DON’T TEACH in Taiwan if You’re This Type of Person | Teaching English in Taiwan

[@positivejunctions9362]

I lived and worked as an ESL in Taiwan for seventeen years. I even married a beautiful Taiwanese woman. Everything you mentioned in the video was absolutely correct. I had a few rough spots learning to become a local and better teacher. I now carry so many wonderful memories of my family, students, of teaching and creating memories with expat friends. Thanks for the video, and the reminder.

[@cswalker21]

Awesome! Sounds like I’m going to enjoy it. I’ve been to Taiwan as a tourist over a dozen times but going there to work and live will be a bit different.

[@jessi4894]

"People are not going to change their lifestyle and culture to suit you and make you happy.... They will ibviously try to accomidate you, to a certain extent." As well they shouldn't. It always baffles my mind when people of any culture or nationality visit or pack up and move to a different country with a very different culture and expect the hosting country to speak their language at all times, not even bother to learn a few polite phrases in their local native language, be treated exactly like they woukd be back home and basically have the licals bend over backwards to accomodate them. It makes me really ashamed when I hear stories about Anericans going on vacation to other countries and acting lime this, and being loud, obnoxious, pushy, rude and demanding. It also bothers me when people move into to my country and refuse to learn our language, not learn our laws, break our laws with absolutely no regard that they exist, try to change our country and even our legal system to suit them. I think if people don't want to truly experience or adapt to a new culture, they should just stay at home where they are comfortable.

[@iamnathank]

Violet Soda Well said!

[@CyberEditing]

Wise words, well said!

[@iamnathank]

CyberEditing Thanks mate. Much appreciated.

[@katherineclaude2542]

Thank you for the great advice about using your time, keeping yourself busy. Sometimes I feel like all I have been doing is teaching, and it's easy to get burnt out. Everything you are saying about classroom techniques are also helpful. Thank you for this video!

[@AlexanderArts]

I moved here when I was 23 in 2008, now it's 2019 and I'm 35. I agree with this video's point, Taiwan is a great place, and I think it was very easy for me to adapt to living here because I was ready to accept a new culture - but now that I've been here for 11+ years I don't even see it as a very different culture. Dealing with older people you might find the most differences, but most young Taiwanese have pretty much the same ideals and thoughts as Americans.

[@Lewis-wr8ec]

Hey thanks for your videos, they are really informative and helpful. Do you have any recommendations on finding tefl jobs in taiwan, from the UK. Also have noticed schools try to charge for leaving early and dont want to cover flight costs. is this normal? Thanks, Lewis

[@LihleKhoza]

This is so true. I wish I knew all this before I moved out here. It's been a difficult first 3 months but lets see how the first year goes.

[@guesswewillneverknow9271]

One question that I haven't seen answered by anyone is religious engagement. I come from a multi-cultural society but we aren't coerced into participating in another's religion. So when teaching in Taiwan, would I need to participate in religious activities?

[@黃絜琳]

I like your opinions. I am a local English teacher in Taiwan. Sometimes I couldn’t even be sure if I could say the sentences correctly or talk like natives. But I know structures well, and that makes me put too much emphasis on teaching structures.

[@joedyer9078]

you have a very keen sense of the obvious!! CONGRATULATIONS

[@iamnathank]

Joe Dyer It’s not that obvious for everybody though, hence the video. I’ve met a few foreigners who have struggled with living and teaching in Taiwan, because of their difficulty to adjust to accept certain aspects of living and teaching here & as a result, they had a fairly negative overall experience.

[@dvlarry]

Taiwan is the last place you should seek English teaching jobs now (2019). This is because the public schools started having foreign teachers and afternoon English classes. 98% of the jobs for Foreign (native) English teachers are at after school language centers. Since kids have English classes already in their public school, a lot of parents decided to save money by not sending their kids to private language centers. Schools are cutting, combining classes, and many schools closed down. Tough job market. This downward trend will continue for the next 6 years.

