Ways to Stand out Getting a Teaching Job in Taiwan
Getting a bad teaching job is not hard to do in Taiwan. There are plenty of teaching jobs that are just looking for a warm body from an “English speaking country”. If you want to stand out and get a better job in Taiwan there are some things that you want to do and some that you don’t.
To stand out in getting a job you want to have a succinct one-page resume including contact details, a professional picture, and birthdate. Know about the area the school is in, the culture, and the type of school it is. Having a teaching demonstration before they ask will set you apart.
After you have gotten the interview there are more nuances in Taiwan to getting hired at a good school or buxiban. These are harder to perfect but with some knowledge, preparation and practice, you will have no issues landing that job.
- Have a Resume/CV specifically for teaching.
Even though it may be shorter it will be better than having unrelated jobs on it. If your resume is short in the teaching area or this is your first teaching job think about what you did at your past jobs that relate to teaching. This could be a time that you trained a coworker or you volunteered at the local pool to teach kids to swim. You don’t need to have it in Chinese and if you want to learn a bit more about knowing Chinese in Taiwan read my article here. Do You Need to Speak Chinese to Teach and Live in Taiwan?
Practical TIp: On your resume in the west we usually have references, in Taiwan, I am have not had them ask or contact any of mine ever. This may be different for Taiwanese but I would just omit it on your resume to save space and confusion.
- Do your research on the school.
This sounds easy enough but each school is very different even if they are a chain. Schools such as American Eagle or Schoolhouse are common chains that vary greatly from branch to branch. While the overall curriculum may be the same they usually have different branch managers and from what I have experienced that makes all the difference because it is who you deal with every day and talks to the parents of your kids. This also includes when to apply, you can read here to figure out the best time to apply for a job in Taiwan.
- Get a professional photo taken.
We all can grab a photo of Facebook or Instagram and crop it. That may work but even getting a friend with a decent camera to take a photo of you on a simple background dressed up goes a long way. If you are already in Taiwan they have photo booths all over and offer photos for around $100NT ($3.50USD).
Practical Tip: You only need the photo from the midchest up. What you are wearing besides the top is not an issue.
- Keep up the enthusiasm and smile.
When they are looking for teachers in Taiwan and Asia in general, “keeping face” is a big thing. Without going into depth on the cultural subject (you can look up saving face) they smile here when things are good, bad, and indifferent. So people have a resting face that is not always the happiest looking and that is ok, but for the interview try your best to look as cheery as possible.
- Know some basics about Taiwanese culture.
Knowing how to say hello NiHao and a few simple phrases will go a long way. Use two hands to pass papers and not using red ink to sign names (it is for the dead) are just a few. It shows that you have spent at least a little time learning about the culture. You can learn a lot about Taiwan in my other article here, it has a lot to offer.
Practical Tip: Remember to wear fresh socks when you go to the interview as you usually take off your street shoes and switch to slipper there.
- Take your time to think interview answers through.
This is another one that we all should know but sometimes they ask very odd questions about pedagogy or what you would do in certain situations. For example, I was asked, “What I would do if a student ran out of the classroom and out the door?”. Before I said I don’t know, why are you asking me this cray question, I thought about it and gave the most logical answer I could think of. “Tell the front desk teacher and go back to class.” Also, when speaking makes you speak clearly and at a decent level.
- Be ready for the teaching demonstration.
This is very common practice at cram schools/ buxibans. About halfway through the interview, they will give you some material, usually a reading book, and sometimes to prepare for a 5-10 minute lesson. You are going to probably act like there is a class and you teach to the hiring manager/ director. It is very odd and uncomfortable, know that we all do this and just common practice here. Speak loud and clear. Speak loud and clear.
Practical Tip: Practice a lesson by yourself or in front of friends to get more comfortable acting like adults are children. Also, I have brought material along to be ready for this and eliminate having to teach from a lesson from a book I have never seen before. It works and they are usually impressed that I have prepared.
- Be open to teaching different grades of levels.
I am now teaching at a high school as a language and learning specialist. This was very new to me as I have usually taught k-8. I really like what I am doing and was a pleasant surprise. I have even taught adults before and found they are some of the most enjoyable students, they want to learn and you don’t have to worry about what you say for the most part. There are a ton of jobs here
- Cover up your tattoos.
It shouldn’t be a big thing in this day and age, but it does make an impression here. They are selling you in some cases to parents and the image they are trying to sell may not fit. My whole legs are sleeved so I just make sure to wear pants, after a bit of time at the school I may wear shorts when the students and staff are comfortable with me. These types of discrimination are not illegal here. This also goes for piercings, something smaller and subtle will work better, I have my tongue pierced and it hasn’t been an issue either but I make sure not to bring attention to it during the interview.
- Walk around the area beforehand.
Knowing about the area is big as well, it will give you insight into what type of students the school caters to. If it is across from a large public school, then it may just be more of a babysitting service and they want a pretty face to post around. If the school is in a rich area you will be able to ask for more money. You can also mention this in the interview to show that you know what you are talking about. I can’t prove it but feel I have been able to negotiate better and gotten higher pay.
