Taiwan aims to be a bilingual nation by 2030. This means that there’s an abundance of English teaching positions in the country. Although the expectations of teachers are high compared to other Asian countries, teaching English in Taiwan is fast becoming one of the most popular choices for TEFL teachers.

Before you decide to set sail to the beautiful country, there are a few things you need to know before you get there.

1. Make sure you meet the teaching requirements

Whether you work in the bustling capital city of Taipei or a small rural town, you must meet certain criteria to land a job in an English language centre or primary school in Taiwan.

Requirements for teaching English in Taiwan include:

• Candidates must be aged between 21-35
• TEFL certificate
• Bachelor’s degree
• Background check
• Doctor’s letter proving you are in good health
• Native English speaker
• Passport holder from the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland or New Zealand.

To learn more about teaching English in Taiwan and to ask questions about how to start this journey, contact us today.

2. Competitive teaching salaries

Many English language teachers are attracted to Taiwan due to the high wages it provides its educators with.

Education is taken very seriously in Taiwan, so English teachers are rewarded for their efforts. You can expect to make up to €1680/ $2000 a month when you work 40 hours a week teaching English in Taiwan. But you will be happy to know that, on average, you’ll only be teaching for 25 hours per week. The rest are spent on lesson planning.

Due to relatively low living costs, you can also live comfortably in your new home while saving money. This will make exploring the nation’s diverse landscape and neighbouring countries possible.

3. It’s a friendly nation

Moving abroad can seem like a daunting experience anyway without factoring in how densely populated this tiny island is. For a nation that is seven times smaller than the UK and 1.9 times smaller than Ireland, its population of 23 million is mind-blowing. But, the fear of getting lost in the crowd shouldn’t put you off teaching English in Taiwan.

Taiwan is famous for its friendly locals. In fact, Taiwanese people’s reputation for being friendly to foreigners and taking a great interest in their lives is commonly remarked on by foreign English language teachers. This is because Taiwan is eager to join the international community – hence their bilingual goal for 2030. If you get asked to go out for dinner or to a karaoke bar with a colleague, take them up on the offer. It’s the best way to integrate yourself into the community and learn about Taiwanese culture and their way of life.

If moving abroad to teach alone still seems scary, then taking part in a teaching internship may be the best option for you. Our one-year paid Taiwan internship begins with a ten-day orientation in Taipei. Here, you’ll meet fellow English language teachers who are in the same boat as you and ready to explore what Taiwan has to offer. Not to mention they’ll be eager to make friends too. Some may even be working in the same school or area as you so it’s a great way to make new friends and contacts. You’ll do teacher training together and visit Taipai’s sightseeing hotspots. What’s not to love?

4. It’s a safe country

If you’re thinking about teaching English in Taiwan, you’ll be relieved to hear that it’s considered an extremely safe nation. In fact, Taiwan is ranked the second safest country worldwide. It’s common for people to leave their bike helmets or umbrellas outside unattended and to return to find them where they left them. Of course, there is still crime, but if you happen to stumble into a bad area, locals will inform you that you need to leave. Also, they will let you know what areas you should avoid in general.

5. It has a clean and modern public transport system

It’s no surprise that this technologically-savvy country has an elite transport system. This is perfect when you’re teaching English in Taiwan and want to explore what the country has to offer.

With metro systems such as the MRT in Taipei and bullet trains that travel the length and breadth of the nation, travelling around could not be easier. It only takes three hours to travel the length of the country if you grab a seat on a bullet train. Or eight hours to drive around the entire island. Who’s up for a road trip?

6. It has a diverse landscape

Although this nation only spans 35,980 sq miles in total, it’s bursting with diverse landscapes. It contains the perfect mix of cosmopolitan cities and stunning nature. Taiwan is home to mountain ranges, jungles, waterfalls and sprawling beaches. Nearly 20% of Taiwan is protected land. It’s home to nine national parks, including Taroko National Park, and 770 miles of coastline. So, if you love hiking, sunbathing, nature and city landscapes, Taiwan is the ideal place for you.

Thanks to the bullet train and other transport links it’s easy to escape from the city to the countryside or beaches on the weekends.

7. Their food is their passion

If you’re a sucker for good food then Taiwan is the place for you. This nation is famous for its night markets and street stalls that offer up a wide range of Asian dishes. Thanks to Taiwan’s culturally diverse history, its food has become an eclectic blend of Chinese, Japanese and Hokkian cuisines. Luckily for you, the food is affordable so prepare to dig in! Top tip: their beef noodles and shabu shabu (Taiwanese hotpots) are must-haves!

But be aware, it’s customary to pay for your food before you get it. This may seem unusual at first, but it saves you time waiting on the bill once you’ve finished eating. It also avoids any unexpected surprises if you run the risk of being over-indulgent when ordering food.

There you have it. Seven things you need to know before moving to Taiwan. We are here to answer any of your questions regarding getting a visa, a job, and accommodation assistance. Our aim is to make your TEFL journey as smooth as possible, so let us help you make teaching English in Taiwan your new reality.

If this small island, with its proud Chinese roots, appeals to you, get in touch today.