An Offer in Taiwan--Take It or No?

[jrwilheim]

Yesterday, I opened up my email to find that my posting on a website for ESL recruitment had already generated a response from a school in Taiwan wanting to see my resume. Well, I hurriedly assembled an ESL resume (there's a very particular format for ESL resumes...has to include a lot of personal information you normally leave off a US resume) and sent it in reply.

Well, today I opened my inbox and found an offer from this school. The pay is about typical for these jobs (50,000-60,000 NT per month, which translates to about $1550 to $1875 US per month). The school is in a city three hours out of Taipei, the capital and largest city in Taiwan, and the cost of living looks to be relatively cheap (she said I could easily find a 1 BR for under $200 US per month...hard to believe, having dealt with the New York housing market for so long). The hours look reasonable. I'd be dealing with a variety of different age groups, from kindergarten on up through teenagers, I understand.

My one hesitation is just taking the very first thing I'm offered. Particularly when it's overseas. There are a million recruiters out there, and I know this isn't my only chance to find a job teaching ESL in Taiwan.

[pisces2473]

My one hesitation is just taking the very first thing I'm offered. Particularly when it's overseas. There are a million recruiters out there, and I know this isn't my only chance to find a job teaching ESL in Taiwan.
Then there ya go.

Usually when something seems too good to be true, or makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, there's a reason.

[PeakDream]

I don't get it, are you afraid this offer is not good (scam)? I assume you got this offer via legit channel. I mean, at least you should explore the possibility of this offer.

[Goldeneye]

Speaking about Taiwan, there are some peculiarities, so I may be slightly off on certain things, since last I read about these things a while back.

An old friend did talking about me going to Taiwan to teach ESL a few years back, even tho I wasn't that interested in such.

I am very sure that you will need a work visa, since the visa-free entry will not apply in such circumstances. Make sure there is a work visa included in there (the contract), or you will need to get one yourself.

That said, taxes last I checked are at 6% for residents and 20% for non-residents, which you have to file an income tax return at the end of the year to calculate the taxes you will owe. Note: You will need to be in Taiwan for at least 183 days of the calendar year to be eligible for the 6% rate as a resident.

As for agencies, I heard that there are some dodgy ESL agencies, so be on guard!

Living expenses in Taiwan (especially outside of Taipei) are pretty reasonable last I heard, but that could have changed.

There is also the last issue of culture shock, and I will give one extra piece of advice...avoid writing comments in red ink! It is ok to use red ink when doing simple 'x's and checkmarks in correcting papers and tests, but otherwise avoid writing in red ink!

Taiwan still has some major culture taboos to avoid, and the red ink one is one of them.

OK, I've talked enough for now. Hope some of this info helps!