Taking your kids to Taiwan

Hello, Sheela. I read your comments about Taiwan. It's all good information. Good pay is important to me because we are a family of four people. Safety is a primary concern also. Thanks for your advice. Sherry P. Oregon USA.

Hello, Jenni: Just joined this group today. I hope to begin my training for 100 hours in January, as this month's pay is gone. My husband and I have two children who I hope will join me shortly after I begin my teaching overseas. The kids are 12 and 15. Please stay in touch and pass to me any good information you gather about taking your kids along. Thanks and best of luck. Sherry P., Oregon USA

Hi Sheela. Thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it. I bought two books on Taiwan and am reading up on the different cities. I do see lots of jobs advertised and thought to apply to Hess but one signs a year contract so is it advisable or can I trust the ads for positions on Tealit. On the other hand if I just arrive and then look would I get a ARC. I knpw my questions may seem a bit silly but would you recommend Taipei city over Taichung. I am thinking safety for Tayla to and from school etc. would you recommend any partical types of schools and will I earn enough to live comfortably. Hope you don't mind all the questions. Its exciting for us but also a bit nervewracking. Earthquakes and typhoons. Oh oh.

Hi again, sure no problem! I hope I can help you, I'll do my best =) Well, it depends on what kind of living area you'd prefer. I was teaching in a very small town, it was the township of Xi-Hu that was part of Changhua county. That is a bigger city but the three main places are the capital, Taipei, being the largest, then you have Taichung, sort of in the middle, and then way to the south you have Gaoxiung. I would recommend Taipei or Taichung as it's a large city and there are many foreigners so you and your daughter should have plenty of resources especially when you are transitioning to a new life there. I would recommend getting a job before hand, only because I do feel it's the safest way but, I think you will also be able to find a job there easily because in Taiwan, they are always looking for teachers =) I suggest the website, I think it is..tealit.com, you should find many job listings and apartment listings as well.

It should be very safe no matter what - I remember in the small town I was in, I could walk around at 3 am. and it was perfectly safe - of course I wouldn't recommend doing that every night! There should be many schools for foreigners too, especially in Taipei and Taichung where many foreigners are residing.

Hi Sheela. Thanks so much for your comment. How long were you in Taiwan for and would you recommend getting a job before going. I would also like to know if you have ideas about the best places to start off with my daughter. She will obvously have to attend school or initially homeschool. How safe would it be for her to stay home while I am teaching. I am planning to commit to at least two or three years. Where are you now? Still teaching and if yes where? Looking forward to hearing from you. Can you recommend any other sites to chat to Tefl'ers in Taiwan and how easy is it to get a job. I have a degree and busy with 140hr Tefl course.

Hi! I am not sure how much help I can be, but I'll do my best and give you at least some more insight into what its like living in Taiwan. First of all, it is a wonderfully welcoming country with a very advanced society. I had friends and roommates who bought phones, tv sets, computers, laptops etc. and it was very easy and affordable. I think you will have a good time given that your daughter is in middle-school years. Your daughter wil have the chance to meet many others her age and it would be great for you both to learn Chinese too! Do not feel bad at first if you get a lot of odd stares because, Taiwan is still largely homogenous so to see ANY foreigner is of immense interest to them! Even I had quite a bit of this and I am Indian. THey all assumed I was from Malaysia or Singapore anyway =)

Teaching English is a highly respected vocation in all of Taiwan. In the beginning you may teach in what they call a 'bu-shi'ban- or 'cram school' where students come to you for learning and improving their English in the afternoon to night hours - this is AFTER they have already had their regular Chinese classes. So hence the idea of 'cramming' English into them, I personally found it to be stressful but the students were used to this kind of lifestyle. Best of luck! I'm biased...and I have many friends from mainland China but, Taiwan is SO special and one of the best-kept secrets. Not many people know about this little island with so much to offer!

If you have more q's or anything please don't hesitate to contact me. =D

~ Sheela