Getting a job Teaching in Taiwan
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Getting a job teaching in Taiwan is a very simple process. When you get off the plane, or even before you leave your home country, go on the web to find sites like EIT (English in Taiwan), or other job search websites. Submit your resume and do a job search. Sometimes the newspapers have advertisements for teaching positions and even other translation and similar Taiwan jobs. Finding a job here is one of the easiest things in the world.
Another good way is to ask other foreigners who teach or check the bulletin boards at the local expatriate hangouts for position available. Also, Taiwan discussion forums such www.segue.com.tw post jobs. Local Expat magazines sometimes carry job listings. With some luck and hard work, you'll be teaching or have interviews within a few days. It's not that much of a priority to pick a great job right away, since it's unlikely you'll be staying long in your first job. What's important is to have money coming in while you get use to the new country. After that you can begin looking for a job that you really want. It will take you a couple months, maybe even longer, to settle in and find jobs that suit you. Which means you may have to change jobs a couple of times. As a newbie, you might have to initially settle for the less well-paying jobs anyway until you get used to the system and learn Chinese.
Also many times resident teachers are offered jobs that they don't want, or can't take, and often refer their friends to the school. So having friends in Taiwan, or having a network of people helps. Remember that things aren't always as good as they look or sound. It is not always that someone advertising '16 hours a week' or '25 hours a week' will actually deliver on those promises, unless you are under contract. And even then they might take back some hours. Also Taiwan pays on a monthly basis instead of weekly or bi-weekly like some other countries.
Check out the English in Taiwan classified ads for more information on jobs and posting your availability.
EIT Featured Writers
Hall Houston teaches at Kainan University in Taoyuan County, Taiwan.
His articles have been published in periodicals such as It's for Teachers, Modern English Teacher, and English Teaching Professional. His first book, The Creative Classroom: Teaching Languages Outside the Box, was published in 2007 and his most recent book is Provoking Thought: Memory and Thinking in ELT. His third book, The ELT Daily Journal: Learning to Teach ESL/EFL, will be available in 2013.
