Hi Forumosa users,
I’m seriously considering becoming an English teacher in Taipei. I have browsed through this forum carefully and found some useful/insightful advice and comments.
However, I do have a few questions,some of which are quite specific. Thus, I’d really appreciate it if anyone could help me out here.
First off, a little bit about myself. I do have dual citizenship, and will hold both valid TW and CAD passport by the time I’m in town.Strictly speaking, I’m not a CBC. But I do believe that my English is at a native-speaker level. I immigrated to Canada when I was 9. Thus, I am quite fluent in Mandarin and can read and write Chinese quite well. I just graduated this past May from UBC with a BSc. Considering moving back as my significant other may be moving back…I have some solid volunteer/work experience for a 23 yo, but I doubt they’d care in TW. Have done one-on-one tutoring for almost 2 years. Considering getting a TESOL (month-long w/practicum) before heading back. I’m expecting to visit for about a month in the Fall and if I’m heading back, it would be sometime around the end of this year or early next year.
As a Chinese/Taiwanese/CBC(I don’t even know what to refer to myself as…lol),I do understand that things will be harder for me. However, I’ve also read that it is not impossible to find a half-decent job as a Chinese. But the process will be much more grueling and tedious…Good thing is, I won’t have to worry about rent/housing once I’m in Taipei…Whew…
Anyways, here are my burning questions:
- I’ve browsed through the ads on tealit , it seems to me that most the ads are too good to be true. For example, most taut “no prep time”, “guaranteed x hours”, “600/hr and up”, “first-timers, no experience welcome”, ‘prepared and organized curriculum”,etc, etc…
What I’ve come to realize is that either, a) yes, these opportunities do exist, but only those that are experienced, connected and ‘foreign’ will be hired for such positions, or; b) it’s complete bs. Can someone please confirm if these ads are actually anywhere close to the truth?
2.From my understanding, it is illegal for foreigners to be teaching kindy. Does that mean some schools will considering hiring FBCs for kindy positions since we are not ‘illegal’?
3.This question is for the FBCs that are out there: Do you believe it is better to tell your institution that you don’t speak Mandarin when you actually do? I’d imagine it to be somewhat advantageous at smaller schools where teaching staff/admin are not very fluent in English…But some ppl have said that some schools treat you differently (in a bad way) once they find out you speak Mandarin…In other words, they prefer the FBCs to be as ‘foreign’ as possible…
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I understand that as a CBC, it is harder to find a decent teaching job, thus, is a wage between $400-$500/hr somewhat reasonable for someone in my shoes?Also, How long should I expect my job hunt to be? I’ve read posts where people said it takes about ‘a few’ weeks for FBCs to find work. Still true? or has it gone up to a couple of months? A few weeks doesn’t sound too bad…considering the situation in TW…
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Should I look for a position prior to coming back? Some say schools rarely respond their e-mails while others say don’t bother knocking on doors…But what seems to be agreed upon is the fact that they may suddenly withdraw their interest in you upon seeing your photo or meeting you in person.Oh well…
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Would any Asian teachers like to share their experience with either HESS or KOJEN? These two schools seem to be the better choices for inexperienced Asian teachers.
Thanks in advance for your help! ANYTHING is greatly appreciate at this point.