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teach english in taiwan

Teach English in Taiwan

With good wages, a low cost of living, beautiful mountains and beaches to explore, it’s no wonder that Taiwan has become one of Asia’s top destinations to teach English abroad.

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Thinking about teaching English in Taiwan? If not, you should be! For years, Taiwan was an underrated and often overlooked abroad location for English teachers working abroad, but not anymore. With wages comparable to those in Japan and South Korea, and a cost of living closer to what you’d expect in China, Taiwan is a great place to make and save money.

Thanks to a government initiative which aims to see Taiwan become a bilingual English-Mandarin Chinese nation by 2030, there has never been a better time to find a teaching job in Taiwan. There are teaching programmes, great incentives for teachers and a lifestyle that's tough to beat.

When you’re not teaching English to enthusiastic Taiwanese students, there’s an entire island of epic mountains, national parks, beautiful beaches and skyscraper-studded cities to explore. The traditional culture of Taiwan is distinct and exciting, with many teachers finding the country full of both English teaching jobs and exciting new pastimes, sights and sounds.

The food is also unbelievable; a tantalising mix of Chinese, Japanese and Western-influenced cuisine. Add in an established, friendly expat community and it’s easy to see why so many TEFL teachers choose to live and work in Taiwan.

So what's it really like to teach English in Taiwan? What do English teachers need to get a visa? What kind of salary can you make while teaching English in Taiwan? Let's find out.

Taiwan: An overview

Chinese Mandarin is the most widely spoken of Taiwan’s four official languages, alongside Taiwanese, Hakka and the Formosan aboriginal languages. English, however, is very much on the rise, and that’s entirely intentional. The Taiwanese Government have made their intentions clear with an initiative to raise the level of English proficiency.

This, of course, means there are opportunities for English teachers from overseas, but it also means that Taiwan is a nation that’s quickly becoming capable of producing its own English teaching talent. The more proficient Taiwan becomes, the more competitive the job market will be for English teachers from English-speaking countries.

Where are the bulk of teaching jobs in Taiwan? Well, opportunities for teaching English in Taiwan include teaching at a private school (known as ‘cram schools’ or buxiban), teaching jobs at public schools and positions at universities, summer camps and freelance/private tutoring work.

Popular locations for TEFL jobs include Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung, and Anping. In the larger cities, especially Taipei, there are welcoming communities for foreigners - Taiwan has been named the “best place to live for expats”. So, if you do find yourself able to teach English abroad in Taiwan, expect a warm welcome from like-minded educators from around the world, as well as extremely friendly, eager locals.

Requirements

So, what do you need to start teaching English in Taiwan? Before we get into the specifics, a native level of English is essential, with teachers from the US being particularly in demand. The visa requirements, in particular, are comparatively strict for long-term teaching in Taiwan.

What else you will need to teach English in Taiwan? Let’s explore.

TEFL Certificate

To teach English in Taiwan and enjoy the fantastic Taiwanese culture - or to teach anywhere! - you’re best placed if you have a high-quality TEFL certificate. The industry standard is 120 hours of training, which will give you a fantastic grounding in the methodologies, motivations and best practices of successful TEFL teachers.

A TEFL certificate really is a must on any serious teacher’s CV. If you’re interested in advanced TEFL qualifications, and specifically want a CV that appeals to kindergartens and primary schools, a certificate in Teaching Young Learners may be just the ticket. Alternatively, a lot of opportunities for teaching English in Taiwan involve Business English, so specific training in that field can be extremely helpful.

Degree/no-degree

Can you teach English in Taiwan without a degree? In short, it’s not likely, and it definitely won’t be easy. In order to obtain a work visa to legally teach in Taiwan, it’s a government requirement that you must hold a bachelor's degree. Those who have a two-year associate's degree might be able to bypass that rule if they also hold a TEFL certification.

You’ll likely hear stories of people working at buxiban or ‘cram schools’ who are teaching without a degree. Often, these schools will hire TEFL teachers who are in Taiwan on a 90-day visa on arrival. When their visa is close to running out, they take a quick trip to Hong Kong or similar, before flying back to Taiwan and getting another 90-day visa.

