Taiwan has become a very popular destination for ESL teachers. For those considering the move there are obviously many things to consider, but one thing that can be easily overlooked is whether you will actually enjoy living here! After two years teaching English in Taiwan and observing teachers who have enjoyed it and those who haven't, my advice is to make sure you really enjoy being around kids. Teaching can be both rewarding and frustrating, but if you enjoy being around kids teaching in Taiwan will be a very rewarding experience.

The Good

When you first arrive most schools will have a standard curriculum setup for you to use in preparing lesson plans. While I found my initial training to be a bit sparse, it did allow me to quickly adjust to my new surroundings without having to build an entire semester's worth of lesson plans. Your primary task as an English teacher will be to find an effective way to teach the material in an interesting and entertaining manner. Over the course of a year I found many creative ways to teach otherwise repetitive material.

Flexible hours. In Taiwan you can elect to teach kindergarten (although technically illegal, almost every school ignores this law) in the morning or elementary students in the afternoon, or both! It is not uncommon for teachers to work only 4-5 hours a day, leaving plenty of time to pursue other activities. Quick tip; Think carefully about what schedule works for you before signing a contract. It can be difficult to switch later!

The kids. If you enjoy being around children you'll love Taiwanese students. They are very friendly and love to laugh and play. I taught kindergarten and, while at times I felt more like a glorified babysitter, I really did love the experience.

The Bad

Dealing with managers and the general work environment in Taiwan can be frustrating at times. You will be working for a private business, not a public school, and that distinction is important to keep in mind. Sometimes you will have to live with the decisions upper-management makes with regard to teaching standards- even if you don't feel they are in the best interests of the students.

It is also common for Taiwanese schools to require teachers to work additional hours for events like parent conferences, school plays, and holiday events. Some schools will pay you for these events, others will not, so check your contract carefully before you sign it.

Some schools might also require you to work on Saturdays, although usually it is only a half day. If this is the case you will generally be given an additional day off during the week. However, this may impact your ability to plan trips on some weekends.

There is definitely more to say on the subject of teaching in Taiwan, but for now those discussions will have to wait for another post! I welcome your comments below and invite you to post questions/comments on our teaching forums!.