Teaching In Taiwan | Finding An ESL Job | Using Agents | Writing A Resume | Links to Taiwan Schools | School Contracts | Taxes | Avoid Getting Scammed | Getting a Teaching Job  | Can I Teach Illegally?

How do I know If I am being ripped off or scammed by a school in Taiwan? Is a question everyone has on their mind! You can tell if they are ripping you off, or getting scammed if:

• Your pay is usually late.
• There are many unpaid hours.
• You do not get paid for parties, school openings, etc.
• All your time should be compensated unless otherwise stated in your contract.
• You are teaching more than 20 kids in a class without a pay boost.
• You are at a cram school but are salaried (You shouldn't accept a salaried position at a cram school as it often means lots of free hours for them). Salaried positions at a public/private accredited junior high/high school are OK.
• Your paycheck has money deducted for anything other than taxes and insurance. • They do not compensate for unusual travel time to another location.
• They tell you Next month you'll get the hours they promised (unless it is a big established school like ELSI or Hess, those are usually reliable). .
• They want you to invest in the business. Never go into business with a Taiwanese unless you are married to them and even then make sure they don't owe any debts.
• If you are working a second job, and they tell you they are deducting taxes. This is not possibly false, but also illegal, you have the risk of being deported for violating your work permit, if the job is not listed on your work permit. If the job is not on you work permit, they are simply pocketing the cash. Pay taxes only for the job listed on your work permit.
• You are paying a main part or all of your health insurance (you are automatically covered in any legal job. Employer pays 80%, employee, 20% -- which should add up to a couple of hundred NT monthly deduction depending on your salary).
• If your pay is under $400/hour in town ($450 outside of it). That's the bare minimum! The regular pay is usually higher.