What's a Teacher to Do? Back to Taiwan or Not?

Taiwan Living in Taiwan
1

Original title: What’s a teacher to do?

When I left Taiwan a few years ago I was fed up with teaching English. I figured I would go home, get qualified and teach a subject I enjoy. All that has gone according to plan, except hating my job.

After only two years at my current school I am absolutely burnt out. Pupils are atrociously behaved, no respect for themselves or anyone else, and worst of all as thick as pig shit. On top of that teachers have to produce piles of meaningless paperwork and be constantly under the scrutiny of Ofsted watchdogs. It is all too much for me.

Working in Taiwan doesn’t seem all that bad now. At worst my job there was boring. My wife is Taiwanese and although she does not particularly want to return to Taiwan, she would understand if opted out of the chaos I face each day here and took on public school job back in Taiwan. An international school would be even better but posts are few and far between.

With the dread of Monday morning churning in my gut I am very tempted to hand in my notice for December and jump across the pond to Taiwan.

2

Seek the path of least resistance.

It’s a job, dude. Not who you are.

:thumbsup:

3

For someone who is a qualified teacher, and who truly cares about teaching, “just a job” is rarely an option, no matter how awful the working conditions are.

If you have the option to return to Taiwan, you could consider it. But I would explore your options where you are, first. Is there another school or situation that might provide more backup on student behavior? Might you communicate with your current administration and get more support? It’s simpler to try those things before relocating. especially if your wife isn’t thrilled about the idea. But it’s hard to deny that Taiwan just didn’t come with the same set of pressures that you have teaching in your home country.

4

Obviously a UK school, but curious as to where the pig shit is located. Would you mind giving the area?

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I don’t think any job that takes up a significant part of your day can be fobbed off as nothing much. To go through life not being overly affected one way or another by what you are doing is quite frightening really.

Ironlady, your advice to seek out alternatives here before deciding to go all the way back to Taiwan makes sense - but it is tempting nonetheless to run away from my troubles. I have a habit of thinking that further I take myself away from a problem, the easier it is to make a fresh start. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way.

Nuit, I am indeed in the UK - in a lovely part of Wiltshire. You would never think by looking at the place that the schools can be so dire…

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I did just what you did, Silverspoon. I went “home” (to the States) and topped up my education and got certified. But I only taught for ONE year before returning here to Taiwan.

Teaching at home was like being flogged every day while riding a unicycle on a tight rope and juggling knives! Or something like that.

I was in a really bad school. In fact, the year after I taught they lost their charter (it was a charter school) and were taken over by the State for multiple years of multiple violations that were not dealt with.

I know in my head that all schools aren’t like that one. The school where I interned was amazing! It was a very small school in a highly impoverished area–but the staff were wonderful people who supported one another and truly cared about the kids (many of whom by the time they were in 10th grade began bringing their own children to school with them). There were problems there, but I wasn’t isolated. There was plenty of support of every kind, for all teachers there.

The thing is, even though I KNOW this in my head, emotionally that one year of teaching took so much out of me that I’m not sure I ever want to step into a US classroom again! At all. I thought I’d be over it after a year or two here, but that hasn’t worked out yet. I’m not sure what I’m going to do about it.

All this to say, you aren’t alone. In the States, new teachers leave the profession after an average of 3-5 years, and teacher retention rates are little better from one state to the next. It’s just an enormous job, and undervalued, thus under paid, profession, and you get to be the scapegoat for every politician who’s behind in the poles. Like being a parent, teaching is about fifty jobs in one. Many parents in the States these days don’t even show that kind of devotion to their OWN kids, and very few could do it for a classroom of stranger’s kids.

Like Ironlady, I’d say that you should look closer to where you are before returning here. But if that doesn’t work out, Taiwan is always here. Taiwan will drive you nuts too, but it will be a whole different kettle of fish to swallow. Sometime a change helps, even if it’s rather sideways.

7

There are some problems you can run from - and some that you can’t.

You have to decide which kind you are trying to run away from. If you find you are placing yourself into an unpleasant situation because you want things to be different, that’s a recipe for failure.

8

I studied to be a teacher in Australia ten years ago. I actually had decent schools and excellent supervisors on my teaching rounds and really loved it. I subbed for a while before leaving for the U.K., and the subbing was okay. My time in the U.K. pretty much broke me. The subbing was one thing, but the long term contract was even worse. At least with the subbing it was over at the end of the day (and no paperwork!) and the next day it would be a different set of evil little shits. The long term contract I did there pretty much broke me. Back in Australia, I worked (including subbing) at some atrocious schools, as well as one decent school, and subbed at one excellent school. I had to leave though because on balance, being a teacher was just not worth it in Australia. Much of my extreme misanthropy comes from my experiences teaching in Australia and the U.K. I dealt with idiotic, petty, spiteful, malicious colleagues and the kids were no better. My views on children were forever changed once I became a teacher and got out into schools. I don’t believe children are at all innocent. Bad people don’t suddenly materialise at the age of eighteen. They were probably really bad people at eight also.

Anyway, Taiwan is by no means ideal, but it’s a lot better. Firstly, there’s not the paperwork. Secondly, I haven’t encountered the same kind of maliciousness in either the teachers or the students. It’s all very low level behavioural issues. People are simply much nicer. There’s probably far more incompetence and disorganisation though. The job is far less stressful and there’s a lot more down time. I’d say that unless the OP can get into a really good school in the U.K. (which would still entail a lot more stress than here, but would probably be more like really teaching), it would make sense to get out. I’m sure teaching in the West took years off my life and I have absolutely no intention to go back to it if I can avoid doing so.

9

It might be the age group you are teaching. I really look forward to all my adult classes. Alternatively, you could try the private sector. Discipline will be better in those schools, although I doubt that there will be many vacancies right now.

I’m not sure how the adult education gigs are working out in the UK at the moment. I know that the govt. is cutting back left, right and centre. One thing to bear in mind is it may be difficult finding a teaching job again if you quit this one in the current climate. Sometimes I feel that the myriad of choices we westerners have in life can be just as much a curse as a blessing.

10

silverspoon, I’d definitely look at other options before moving back to Taiwan. You left Taiwan for a reason, and returning to Taiwan may mean that you get fed up again after a few years. However, it also may not happen, and that’s a risk you obviously would just have to take. Anyway, I’ve been doing research into what teaching is like and from the people I’ve talked to it seems to be a mixed bag. Some people have told me similar stories to yours, and others have said that it’s a breeze and they really enjoy it (even after 7 years of teaching primary, secondary and special needs). I guess my point is, if I have one, that it can be good or bad. As housecat already mentioned, Taiwan comes with its own problems. Best of luck in whatever you decide.