However, it is illegal to work as an English teacher on this type of visa and, as doing so can result in fines and ultimately deportation, this is not a recommended route to take.

Experience

If you want to work in Taiwan but have no previous teaching experience, you’re in luck! Taiwan is a great destination to find your first job teaching English. Although public schools and some of the top private international schools will look to hire those with prior teaching experience, new teachers can easily find work at Taiwan’s buxiban or ‘cram schools’.

In place of teaching experience, many schools will look for English teachers with a TEFL certification. In addition, don’t underestimate how far enthusiasm and a willingness to learn can get you, especially when it comes to applying for jobs teaching Taiwanese children!

Visa

In order to obtain a work visa and work permit, foreign teachers need to meet these teaching English requirements:

Hold a bachelor's degree (in any subject)
Be a native English speaker
Hold a passport from an English-speaking country - such as the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand
Be able to pass a criminal background check

To legally teach English in Taiwan, you will need the correct type of visa and a work permit. For most teachers, this falls into two categories - a work visa or a working holiday visa for Taiwan.

If you are between the ages of 18 and 35, it may also be possible for you to apply for a working holiday visa. These allow citizens of certain countries to live and work in Taiwan for up to one year.

There are also those who come to Taiwan on a temporary landing visa and look for work once they have arrived. To legally stay and teach in the country, this visa must then be changed to a work visa once a school has made an offer. While possible, it’s always a safer bet to have work and sponsorship for a visa secured before you leave your home country.

In short, it will save an immense amount of stress - and potential legal trouble - to secure a teaching contract from an English teaching job before you actually make the move to Taiwan. Not only will an employer typically assist you with your visa, it also means you will have the right type of visa, and you can work legally without any problems. Having the right work visa also means you can take your family with you.

Learn more about the requirements for teaching English and ensure you’re well-prepared for your teaching journey.

Download our teaching English in Asia guide

Salary, Benefits and cost of living

With high wages and a low cost of living, you’ll be impressed with how much you can make and save working as an English teacher in Taiwan. Different factors can affect your salary, for example what kind of school you want to work at, how much previous teaching experience you have, and whether or not you have a TEFL qualification.

That said, even brand-new TEFL teachers will find they make enough to live a comfortable life on Taiwan’s affordable shores. Let's look at what it's like to teach English in Taiwan from a financial perspective

Salary

Exactly how much can you make teaching English in Taiwan? As a guide, the basic monthly salary for a full-time ESL teacher is likely to be in the region of NT$50,000 – NT$65,000 (£1,335 – £1,735 / $1,700 – $2,220) per month.

Meanwhile, those hoping to boost their monthly salaries with a few extra private/freelance lessons can charge in the region of NT$700 to NT$1,000 per hour (£19 – £27 / $24 – $34).

Factors like prior teaching experience or holding a TEFL certification will give you better negotiating power when it comes to discussing salary for potential teaching positions. Teaching in Taiwan can actually be quite lucrative, with experienced teachers being able to command high salaries, year-on-year wage increases and some teachers even go on to open their own private language schools.

For more information about English teaching salaries, you can learn more here.

Benefits

Across teaching programmes and permanent employment contracts, Taiwanese teaching jobs are known to offer really impressive benefits. Teaching English in Taiwan really does come with perks!

While every contract is different, there are common benefits that typically go on offer to Taiwanese teachers. These can include flight reimbursement for economy class flights to Taiwan, rental assistance, performance bonuses (one month’s pay after a year of high-performance teaching is quite common!), health insurance and accident cover.

Additionally, teaching programmes often include extras like team-building exercises and away days, as well as Mandarin classes.

Clearly, these benefits are dependent on your employer, but it’s fair to say that incentives are common for Taiwanese teaching jobs.

Cost of living

Taiwan is one of the most affordable countries in Asia, especially when you compare the cost of living to the average wages English teachers can make.

Rent will usually be the biggest expense, with some teachers choosing to share to keep their monthly outgoings low. Living costs will be higher in some places, mainly in Taipei city, but even here it’s possible to spend very little if you live like a local and forgo Western bars and restaurants.

