does it enhance your chances of finding a job back home which of course means these people are in dead end jobs (although for most they are making more money than they could make working at McDonald’s in the U.S.) and their attitude is typical of individuals with no IMMEDIATE prospects for the future.
Wow, this is definitely going to be a flamefest… 
I’m pretty sure that 90% of the English teachers that I have met here would not be working at Macdonalds back home.
ah, more of Vannyel’s "HO"s, how we value them. I was working as a substitute teacher back home before I came here, but since I hadn’t gotten my masters in education yet, I couldn’t teach in public school legally. So I came to Taiwan, started teaching in cram schools and liked this place a lot better than my hometown and stayed. Try generalizing, but we’re all different and came here for different reasons. whatever. The problem I see in the English teaching scene is that the hours at the schools don’t give you the stability that full time work back home gives you. I work crazy hours and end up taking on classes on the side to suppliment my income since my ARC job doesn’t give me enough hours to pay the rent (my boss has filled out all the legal documents to whore me out to the other schools, so don’t bother checking Vannyel. I’m legal) Sure, the money is good, but classes come and go and frequently the owners of these schools will just toss me into a classroom with no materials and a group of hyperactive kids aged 7 to 12 with three different levels and say “teach them some English.” What kind of professional would put up with that?
So Andy0, why do you assume I care whether you are legal or not? And as for opinions, sorry but everyone has one just because mine doesn’t echo yours doesn’t make it any less valid. BTW Andy0 you proved my point didn’t you? Otherwise you would have finished your master’s before giving up? 
I agree Southpaw, most of them wouldn’t qualify to work at McDonald’s. 
Oh, so not having a Masterate means we can’t be professional? Shit, looks like I’m going to have to quit my job and go home then.
no Tetsuo no one said that or implied that…however, if you can’t read then you might consider going home
People stumble into English teaching in Taiwan for all kinds of reasons. Maybe they like languages, or money, or girls, or all three. Some of them realize after a while that they have bitten off way more than they can chew and for that reason start studying. They then either “get the bug” or they don’t, meaning they either really get into language teaching/study and all the linguistics, psychology, hard work and good fun involved or they don’t. The ones who “get it” invariably become second language students themselves.
It is true that some continue to teach even though they hate it, which is terribly unfortunate for everyone involved. Others though realize that the business is whatever you make it and decide to make it something interesting, fun and meaningful for themselves and their students. This is an extremely complicated undertaking that requires more skill and inteligence than most people will ever develop in a life time. You can criticize us if you want but if you have never learned a second language as an adult, you really don’t have a clue what you are talking about.
Working vacation mentioned a personality type. It is true that English teachers tend to be theatricaly inclined know it alls. I’ll admit that.
[quote=“WorkingVaca”]
but there are plenty of “look at me” “listen to me” “love me” people from other countries teaching English at my school. I
Maybe that’s because so many of them are in their early 20’s; many people have over-inflated egos before they hit 30 and 40 and get a big belly, grey hair, a wife, children and all that other luggage to carry.
ha ha ha, that’s a good one
Is it bad to make money, drink and have sex? How are you qualified to judge their motivations? And how do you know it’s not you who’s the idiot? After all ones perception of others is colored by ones own personality, isn’t it?
The good ones anyway. Nothing worse than trying to keep ones head from nodding and hitting the desk on a hot day as ones teacher drones on in a bored, monotonous lecture that he’s given a thousand times before in identical form. Give me a theatrical teacher any day.
Is it bad to make money, drink and have sex? How are you qualified to judge their motivations? And how do you know it’s not you who’s the idiot? After all ones perception of others is colored by ones own personality, isn’t it?[/quote]
I’m not saying it’s bad to make money, drink, and have sex, but it is bad, to my mind, when that’s your predominant (by a long stretch), or (in some cases) only motivation for taking on a job, whatever job it is.
I would guess that for most people making money is the predominant motivation for taking on a job. If sex were thrown in to the package, so much the better.
So if most people suddenly found out they could make a lot more money shovelling pigshit, they’d take that job on? Maybe I’m just odd, but I’ve never cared much about what I make, whatever job I’m doing at the time I do because I enjoy it and it interests me.
I’m a very theatrical person, who loves to tell stories with great gusto, and am often perceived by more practical, doers-not-talkers types as a yappy know-it-all. In fact, I’m so histrionic and quick to excitement that many who meet me swear I must be gay. Since coming to Taiwan, I’ve grown proud to be this way, because it makes me a great teacher, and I can use it to my advanage. Most students will abide a hardass, but will not abide a bore. Most of the good, effective teachers I remember from my youth were also very dramatic people. Storytellers.