[@iamnathank]

That's a good point. Many public schools have been employing more native english speaking teachers recently to teach at their schools. However, there are a few catches. 1. How long can the government realistically afford to employ them? The "Head Parent" might make a financial contribution, but they traditionally change every few years, which makes it volatile. This is one of the reasons why some public schools depend on volunteers so much. 2. Public schools, by law, only employ certified teachers. But a certified teacher could get a higher salary at a private school, which the public school usually can't compete with (salary & benefits wise) 3. The native English teacher to student ration at many public schools is very unbalanced. Most students might have one english class with a native speaker every other week if they're lucky. That's hardly enough to learn English well IMO. 3. The government is trying to make high quality English education more readily available to the masses, by subsidizing private schools to bring down the tuition. However, I'm not sure how long this will last either. 4. Private language centers are often a necessity not just for kids to learn English, but to go to after public school hours, to do homework and study English or some other subject / skill. This is because many adults in TW work long hours and usually both of them work. SO the kids can either go to the grandparents or a Buxiban / Anqingban. The tuition at these places will vary depending on a few factors. But, it isn't necessarily expensive. 5. Many foreigner teachers in TW are unstable. they only plan to come here for a year or two and then move on. Sure, som (like myself) do stay for an extended period of time, but many leave. This means schools are often looking for new teachers to replenish the ranks. You are right though. The market is much more competitive than 5 + years ago. But, there is still a market for it and there are plenty of large, private elementary or junior & senior high schools which are on the look out for experienced teachers. Peace

[@moxigeren50gabe23]

I’m 50 and I don’t complain

[@flamyamy]

Question! Do you ever get “Island fever” because Taiwan is so small? Is it easy to travel round other places in Asia while living and teaching in Taiwan?

[@iamnathank]

Yeah, sometimes. Taiwan is ideally positioned so that traveling to other countries in Asia is quite convenient & affordable.

[@mastyx59]

You have great positive point.

[@CutieMoli]

Thank you so much! Teaching in Taiwan is my life goal, every important decision I make plays a role in my future in Taiwan and I sure hope I won't mess up once I'm there. Very informative as usual!

[@iamnathank]

Melooffee It’s my pleasure. Thank you

[@alfredorubio828]

this you make it to taiwan?

[@deax2312]

1:47... I recognize that corner.... I drive that route to work everyday 😁 (corner of Heping & Fuxing)

[@DarcyCardinal]

I thought about teaching in Taiwan so I could stay there for an extended period of time. I decided NOT to take that route, instead I'm using my existing company to setup an office in Taipei, which can be used to create a work permit and then get my ARC. It's an alternative route IF you have an existing company back home that is already generating income.

[@jontheb123]

Yeah, I'd say that if you didn't have any experience, start with a school like HESS. They have really good training and they generally take good care of you (latter element could be branch dependent), but if you stick with them for a year, they do give you a TEFL certificate that is well respected within Taiwan. Their pay is below average, but it's a good place to learn the ropes. Nice vid Nathan!

[@iamnathank]

jontheb123 Cheers man! Good to know. Pity that they pay so low though...

[@uenojuri2339]

Hi thank you for the information:) I am wondering whether HESS would require a degree for either a full-time or part-time teaching position?

[@Ally5325]

This is the opposite to Spain! There the local teachers are paid more than the language assistants even though we work pretty much the same hours! Great video! Thanks! Doshia!

[@waynehu664]

Good job! You are acting like a professional counselor now which is a good thing.

[@iamnathank]

wayne hu Thank you!

[@Goose_3001]

Thanks for a really informative video. On average, how many hours would an English teacher work per week? Would you suggest doing a Tefl/Celta course prior to moving to Taiwan?

[@iamnathank]

Yes, I think a TEFL would be helpful to you as an aspiring ESL teacher. For full time employment, your working hours will usually be around 35 - 50 hours / week. It depends though.

