No Chinese needed.
You need a 4 year university degree to get a working visa.
You must be from a native English speaking country to be eligible.
Toefl means nothing here.

However both a TOEFL and a Uni degree are available on Kao San rd. in Bangkok. Enjoy

Depends if you are a Taiwanese or a foreigner. If you're a Taiwanese looking to teach English employers will typically look for some evidence of English proficiency and a decent TOEFL score might be enough. With a bit of decent self-presentation you could maybe also show them some other evidence of your English ability, like for example a written article, five minute presentation in an interview and some form of recommendation from a foreigner.

Chinese is often expressly forbidden in Kindergartens and schools teaching children - so in that context it is unnecessary. It can however, be a big advantage if you are teaching adults or University students; many foreigners will often punctuate their English with Chinese to convey certain things that wouldn't come across the same in English.

If you're a foreigner with English as your mother tongue, government regulations require you to have a University degree in order to be issued with a working permit - and contrary to what ADAMUSIAK believes - it does not necessarily need to be a four year degree (I suspect this popular misconception is due to the fact that most foreigners here are Canadian and that in Canada for some reason anything less than four years is considered illegitimate). This government regulation is nonsense of course, but it isn't likely to change any time soon.

If you're a foreigner with English as your second language (e.g. if you're Dutch or South African), then I'm not sure how severely the degree requirement will be applied to you. It may be possible to obtain a working permit on the basis of some other educational certificate written in English and issued by a University or College in your home country - I honestly don't know, but I can't see anyone kicking up a stink about it (except maybe some of the "professional" teachers here or some grinning cunt in an Immigration office out in the county). You could give it a try, but whatever you do - do not try to use a fake certificate bought off some dodgy looking bloke in Bangkok. It's fraud and you're setting yourself up for a lot of trouble as well as any potential employer.

Umm ok. I'm Taiwanese but have lived in the U.S. the majority of my life and I have just moved back a while ago. My English is better than my Chinese by a lot (since it's technically my first language). So I don't really need a working visa in that I'm already able to work here, but do I still need to have some sort of degree?

As knobby mentioned in another post, folks here would rather hire a more stereotypical "foreigner" (ie. blond, blue eyed) to teach English conversation. But then again, once you get your foot in the door, you'll have a chance to prove yourself.

Emphasize your good points, ask for a chance and I'm sure you'll do well if you apply yourself. A TOEFL would be helpful but I've never heard of an employer that required it.

Best of luck.

Don't waste your time with a TOEFL or any other test. If you're going to be working for a kindergarten or buxiban teaching children, then a quick interview is probably all that is necessary to demonstrate your English competency. Getting hired will turn more on you demonstrating your value to the school in the classroom - and take note - that has almost nothing at all to do your linguistic competency and is much more about your ability to organize games, science experiments, growing plants, getting the kids to respond to you the right way (be funny and enthusiastic), looking great in front of parents and, most crucially, not giving the boss or anyone else in the office even the slightest reason to dislike you. Say "Hiiii!!!!" like you were in California and smile at everything and everyone. Only then, and after many months of enduring such hardships, can you be considered a true English teacher...

Oh, I see. I asked because I saw a lot of ads that said they were looking for a English teacher and the requirements either stated they needed a bachelors degree or a TOEFL.

Anyways, does the school/buxiban provide you with a curriculum or do you have to come up with one on your own? (I'm guessing the answer is it depends)

Also, thanks to everyone who helped. You guy have answered most of my questions. I think I can start applying now, though it will most likely be pretty difficult at first.

>does the school/buxiban provide you with a curriculum or do you have to come up with one on your own? (I'm guessing the answer is it depends)

You're right. It might be best to find one with a very regimented curriculum at first. Check out the larger chains. Tight curricula are easy for new teachers but can feel constricting for more experienced teachers.

On the other end of the spectrum is no curricula which is intimidating for newbies. You get a bunch of books and gently push you towards the classroom. You need to do lotsa research there. The advantage of this style is that you can adapt the course to suit your own teaching style or the class' needs.

Regardless of the style the school adopts, there oughta be at least one person at the school that can help walk you through the beginning though.

a little extension to robert's thoughts:

> it also depends on the age group of the kids and what they already know.

> in my situation it is all building a foundation with the little once (first to sixth graders), here for me a clear outlined curriculum works the best. Later on a whole different ball game.

> for higher levels, what ever that means, flexibility in a curriculum can be definitely a plus
a) for the kids needs
and
b) for the teachers talent and first and foremost, her or his personality, that in fact, is a big component.

I just did a little research and was just wondering if you need any sort of degree or certificate. I don't have a bachelors, but I think that a TESOL or a TEFL certificate would still allow me to teach English here. Can anybody confirm this? Also, I think in my earlier posts I confused the TOEFL with the TESOL/TEFL. Anyways, if it is true, would someone also tell me where I could get one of those certificates and which one would be better.