FWIW, I’m a very light drinker and don’t enjoy getting drunk. It’s not because I’m a religious nut or a self righteous straightedge, mind you – I have other vices of the chemical variety, which I just happen to prefer to alcohol. I AM here to save money, but I do have a goal. I fail to see how being a colorful character correlates with being a skirt-chasing boozer with no long term goals.
Just because I have a very histrionic, over the top personality doesn’t mean I have trouble listening to other people or am always self-absorbed. I think a teacher who doesn’t listen to his students and their needs, who doesn’t meet them where they are, won’t last long in any classroom.
To Vannyel.
I have known a rather large number of teachers who had teaching certification. I’m talking about teacher’s college graduates who could teach in public schools in North America (if there were jobs available) and not just ones who have a TESOL certificate. Many of them happen to be my co-workers. I think I know more people who deserve to be in a classroom than the more visible (note, I didn’t say predominate) kind of teachers, the ones who are here merely to make as much money/have sex/get trashed as many times as possible without having any interest in teaching or in the people (aside from just the women) and their culture. Could be that I’m not into the club scene where they tend to hang out bragging about these goals with similarly-motivated people. Some of us got over that after our freshman year in university. Some never do. 
Not being a teacher yourself, it’s pretty pretentious of you to make assumptions about whether or not there are real teachers in Taiwan.
I do have to say, however, that if you are teaching children so you can hang around Taiwan and have sex and party, please get the fuck out of the classroom where your destructive behavior will no longer affect impressionable minds. You do that with adults, fine whatever. Your prerogative. They can pick up on losers and will take their money to someone better. But kids can’t vote with their feet and they deserve to have someone who’s willing to dedicate themselves to teaching them rather than your Binky Bobo clown ass using their tuition monies to woo some scantily-clad hoochie with cheap drinks at Roxy 99.
If that’s your sole reason to be here, I’ll help you get your plane ticket back home so you stop wasting space here.
[quote=“Vannyel”]So Andy0, why do you assume I care whether you are legal or not? And as for opinions, sorry but everyone has one just because mine doesn’t echo yours doesn’t make it any less valid. BTW Andy0 you proved my point didn’t you? Otherwise you would have finished your master’s before giving up?
I agree Southpaw, most of them wouldn’t qualify to work at McDonald’s. [/quote]
Oooooh! Have I been singed? Hoo, that was a close one. You’re a quick one on the draw - received a reply within minutes!
Assclown,
Weren’t you the one who was talking about going on a crusade to rid Taiwan of illegal teachers? And didn’t I just say I valued your opinions? So defensive. I’m not sure what you mean about “proving” your point…last I checked you didn’t need a masters to teach English in Taiwan. So what’s your story?
Well Andy0, just for the record…I never said anything about doing any crusade for anything in Taiwan…where did that come from?
Why did you resort to name calling…assclown…that’s a nice one…
Sorry if I misread where you said you valued my opinion.
No, you don’t need a master’s degree to teach in Taiwan.
My story? I am not sure what you mean? Why am I so cranky and hard to get along with? Damn, if I know. I am not this way in person. 
Guess I waste too much time on this site. 
ImaniOU…last I heard there was a severe teacher shortage in the United States…of course maybe not in the geographical areas most people want to work but there is still a shortage.
I never said there was anything wrong with being theatrical in a second language class, in fact I think it is an asset. But working vacation was wondering about personality type. In my experience the long termers are either theatrical, or know it alls or both. Personally I am quite drawn to expressive personalities but the know it alls drive me crazy. Stop talking for a second and they will start explaining something to you. About a year ago I met this guy who had just finished up some two month training course for ESL instructors. He told me that if I planned to continue teaching I should consider taking one of these courses myself. “I have been teaching English for ten years” I said. He ignored that and went on to describe what sounded to me basically like a lot of transformation excercises. He ignored me when I suggested to him that transformation excercises sometimes require people to say things that would probably never actually be said in the real world and could not concievably be of interest to to the students. Transformation exercises are useful but they are no basis for a class. He ignored that too and suggested again that I take this two month program. I know what working vacation is talking about I think. A lot of ESL teachers are better talkers than listeners. At least when they start out.
Maybe that’s because so many of them are in their early 20’s; many people have over-inflated egos before they hit 30 and 40 and get a big belly, grey hair, a wife, children and all that other luggage to carry.[/quote]
Actually, many of the people I’m talking about are already over 30. And a few are over 40.