[@geraldmcdevitt3996]

Hey mate! I heard that you can get an English teaching job with just a tofel certificate.. is this not true? I'm getting conflicting answers and just want to know. I don't have a BA, but I do have 2 AA degree's. Also, I think living there maybe pretty easy because I will probably fall in love with the food.. and I have a good work ethic.

[@iamnathank]

Hey man, the last time I checked (it's been a while though), the educational requirements for an ARC were a BA degree or a minimum of a 2 year diploma + 120 hour TEFL certificate. The requirements might have changed though.

[@bukchoiii]

Much better than how cjayride represented Taiwan lol. Keep up the good work

[@sergiocantero5423]

I’m planning to move with my family to Taiwan to be a pilot at Eva, currently I live in Mexico and my wife is really enthusiastic of the idea of living there. Do you have any idea of how much money in average someone has to make monthly to live in Taiwan ?

[@iamnathank]

Sergio Cantero Sure. Firstly, it depends where in Taiwan you live. In a large city, rent will be higher. I’d say on average, you could get by quite comfortably on NTD 65,000 + per month, but you might not save much. Depends on your spending habits & if you have a family etc... as a pilot, I assume you’d be earning a bit more than that though?

[@andrianarisonnjato1667]

How about non native English teachers, would we be able to get a work permit in Taiwan?

[@TheMrpendertuga]

Hey nice vid! Im curious tho if there is any interest from Taiwanese for any languages besides English and Japanese? Like Spanish for example

[@iamnathank]

ME BL There is, but the main market is ESL / EFL.

[@MiguelHorth]

Hey! Thanks a lot for the video. Would love to hear your thoughts about cram schools vs day schools. Also, are the jobs available mostly teaching kids or are there jobs teaching adults as well? Thank you!

[@Canardeur]

Hi, thanks for this video. I am thinking about coming to Taiwan to teach as well (first goal is to learn Mandarin Chinese with fantizi). How are Taiwanese kids in general? Do they generally behave well in class? I am asking this because in the country where I teach, it is quite difficult to maintain discipline in class because of bad education and general let-them-do-attitude from the parents - and it is an Asian country! -, so that many teachers complain and do not want to teach kids anymore. It is something I have never experienced before.

[@iamnathank]

Canardeur Kids are kids. Most are a pleasure, a few are not. It depends on the dynamics of the class, your classroom management techniques, skill & pedagogy. If you have experience, you can reign in just about any type of defiant or rebellious learner. It takes time and patience though. To date, I have only ever come across 2 pupils whom I really struggled to keep in line & that’s out of thousands over the years.

[@anthonyestes740]

He said one of the main issues which tends to piss off some foreigners, but he just glossed past it and didn't really explore it in depth. Namely, "don't let any of your friends tell you that its all easy....because there are multitude of other challenges." The main thing is, local people will tell you, repeatedly, sometimes until they r blue in the face, that everything for you should be so easy. It is said in a kind of raspy cynical way and as if patently obvious. Try to explain the challenges to them and what you so often get is a kind of "huh" look; clueless about cultural elements. The widespread assumption seems to be that there is nothing much to talk about in the area of cultural challenges. Here, i am talking as one whose Mandarin is fluent; so it is not because of not being able to discuss the issue. You either get it or we don't know what to say. I guess he is right that younger flexible people might feel this is a cool challenge in cultural communication; while older people might be more susceptible to feeling it is an issue. But, in any case, more exploration of this aspect of cultural communication would be an interesting addition for this video.

[@theparty363]

Hi, thanks for the information. Just wondering - is it a necessity to know the language before moving? Or would you recommend going with the basics + expanding on that whilst in Taiwan? Also, is the pay difference significant between locals and foreigners? I’ll be going as a foreigner but I am of Asian descent so I may look local. (My family are from Malaysia.)

[@iamnathank]

Calvin Leong I’d go with learning the basics & then expanding on that once here. Yes, in most cases, and I am truly sorry to say this, non-Caucasian native English speakers will struggle to earn a good salary.

