An idle question, but I’ve been wondering how the rank and file foreign workers learn Chinese? Is there a govt training program outside of the normal university options? Or do the bosses just depend on bilingual team leads? (Is Chinese language ability a requirement for a factory work visa?)
Most of them are compelled by the Law, either in Taiwan or in their home countries, to use agents, and the agents arrange classes in their home countries before they go abroad.
The Taiwan government used to run classes for foreign spouses - not sure if workers were allowed to attend, or whether they would have any free time to do so.
English is also used as a lingua franca. Most of the foreign workers at the factories we use have a working grasp of English (some are degree-qualified and have a high level of English ability).
That’s what I have seen as well. Either free sponsorship type things, often via universities or they are learning before they even get te ticket out this way.
Also, if a person is hungry and risks deportation duets being fired, it’s amazing how much faster a person picks up in the language. For better or worse, it’s quite apparent.
I’ve dated a couple of Filipinas here. Only one could speak much Chinese. Not as good as mine, which isn’t great
I have been told TSMC prefers to hire Taiwanese with English ability. Those that have it probably get the positions managing foreign workers.
I suspect for the basic stuff they have training programs that have been developed over the years and are bilingual
Probably the more switched on foreign workers that have more Chinese play a role as well. Senior foreign workers can teach the new people from their countries how to grind wafers or whatever
Most factories here aren’t on the level of TSMC. There are loads of dirty shit holes making monkeys carry around rocks for fun. It’s pretty bad. Learning Chinese, and the law, would be a REAL boost to human rights here. Probably also a real complaint amongst the shit heads that call themselves employers.
Ah, fair enough. I’ve only dated the semicon girls. Other factories, I dunno