Hi my partner and I are thinking of moving to Taiwain in Sept 2007 or later hence me doing some research before we come. I have a few questions for parents out there who are teaching in another country.
My first question is how easy would it be to find a french tutor or teacher for my daughter? In which area’s would be the easiest? I’ll be working with the board here to keep her studies up with the Ontario curricuulum. She is enrolled here in a French as a second language program so I would like to encourage the french language while she is out of country.
She’s an independent little spirit and enjoys socializing with her peers. How safe would you say it is for a child to be outside playing? I ask this as this could be a battle point for us. She is use to just running out the door after school to other friends house without being escorted to her friends by myself or my partner. She’ll be 10 years old by the time we actually get over there.
Now from a relationship perspective. Finding a child minder, how easy would that be? Here we’ve got family and friends to take care of her for a couple of hours if we want to go out on a date so I just need to know what has the dating experiences of couples been with children.
Thank you in advance for answering the questions. Even if they seem mudane.
Some quick answers: You should investigate Taipei European School if you want to keep up her French. Taiwan is not a safe place for a 10 year old to run around unsupervised, IMO, unless you live in a gated community. You might want to consider living in a community like Lotus Hill - it’s in communities like that that you CAN let kids outside to ride their bikes, play with friends, etc. Babysitting for a few hours in the evening is rarely done among locals here. You’ll need to find your network of foreign parents and figure out how they do it.
Hi and welcome to Forumosa.
Finding a French tutor shouldn’t be hard I’d think. Posting a few ads here and there and then doing a good screening for what kind of tutor you are looking for, should produce good results
As Maoman said I don’t think it is safe to let a 10 year old running around on her on here. I have a 9 year old boy and I don’t let him come home from school and just walk out going to his friends house by himself. But that is something you’d have to judge for yourself when you get here I suppose.
Then again if you live in a gated community like Lotus Hill, you’re fine.
Babysitters can be found but again it isn’t something people do here, but withing the foreign community, it can be worked out.
Let us know if you have anymore questions. And good luck to you.
I would agree with the above. In Taipei you can find tutors for most languages. Other Cities its harder but not imposable.
But is you ask a Taiwan person the after school question you might get bank looks or asked “what is after school”. There seems to be a lack of play here. After school they go to another school, private tutor or specialty class. Some kids I taught went to school Sat and Sunday too.
Thank you all for your responses. Okay so I figure the biggest battle for my daughter once we decide to come to Taiwan will be her lack of social play. She’s a social butterfly and loves hanging out with friends.
Thank you also for the warm welcome. I’m looking forward to getting back to Asia!