[@theparty363]

This is Taiwan thank you for the fast reply. Do you think having a good educational background (a masters degree) might help towards that situation? Or is it just purely down to a cultural/society thing.

[@iamnathank]

Calvin Leong Being well-educated will help.

[@southedinburgh1971]

I totally agree with you. The society will make further adjustment by itself year after year. There is no way each single nation will change for a single person. The best way to do is- integration as much as you can.

[@Stargate808]

Hi, thanks for your video. I'm trying to decide whether to accept a teaching positron in Taiwan. Which company do you currently work for? Thanks, Michael

[@janicewai2658]

Hello there..I am currently an English and Chinese teacher in Malaysian primary schools. Is it possible for me to get a teaching job with my degree in education in Malaysia?? Do I need to take any qualifications test for that?

[@mycublife]

Quality is really going up :) 加油！

[@iamnathank]

Aaron Thanks! 謝謝

[@alexmorgan3435]

Good video. The person unlikely to make a Taiwan a success would likely be unable to make any country other than their home country a success! How many foreign teachers can speak Chinese when they arrive? If you speak no Chinese at all would it be a problem securing a teaching job?

[@iamnathank]

Alex Morgan Thanks! No, not really. Speaking Chinese is generally not a prerequisite for getting an English teaching job in Taiwan.

[@michaelnielsen7782]

When you say “as a native english speaker”, what does that mean? I see that you’re from South Africa. Is that considered a native English speaking country or is it up to what language was your mother of tongue and not the actual country you reside in?

[@iamnathank]

Good question! For me, a native English speaker is somebody who was primarily educated in English, spoke English at home and grew up in a country, province or area in which English was the most dominant language. Those factors combined should give most people native or near native proficiency.

[@spracck]

i dont know if you are going to see this comment but me and my friend have just applied to teach over in Taiwan. Are the chances of both me and my friend being able to teach at the same school very slim or do you think that there would be a good chance? Im not sure that I am fully committed to do something like this all on my own but doing it with a friend would make it all the more enjoyable and make the experience better.

[@iamnathank]

I think it might be more difficult, but certainly not impossible. Large private schools do sometimes need more than one foreign teacher, so i tis definitely doable.

[@Asiabrew]

This is some solid advice, sir!

[@iamnathank]

Asiabrew Cheers mate!

[@Advtaiwan]

I've been looking at all your old Video's and noticed you don't get into politics! I'm curious about your political stance. Like for example these kids vandalizing CKS memorial. Ect ect

[@iamnathank]

I generally try to stay away from politics. i might touch on it in the future.

[@Advtaiwan]

This is Taiwan true politics get messy ! May I ask did you make a video about how you met the Mr's?

[@iamnathank]

張五飛 Not yet, no. I might though...

[@ff7936]

you can't "experience life to the fullest" on a English teaching salary in Taiwan. Get a real job

[@zdubz22]

I have a friend making 4000$ usd after taxes teaching per month w/free housing. When you combine that with the lower cost of living its quite a lot. 100k in the US is only 5700 after taxes and its way more expensive to live.

[@msemmahale4608]

What an arrogant thing to say. I see that attitude toward the English teaching foreigner still exists, and has not changed since I lived in Taiwan (and taught English from 1991 to 1993). How about you do you, and let other people decide for themselves? Now to counter your comment - I lived a fantastic life on my teaching wage while in Taiwan. I had a safe and comfortable apartment, money to travel to other East Asian countries for my VISA runs, eat out daily, and go out on the town whenever I liked, buy the first edition apple notebook and printer, a badass Yamaha DT motorbike. I suppose if you are a materialistic sort, you may have to save up to acquire lots and lots of big ticket things like the latest electronic items, major house appliances, etc. My life stateside practicing medicine with all the buying power that brings, comes in second to living simply and enjoying the basics like meaningful connections with others, breaking bread with friends, learning a new language and about the culture, history and geography of a foreign place and LEISURE TIME.