For those who may want a change from Korea, read this article. You can now get a public school job here in Taiwan without a teaching license or even a degree.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4821408

For those who may want a change from Korea, read this article. You can now get a public school job here in Taiwan without a teaching license or even a degree.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4821408

Demanding an education degree limited their applicants over the years.  Not sure why they did it.  Most education degree holders would do international schools and not esl.  The teachers they would get were either older teachers at the end of their careers or someone inexperienced starting out.  It is ESL after all.  You tend to need some different skill sets such as being energetic and outgoing.  But the number of positions are small.  Also I'd be curious if they are paying the same as what they paid certified teachers. 

That said, they are still demanding a formal in class 120 hour TESOL from an accredited school.

https://tfetp.epa.ntnu.edu.tw/en/tfetp/web/eligibility

Not always easy to get a classroom TESOL here in Korea especially outside of Seoul. 

Most education degree holders would do international schools and not esl. 

On a side note, I spent a shit-ton of money to go home and do my PGCE at a brick and mortar university, with the intention of living it up on the international school scene. Landed my first IS gig overseas and quickly realized how stupendously difficult being a 'real' teacher is. I've since decided that ESL is the life for me and came back to Korea with my tail between my legs. Taiwan may be an option at some point, roaches depending...

Also I'd be curious if they are paying the same as what they paid certified teachers. 


They pay the same for everyone, there are two levels, teaching assistants and full on teachers. The teaching assistants get less but the benefits like housing subsidy, medical insurance etc are all the same.

Damn. I might want to consider Taiwan now.

It's something to think about I guess. I'm a bit young to be worrying about health and I have good insurance.

That said, they are still demanding a formal in class 120 hour TESOL from an accredited school.

https://tfetp.epa.ntnu.edu.tw/en/tfetp/web/eligibility

Not always easy to get a classroom TESOL here in Korea especially outside of Seoul. 

I wonder if they would accept an iPGCE, since it's not actually an education degree or a teaching license. Also, who accredits TESOL certificates?

Still heard it pays low over there, though Korea is going that way too.  But public school set up was a good deal.  I guess if they don't age discriminate, that can be a good thing.  Korea public schools, you're out at 62 which is dumb.  China also restricts visas by age 60's or just some areas?

That's pretty much everywhere in China. I'm not so sure I'd want to be here in my sixties anyway, with the medical system being what it is, but I'm a few decades away from that, so who knows what might happen?

I've been to Kinmen and Matsu, but never to Taiwan proper. Kinmen is really cool but Matsu is kinda empty.

Still heard it pays low over there.

Well that depends on your definition of low. As a public school teacher with  more than12 years experience, my net salary is around 3.6 million Won, including housing allowance.  Tax rate for the first 183 days is 18% and thereafter 5% but at the end of the tax year you get the 13% difference back, so effectively your tax rate is 5% which is pretty low.

You can check the salary scales on their website.  You have to rent your own apartment but you get an allowance from the MOE, so my allowance covers more than 50% of my rent.  The amount I pay for my apartment out of my pocket is roughly 194,000 Won, electricity is around 39,000 Won a month, my water and internet is free and my landlord supplies filtered water for free too.

So, my take home pay is 3,600,000 - 194,000 (rent) - 39,000 (electricity) = 3,367,00 Won.  My phone costs me 22,000 Won a month with a couple of free phone calls, never use that and unlimited data.  I don't live in Taipei, there the rent is higher but I live in a big city with everything you could ever want, so trips to Taipei are just for pleasure.

There is an awesome high speed rail system and there is a free shuttle bus to and from the nearest high speed rail station. Bus fare and train fares are pretty cheap too. I bought a scooter which I don't use every day, just weekends to go hiking, sightseeing and church. Gas prices are low too, about 1,300 won a liter. No idea of the price in Korea, however.

All in all I have no complaints with my pay package. 20 periods of 40 minutes a week and I have an awesome school, with awesome students, not the sharpest knives in the drawer but the most polite and respectful kids I have ever encountered, I am thanked for the lesson at the end of each lesson and the kids treat me like a celebrity. My co-teacher's English level is just great, I really lucked out on my school, of course not all schools are as good as mine, but generally the teachers here are happy. The MOE is a little full of crap, but then what MOE isn't. I get paid enough to put up with their little crap.

I do one 3 day English camp a year and pretty little desk warming, my school is pretty chill about that, most of the time they forget to make me do it and when they do it is only for 4 hours a day.

Edit: forgot to add, 1 blood relative gets a free flight to and from Taiwan once each contract.

What's the foreign remittance situation in Taiwan? Easy to send money abroad? China's a nightmare in that regard, apparently

What's the foreign remittance situation in Taiwan? Easy to send money abroad? China's a nightmare in that regard, apparently

Very easy, no worries.