subject: Teaching English In Taiwan In 2009 [print this page] Thinking of teaching English in Taiwan in 2009? Taiwan is a popular destination for people looking to try their hand at teaching English in Asia. While Taiwan may not be as large as other countries, the cost of living and the rate of pay have always been considered favourable to anyone looking at moving to Asia to teach English. However, in 2009 and the years to follow this may change. Why is this? Teaching in Asia is becoming increasingly popular and over the recent years there has been an increase in the number of teachers looking and making the move to teach. This doesn't mean you won't be able to find work, but the teaching environment is slowly and will continue to change.
The other obvious location someone might consider other than Taiwan is that of China. However, Taiwan has a much better standard of living and teachers get paid more than those working in China. The downside to this is that Taiwan is a relatively small country and finding work outside of Taipei can be difficult. There are certain periods during the year where there is an influx of teachers as old ones leave and new ones come to fill their places. This is the best time to look for work outside of the Taipei area. As more and more teachers move to Taiwan, you need to make sure you plan ahead to avoid just turning up in Taiwan and not being able to find work.
Taipei offers the best chances of finding work but you'll pay more for just about all of you daily living expenses. The pay of teachers throughout Taiwan is fairly even, so it means that you'll earn the same but pay more to live in Taipei. Plenty of work can be found in cities outside of Taipei but you will need to do a little homework first and not just turn up with your fingers crossed. If the pay is the same, then why would anyone consider living in cities that cost more? The simple answer is that the north area of the island while more expensive is the most developed. You'll find more work, more foreign goods and services and more foreigners. This is the main reason why many teachers never leave Taipei and work only in and around the capital city.
Teaching English in Taiwan in 2009 has changed as there has been a steady increase in the number of teachers moving to Taiwan but there has always been a high turnover rate of teachers. You may find it a little more difficult to get work but definitely not impossible. The best times to come and look for work are during the hiring seasons as you will see many schools advertising vacant positions for teachers. However, regardless of where you work you will most likely be paid the same as most other teachers and you may want to keep how much you will spend on rent, food and travel in mind when looking for work. Always plan ahead to make your teaching stay in Taiwan as smooth as possible.
