Teaching in Taiwan, Mastering Mandarin (or not)

Teaching in Taiwan, Mastering Mandarin (or not)

I had been planning to writing a few travels in row, but my contract is approaching its end and I’m about the finish my third term of learning Chinese and about to take a break.  So I am going to share what I have learned for those think of doing something similar.

 

Teaching in Taiwan

Since I have been researching the possibility of finding a new job, I have discovered one key thing: you must separate the wheat from the chaff.  I have read many people doing a lot of complaining about teaching in Taiwan.  It is important to remember that people love to complain on the internet and that although some have a point, many are complaining about nothing.  From my experience, talking to others and reading, what I have theorised is that it is generally a case over expectations.  People get the idea in their head that they will be working about 18 hours a week and will be in a delightful place to work.

 

Some people may be lucky, but for the vast majority this is not the case.  When coming to Taipei it is hard the get the hours you want/need.  In your first year of teaching, if you are inexperienced, you will not get lots of hours.  You will have to earn your stripes (hours).  You will start on a few and have to build yourself up.  You are also unlikely to get the hours you think you deserve till at least your second year.  My initial plan was to stay in Taiwan for a year and then to move on, but because of lack of hours (and spending all of my free cash on Chinese) I have not only been unable to save, I have even less than when I started.  In most cases you are not going to make money in your first year, you will have to wait till at least the second to start doing that.  When approaching the end of your first year you will either have to persuade your director for more hours or move on to greener pastures.

Teaching in Taiwan

In terms of working conditions, many or not awesome, but it is not like the third world.  I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived, but I was shocked when I began; it was not as (let’s say) aesthetically pleasing as I expected and lower tech.  I generally get on with the people I work with, both foreign and Taiwanese teachers, but if you are working in a Buxiban (cram school) you need to remember it is a business first.  You need to make sure the parents sign their kids up for next term and if the director thinks there a possibility that won’t happen, you will be taken-off that class without a seconds hesitation.  Your well-being comes very much second everything else, but that is the name of the game.  Don’t forget there is another white native English speaker getting off the plane as I type and you read!  Also consider, are you an experienced teacher, do you deserve the hours or do you just have job based on the fact you speak English?  Did you come to Taiwan with the idea to loyal to your first employer?  You hear stories of people being over worked and abused, but I think the most common complaint would be a lack of hours.  It very much depends on the school.

 

Personally despite not the ideal amount of hours, I have decided to stay in my current job one more year.  I am an inexperienced teacher and I am still learning lots.  I also want to see the improvement of the kids I have been teaching; in one year they have improved, but I am excited to see what they will be like after two.  My school is far from perfect and the resources feel like there are from the 90’s, but I’m comfortable and with a few more hours will feel better.  I am also tutoring on the side (sshhh) to try and cover my day-to-day costs, so I can save some money.  I know many teachers who do a little tutoring; it can be fun, doesn’t take too much planning, and is nice little bit extra.  I know it is not strictly above board, but I most directors assume people are doing it.

 

Mastering Madarin/Learning Chinese

 

I have been learning Chinese at the Mandarin Training Center (MTC), NTNU, for three terms now and as much Chinese as I have learned, I think I have learned more about how to learn Chinese.  I literally started learning straight off the plane.  This, when I look back on it was a mistake.  It would have been more beneficial to wait a month or two and allow my ears and mind to grow accustomed to language and pick up more basics naturally.  It also would have given more time get used to working in Taiwan and getting settled.  But hey, jumping in the deep end always looks like the best idea.

 

I have done three straight terms and thus (in theory) learned two and half books or 30 chapters.  I have little time to let anything I have learnt settle or use particularly well.  I am only finally getting to a place where I feel comfortable with what I have learnt now I have stopped learning grammar (Book 1 and 2 is almost pure grammar, don’t worry everyone seems to use the same books in Taiwan).  I think taking a break after each term would be beneficial to your learning experience.  You will be able to practice what you have learned and get everything clear within your head.  Also it will give more time to experience Taiwan.  I have felt going to school every day to learn Chinese is not really Taiwanese culture (if not a little necessary).

Chinese Class at MTC

In my third term I also switched from an 8am class to a 10am class.  I may be wrong, but I am not sure it has been beneficial.  I changed in the belief that my brain could not focus so early in the morning; I generally work in the evening, so do not always get to sleep at a reasonable hour.  I am not sure I am anymore awake and I miss the hours of the day I had when I finished so early.  Maybe my studying is more effective because I am less tired after class, but before my change I could study and read a book and still have time before I had to go to work.  I could even go for a nap if I felt particularly tired.  It is hard for me to say, you’d have to ask my director or my teacher to see if my performance is better for the change, but I do miss my extra hours.

 

The Hot Tea-pic 

I came to Taiwan with a one year plan: learn Chinese, teach English to support myself and save money, move on to the next country and see what happens.  The first pitfall to this is that is nowhere near enough time to even become competent in speaking Chinese.  The second, you are never going to earn enough money teaching English and if you do you won’t have enough time to study.  These combine to stop you moving on.  I considered moving on to another country (maybe Singapore, Hong Kong, or China) to continue learning and teaching, but this brings me to number three, spend a year in one place and situation/circumstances change.

 

Kids aren't all bad (a little confused maybe)

If you like me you have come to learn and teach here are my recommendations.  Do not approach any job with high expectations of either hours or working conditions.  Remember you will probably have to stay two years; you will not be anywhere near fluent in Chinese in one year and you will probably be too poor to move on anyway.   And take an early class, you’ll be tired, but the extra hours are nice (I really feel like an old man saying this).  If your expectations are not met or fulfilled, who cares?  You have just learnt something and you’re in a new country experiencing things not many get a chance to.  Your friends are probably jealous of you right now; being a foreign and exotic land while they are stuck at home working.

 

Hot Tea