If you choose to live in Taipei, for example, how much does it cost? According to Numbeo, a typical one-bedroom apartment in central Taipei costs $660/£510 per month to rent, while a three-bedroom apartment in the city centre will usually cost $1,585/£1,240 per month. Rental costs reduce dramatically outside of the city centre - a one-bedroom apartment is usually about a third cheaper in suburban Taipei. Meanwhile, a three-bedroom apartment rental cost drops to approximately $1,070/£838!

Basic utilities cost about $100/£79 per month all-in, and a meal for two at a mid-priced restaurant is around $38/£30.

Country	Avg. monthly salary	Degree required	Start of term	Teaching experience	Housing & flights included	Suitable for non-native English speakers	Age restrictions
Teach in Taiwan	£1,335 - £1,735 GBP ($1,700 - $2,220 USD)		September		Sometimes		Under 65

Types of Teaching Jobs in Taiwan

Taiwan is a popular TEFL destination for teachers at every stage of their careers. There are teaching jobs for newbies right through to positions for those with advanced qualifications and years of experience.

Teaching opportunities are wide-ranging, with the possibility to teach students ranging from kindergarten through to adults looking for business English classes. Freelancing can also be lucrative in Taiwan but you’ll need to have an official job first to receive your visa.

Read on to find out more about the different types of TEFL jobs in Taiwan!

Public Schools
Private language Schools
International schools
Universities
Private tutoring

Public schools

Teachers in positions at Taiwan public schools are generally placed through teaching programmes, such as the FET programme This means that, while not a hard-and-fast rule, it's most likely that you’ll need to have a valid teaching certification in order to land a position at a public school. Although not always the case, the majority of those who do meet this requirement will usually end up with ESL jobs at high school level, instead of at elementary schools or middle schools.

The perks of getting a job teaching at a Taiwanese public school include a good salary, weekends off, input into the curriculum, and an end-of-contract bonus. On the other hand, working hours can be long and class sizes can be much larger than you might find with a job teaching in private schools.

If you do end up teaching English in Taiwan at a public school, you can expect to make somewhere in the region of NT$50,000 – NT$65,000 (£1,335 – £1,735 / $1,700 – $2,220) per month.

Private language schools

Unlike some other countries in Asia, private schools tend to be slightly less well-paid than Taiwan public schools. But, with smaller class sizes and extra benefits like paid holidays and housing allowances, this is where most teachers in Taiwan want to be.

On average, teaching jobs in private schools in Taiwan will pay around NT$50,000 – NT$60,000 (£1,335 – £1,620 / $1,700 – $2,000) per month. Working hours will vary depending on the type of school but will usually be between 16-25 hours per week.

Private schools in Taiwan will often accept those who aren't certified teachers, as well as English teachers looking for their first teaching job. This makes a private school position the best option for new ESL teachers and those who are just starting their teaching English abroad journey. If you prefer teaching young children, a private school is probably your best bet.

International schools

With Taipei offering vast economic opportunities, due in large part to its proximity to China, it’s become increasingly common to see family units move over to the island nation. Dual-citizen communities have sprung up, and particularly since 2000, vibrant “expat” communities have emerged.

So you’d expect a pretty lively crop of international schools in Taiwan, and that is the case. These schools tend to be located in Taipei, but coastal cities like Kaohsiung, Hsinchu and Taichung are also popular locations for international education.

American TEFL teachers are particularly in demand, given that American-style curriculums are the most prevalent in Taiwan. These jobs are prestigious and will require exceptional candidates with considerable experience, high-level qualifications and TEFL certification. They’re also the best-paid teaching jobs in Taiwan.

Universities

Earlier, we mentioned efforts by the Taiwanese government to boost the level of English proficiency in the education system. Perhaps, the universities of Taiwan are the best demonstration of these efforts. You can attend university in Taiwan without being fluent in Mandarin - there are about 500 English-taught degree courses across the University system of Taipei alone.

