So, you’re thinking about teaching English in Taiwan, but have no idea how to begin your search?

Don’t fret! You’ve stumbled upon this post for a reason. Finding a Teaching job abroad is confusing and stressful (believe me, I’ve done it twice!). And, I’m here to help you out!

Before I moved to Taiwan, I had no idea how to find a teaching job here. It is a completely different process than what I experienced while finding a job teaching English in South Korea. You can read all about how to find a job teaching in South Korea here.

Finding a job in Taiwan requires a lot of research, flexibility, and patience. You will most likely be finding a job on your own, without the help of a recruitment agency, as they are fairly uncommon compared to Korea. You might even find yourself booking a flight to Taiwan, jobless, in hopes of finding a job when you land. Crazy, right? As daunting or terrifying as this may sound, it’s really not as difficult as you may think. I promise!

Here’s everything you need to know about how to find a teaching job in Taiwan.

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Am I Qualified To Teach English In Taiwan?

First things first. Are you qualified to teach English in Taiwan? Every teaching job in Taiwan requires you to:

• Have a bachelor’s degree (can be in any discipline)
• Have a valid passport
• Be a native English speaker from one of the following countries: Canada, the USA, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa
• Get a criminal record check prior to leaving your home country

Other credentials, certifications, and experience might be required depending on the type of school that you apply to. Keep on reading for more information!

Do I Need A TEFL Certification?

Maybe. Although there is no defined requirement for you to have a TEFL certification, be prepared that some schools might require that you do. You might even land yourself a higher hourly wage if you do!

So, if you have it, great! If you were thinking of getting it but weren’t sure, consider that it might open up more job options for you and possibly increase your pay rate. If you don’t have it and aren’t planning on getting it, don’t sweat it. You really don’t need a TEFL Certificate to secure a job in Taiwan.

Want to get a TEFL? Sign up for your online TEFL Certificate here.

What Kinds Of Schools Can I Work At With My Credentials?

Public School

What To Expect

Landing a public school job in Taiwan is a pretty sweet gig that comes with a whole lot of perks. The one catch, you will need to be a licensed teacher back in your home country in order to apply.

Contracts are one academic year (11 months), from August until July of the following year. You will be working a regular daytime schedule of 40 hours per week, receiving a monthly salary. Applications are open until the end of April of each year, with contracts starting shortly after in August.

Perks

• Salaried position paying between NT $62,720 to $91,420 per month (depending on what type of degree you hold)
• Overtime pay (for work exceeding 40 hours per week)
• Flight reimbursement of up to NT $40,000 one-way
• Monthly accommodation allowance of NT $5,000 for a single person or $10,000 for a family
• Annual leave
• Health and labor insurance
• Annual performance bonus of either a full month’s pay if awarded an “A” grade or half a month’s pay for a “B” grade

What You Will Need

• A bachelor’s degree
• A teaching license from your home country
• Be a native English speaker from one of the following countries: Canada, the USA, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa
• A valid passport
• A criminal record check prior to leaving your home country

International School

What To Expect

International schools are comparable to public schools. Although each school is different, the perks and requirements are relatively the same.

Depending on the school, contracts range from one to two years, the latter being more common. You will most likely work a regular daytime schedule of about 40 hours per week, receiving a cushy monthly salary. Perks vary, although you can generally expect a lengthy paid summer vacation, an accommodation allowance (or accommodation provided by the school), and performance bonuses.

Perks (Vary By School)

• Salaried position paying about NT $70,000+ per month
• Overtime pay
• Flight reimbursement
• Monthly accommodation allowance or accommodation provided by the school
• Lengthy, paid holidays
• Health and labor insurance
• Performance bonus

What You Will Need

• A bachelor’s degree
• A teaching license from your home country
• Be a native English speaker from one of the following countries: Canada, the USA, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa
• A valid passport
• A criminal record check prior to leaving your home country

Cram School (Buxiban)

What To Expect

The type of school I work at! This is the most common type of teaching job in Taiwan. A cram school is an after-school school. Yup. Children in Taiwan are in school for 10+ hours a day and often go to multiple cram schools for different subjects, like English, math, and science. If you plan to live in a big city like Taipei or Kaohsiung, these schools can be found on every corner.