Can anybody help? I sort of want the information as fast as possible since I've heard that you only have 2 chances per year to take the test.

I wish I could tell you from experience (regarding the TESOL/TEFL) but if you don't have a Bachelor's degree I would strongly recommend taking the TESOL/TEFL classes; you're going to at least need one or the other. As a new teacher myself, I have not heard of a single place that bypasses these requirements. I would also recommend either a larger chain school and one with a pre-made / purchased curriculum. I would have been pretty clueless without this to guide me. As others said, you will develop your teaching style and ideas after more experience.

A bit of a warning for you though, if you're parents are Taiwanese and if you look Taiwanese (which I assume you do), it might be quite difficult to find work as an English teacher. You may or may not already be aware of the persistence of race discrimination in the workplace but in Taiwan but it's quite real. You may end up working for the same salary as the Taiwanese teacher who will likely co-teach with you or you will be hired as a Taiwanese teacher. This is what happend to a friend of mine in a similar situation as yourself, he has his bachelor's degree as well. I know my school "will not" hire a full-wage English teacher of Asian descent :( Just a bit of a heads up, best of luck to you though.

Thanks. Almost all of my questions are answered now. Again, which is better: a TESOL or a TEFL? Also, where can I get either of them (If anyone could explain the process of a TESOL/TEFL, that would help too)? By the way, is there an age requirement? Any other information about becoming a teacher or any tips regarding becoming a teacher at a school (interview, presentation, where to find schools, etc) would help greatly. Thanks in advance.

Some info here:
http://www.tesoltaiwan.com/english_/english.php

As for where to find schools, here's a start:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=tainan+teaching+jobs

:-)

You're also sort of in the off season right now so if you're looking to boost your chances with some training, now's a great time to do so. Most schools hire around summer time.

That website does answer some question but the classes there are in Taipei so that doesn't help much in that I'm in Tainan and I'm looking for one in or near here. I'd also like to add onto my earlier question on where to get a TESOL/TEFL; where would you get a TOEFL?

Yes, racism is VERY apparent if you look anything remotely Asian. If you have a teaching degree you have a lot greater chance of working in the public schools (as public schools are rapidly closing the doors to all foreigners who do not possess a teaching license).

If you don't have any good qualifications you'll have to start from scratch. The best bet to get some experience and decent pay is to talk to the YMCA English departments in Tainan. They're quite open to ABCs and willing to train you if want to learn.

Once you establish some good guanxi though, you will find it much easier to find work.

NOTE: If you are willing to go to Korea. I have heard that Asian looking / English speaking foreigners are highly sought after in Korea. The reason being is that Korea looks for Asian-looking role models (who can speak English) for their students.

Knobby

Ooh thanks. Do you have any more information about that YMCA thing? An address would be helpful too.

Most of the YMCAs in Tainan have ESL programs and the staff are great to work with. Just print off a couple of resumes and go with a friend to one of the local YMCAs in Tainan and ask to speak with the YMCA's English Departments director. They're a nice organization and they'll teach you everything you need to know. Try the YMCA on Minsheng Road or the Gongyuan YMCA.

Knobby

Could anyone tell me, in depth, what exactly is a TOEIC? I've heard that having that can allow you teach to English too. How does it compare to a TESOL?

Not too in depth, because it doesn't need to be:

TOEIC is a multiple choice reading / grammar / vocab and listening test that you can take to show basic English competence in a workplace setting - it has nothing to do with getting qualified as an English teacher, although it could be taken as a step before TOEFL [the English test for getting into university as a non-native speaker], which might help.

If you're Taiwanese, then, apart from the workplace setting, TOEIC examines a lot of the same things that the advanced GEPT does.

TESOL is a special course and test for Teaching English as a Second Language, and that's the one that 'allows' you to teach English.

I know I'm repeating myself but does anyone know where to get a TESOL.

I know how you feel about repeating yourself.

Some info here:
http://www.tesoltaiwan.com/english_/english.php
Contact them.

Or go to Caves, the bookstore on BeiMen.
http://www.tainanbulletin.com/tainan-guide/tainan-shopping-stores/caves-...

I did notice that they have a little flyer taped to the wall in the stair well listing test dates. There are dates for Tainan. I remember thinking to myself that you'd probably already have found this info by yourself by now so didn't jot down the dates.

Now get out there and wow 'em already. ;-)

The TESOL site is really helpful but it's sort of a backup because it's in Taipei. If there really isn't one in Tainan then I'll have to resort to that one. I will check out the Caves bookstore though, hopefully they have something.

There is not really anywhere in Tainan where you can study and graduate a TESOL. It really is Taipei or bust!! Did you find anywhere in the end? Are you studying or working now?

Bri-Bees

You has the worstest grammar I has sees in a long time.

Is I bovvered? Is you di authoriteye on dis kinda ting den? Is iiiit?

Wow. I posted this a while back. Yeah, I ended up finding a place.