All fine and well for students, of course, but what’s in it for a TEFL teacher? Well, once you’re established in Taiwan, you can easily find work tutoring across Taipei’s vibrant higher education scene. Not everyone who takes an English-speaking course is going to be a native-level English speaker and may require help. An Advanced TEFL qualification in English for Academic Purposes would be very handy indeed!

If you are extremely well-established in the Taiwanese education system, there will be lecturing opportunities, as well as chances to help shape the curriculum and join universities. Across Asia, there are university staff dedicated to providing English-language course options, and this can be a great career avenue for TEFL-certified individuals.

Private tutoring

With the Taiwanese economy showing its muscle, the government keen to improve English proficiency across the country, and English being taught in schools, it’s clear that the language is valued.

This means, then, that private classes are much sought after. Whether it’s one-to-one or with groups, qualified TEFL teachers won’t be lacking for interest in private tutoring. Corporate clients, in particular, will be looking to sharpen up their English skills to pursue English-speaking customers and B2B opportunities.

All of this is to say that private tutoring is a potentially lucrative pursuit and one we’d recommend for teachers who have established residence and plan to teach English in Taiwan for the long term.

Programs

One of the most popular ways to teach English in Taiwan, especially for newly qualified TEFL teachers, is through a teach English abroad program. There are many different English teaching programs abroad, all of which will offer slightly different opportunities and benefits.

The main reason these programmes are so popular is that they take all of the stress and worry out of finding a teaching position. The programme provider will usually take care of all of the necessary paperwork, as well as provide housing, training and support on the ground. These programmes will also often place new teachers together, meaning it’s easy to make friends once you arrive. For those who have very little travel experience or who have never taught before, this can be a great option.

Taiwan Foreign English Teachers Programme (TFETP)

The Taiwanese Government runs their own Taiwan Foreign English Teachers Programme (TFETP) programme. They recruit qualified teachers to teach in K-9 public schools across Taiwan, to establish links with international schools and expand English immersion for young learners.

To apply for the FET Programme, teachers must have both a university degree and a teaching licence from their home country. In return, FET teachers receive return flights, housing and a reliable salary.

Teaching English in Taipei

Are you considering a move to Taipei City to teach English in Taiwan’s laidback capital? Compared to Asia’s other big cities - like Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai - Taipei is still fairly under the radar when it comes to international travel. It does, however, have a strong expat community and endless attractions.

The city is a perfect blend of old and new, from modern skyscrapers and luxury hotels to ancient temples and traditional street markets. The food and drink scene in Taipei City is vast, with everything from Michelin Star restaurants to hawker stalls and familiar Western names.

More than 2.6 million people call Taipei home which, given its relatively small size, can sometimes make it feel overcrowded. But, if the city gets too much, it’s easy to escape to some of the nearby natural beauty spots thanks to Taiwan's excellent public transport network.

As the most popular location for ESL teachers in Taiwan, competition for teaching positions at schools in Taipei can be high. However, the city has so many public and private schools hiring teachers for ESL jobs that even those teaching abroad for the first time should be able to secure a position.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much money can you make teaching English in Taiwan?

The basic monthly salary for a full-time TEFL teacher is usually in the region of NT$50,000 – NT$65,000 (£1,335 – £1,735 / $1,700 – $2,220) per month.

Q. Are English teachers in demand in Taiwan?

Yes! Taiwan is aiming to be a bilingual country by 2030, meaning there has never been a higher demand for English teachers.

Q. Is Taiwan open to ESL teachers?

ESL teachers are welcome in Taiwan, where there is currently a big push to learn English.

Q. Do you need a degree to teach English in Taiwan?

For most teaching positions in Taiwan, a bachelor’s degree will be required. This is because you must have a university degree in order to receive a work visa, which allows you to legally work as a teacher in Taiwan.

Q. Can non-natives teach English in Taiwan?

To obtain a work visa for Taiwan, ESL teachers must be native English speakers and hold a passport from a native English speaking country.

Q. Do you need a TEFL certificate to teach in Taiwan?

While a TEFL qualification isn’t a legal requirement for teaching English in Taiwan, having one under your belt can greatly increase your chances of landing an English teaching job and prepare you for your first teaching abroad experience.