Generally, they hire year-round, on a contractual one-year basis. Hours vary greatly by school. I work 30 hours per week at my school as a full-time teacher. However, part-time jobs of about 18-20 hours per week are more common. Depending on what kind of lifestyle you want in Taiwan, you can choose to work as little or as much as you want. You do not need to be a licensed teacher to find work at a cram school!

Perks (Vary By School)

• Hourly pay of NT $600+ (previous teaching experience and a TEFL might bump this up to NT $650-700+)
• Opportunities to work language camps and different events during vacations and on weekends
• Flexible vacation schedule (most schools will allow you to find a substitute if you want to take an extended leave)
• Health insurance
• Performance bonus

What You Will Need

• A bachelor’s degree (can be in any discipline)
• A valid passport
• Be a native English speaker from one of the following countries: Canada, the USA, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa
• A criminal record check prior to leaving your home country
• TEFL Certificate (not required, but may prove to be easier to find a job and potentially increase your pay rate)

How To Find And Apply For Teaching Jobs

There is no “one way” for finding a teaching job in Taiwan. If you are applying to a public school, you will be applying directly to the FET program through their website. For international schools and cram schools, you will be applying to the school directly through their website, Facebook, or showing up in person.

Cram Schools: Overseas Hires vs. In-Country Hires

A lot of people say that the best way to find a job in Taiwan is to book a flight, pack your bags, and “just show up” – it will all sort itself out. Well, I don’t know about you, but before I moved to Taiwan, the idea of moving to a foreign country with my entire life packed up into two suitcases, unemployed, just didn’t sit well with me.

I secured a job prior to moving to Taiwan, while I was still living in South Korea. I’m happy I did this, as I’m a girl that likes to have a plan, and I don’t think I could stomach moving somewhere without knowing I’d have a steady income.

That being said, after living in Taiwan for 9 months now, I completely understand why people say it is so easy to find a job after you’ve arrived in Taiwan… because, well, it is! So, why wait until you’ve arrived in the country to find a job? Sometimes showing up in person to a school is the best way to gauge if the school is a good fit for you. Also, the expat community all over Taiwan is extremely tight-knit and extremely helpful. Once you arrive in Taiwan, you will begin to meet other expats who can provide you with their honest experiences and feedback about the different schools they’ve worked at. They might even be able to help you schedule an interview.

Keep in mind that during summer vacation (July-August) and Chinese new year (held in either January or February), finding a job will be more challenging. Although, this is the best time to start applying for the new semesters that are just about to start!

Resources For Finding Teaching Jobs 

Public Schools

• FET Program: MOE Foreign English Teachers

International Schools

A quick Google search for international schools in Taiwan will give you a whole list of schools. Apply to these schools directly through their website.

Cram Schools

When finding a cram school teaching job in Taiwan, Facebook is your best resource. There are dozens of different groups that advertise new jobs postings on a daily basis. Most of these positions try to hire as soon as possible and get scooped up quickly, so you might find yourself teaching in Taiwan sooner than you had planned.

Taiwan (General)

• Teaching English in Taiwan
• Taiwan English Teaching Jobs
• English Teaching/Subbing Jobs in Taiwan!
• Taiwan English Teacher Jobs, Available Teachers and Language Exchange
• Taiwan English Teacher Job Openings

Taipei

• English Teacher in Taipei

Kaohsiung

• Kaohsiung English Teachers
• Kaohsiung Subbing and Teaching and Tutoring

I hope this information was helpful to you! If you have any questions, comment below or shoot me a direct message.

Still need some convincing to move to Taiwan? Check out my 5 reasons why you should move to Taiwan to teach!

The post How To Find A Job Teaching English In Taiwan appeared first on A Broader Tale.