Teach English in Taiwan

Did you know that Taiwan is the third safest country in the world when it comes to personal safety?!  Or that it’s ranked number 10 on the Mercer Quality of Life Index for the continent of Asia?! Or that in 2022 it was ranked as Asia’s freest country by The Human Freedom Index?

Wouldn’t it be incredible to live in such a place?

Well, you can! By teaching English in Taiwan!

So so many reasons to teach in Taiwan, we don’t know where to start.

Besides being a safe place to live, the locals are extremely friendly and helpful. It’s the most mountainous island on earth, with natural hot springs, beaches, hiking trails and parks for you to indulge your sense of adventure. The climate is tropical, with temperatures rarely dipping below 20 degrees Celsius.

When it comes to teaching, Taiwan is a popular destination for TEFL teachers, so you’re sure to find expats in your neighbourhood. Teaching salaries are competitive and the cost of living is low, so saving for your next travel adventure is a real possibility.

When it comes to earning a good salary, lifestyle preferences and affordable living costs, there are a few options vying for the title of the best place to teach in Taiwan: Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung.

Taipei

Best for city-lovers

At the top of the list must be Taipei. The most popular location to teach English in Taiwan, and competition for teaching positions is high. Inexperienced teachers can find jobs in public schools, while those with more experience and better qualifications can find employment in international schools. Unfortunately, the cost of living is highest in Taipei.

Kaohsiung

For those who prefer chilled vibes 

How is Kaohsiung different from Taipei? Well, life is slower paced, the cost of living is more affordable and it is not as competitive when it comes to finding English teaching jobs.

Taichung

Best for penny pinchers

Taichung is the third largest city in Taiwan. It is a popular option for TEFL teachers that want to save – as the cost of living is 23% lower than that of Taipei! 

In terms of lifestyle, there is no compromise when it comes to quality of life. Taichung has an array of cultural and nature-based activities, from hiking, and soaking in the Guguan Hot springs in the mountains to attending festivals all year round! Plus it has a buzzing nightlife!

Other popular places

If you love nature and living in a modern city, Hsinchu offers the best of both worlds. Known as the “Silicon valley of Taiwan”, you can visit the Hsinchu Science Park, soak up some sun at the beach, take a picturesque hike, or take a refreshing dip in the Beipu Cold Spring.

Taoyuan is the fourth largest city in Taiwan. With the cost of living being 48% lower than that of Taipei, saving money as an English teacher won’t prove difficult here. Although Taoyuan is a smaller city with a more relaxed setting there are beautiful hiking trails, museums, night markets and gardens to explore.

Tainan is perfect for living a slow-paced lifestyle. It is the oldest city in Taiwan and has a traditional small-town feel to it. The downside to Tainan is that there are fewer English-speaking locals.

Before asking how you can teach English in Taiwan, let’s take a look at the requirements and qualifications you need.

To teach English in Taiwan, you must:

1. hold citizenship from a recognized English-speaking country,
2. have a Bachelor’s degree,
3. have a clean criminal background check,
4. hold a valid passport, and, most importantly,
5. have a recognised and reputable TEFL certification.

The Level 5 168-hour TEFL course from The TEFL Academy is the perfect TEFL certification to help you find a job in Taiwan.

You need a work visa or a Working Holiday visa for teaching in Taiwan. The work visa is generally organised by your employer before you enter Taiwan, although it is possible to enter Taiwan on a tourist visa and organise a work visa with the help of your employer on arrival. 

A work visa is only valid for three months, but while you are in Taiwan you need to apply for an Alien Residence Certificate which is valid for one to three years.

While some teachers work on tourist visas and do border runs every month to renew their visas, this is an illegal practice and not something we recommend. 

A Working Holiday visa is applied for by the teacher before they leave their home country. It’s available to citizens of certain countries between the ages of 18 and 35. The Working Holiday Visa allows you to work in Taiwan for up to 12 months. Certain restrictions apply depending on your nationality.

No! Teaching in Taiwan with no experience is totally possible! Taiwan welcomes experienced English teachers to further their career, and inexperienced teachers to begin their teaching journey! 

Inexperienced ESL teachers are more likely to get a teaching position at a buxiban or cram school than at a public or private school.

An accredited online Level 3 TEFL certificate (120 hours) is considered the standard when it comes to TEFL qualifications. If you want to strengthen your English teaching application, you can also opt for the online Level 5 TEFL course (168 hours) or even better, our combined online and in-class teaching practice course: the Level 5 TEFL Diploma (168 hours).

Unfortunately, the majority of teaching jobs in Taiwan require a Bachelor’s degree. If you have a Diploma, Associate’s degree or some other tertiary qualification, you may be able to find a loophole if you are TEFL-qualified, with the help of your employer.

If you don’t have a degree, why not set yourself up as a digital nomad? Remote workers can apply for the Taiwan Employment Gold Card, which is the equivalent to a digital nomad visa. This visa is valid for one to three years. You don’t need to prove your qualifications, but you need to prove your source of income.

Most, if not all teaching jobs in Taiwan require applicants to be native speakers from one of the following countries: UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. 

Non-native teachers should consider applying for a Taiwan Employment Gold Card. This allows you to teach English online and work as a remote worker while living in Taiwan.

You will need start-up capital of about  NT$20,000 – NT$30,000 ($700 – $1,000 USD) to cover your first month in Taiwan, which will include food, transport and travel insurance. You may need to cover the cost of your flights, but this is likely to be reimbursed at a later stage.

Common start-up costs include:

Accommodation: First month’s rent and deposit.

TEFL certification: A TEFL course can cost between $100 – $500, depending on the length and level of the course and the course provider. 

Document fees: Any costs related to certifying and notarising your degree and TEFL certificate

Flight ticket: Variable, and may be reimbursed by your school. 

Visa application

• Work visa : $60 – $120
• Working Holiday visa: $50 – $100
• Taiwan Gold Card visa: $100 – $300 

Living expenses: You will need one month’s worth of start-up capital of approximately NT$20,000 – NT$30,000 ($700 – $1,000 USD).

For the more experienced TEFL teacher, working at a university, international school or public school can be very rewarding – both financially and professionally. For newer teachers, private schools or buxibans are a safer bet.

Universities

Finding an English teaching job at a university in Taiwan can be challenging.

A teaching job at a Taiwanese university has much stricter requirements than other teaching positions in Taiwan.

Public schools

Teaching English at a Taiwanese public school has many benefits. Salaries are competitive and housing allowances and transport allowances are provided. Contributions are made towards health insurance. An end-of-contract bonus is common.

Private Schools or buxibans

If you are new to teaching, private schools are great places to get teaching experience. Class sizes are smaller so classroom management is easier, and working hours are usually less than in a public school.

Private lessons

It’s always great to have a side hustle. Teaching private English lessons could earn you NT$750 – NT$1,000 ($25 – $35) an hour. Not bad, right? A great place to find students is on Facebook or through networking in your city in Taiwan. Experienced TEFL teachers can also teach Business English for companies in Taiwan. 

Making extra money is even simpler when you have the option to teach English online. 

To be eligible to teach English online you will need the following:

• PC with an intel 3 processor or higher
• headset
• webcam
• TEFL certificate. 

Here are some online teaching companies that will connect you with Taiwanese students:

• Etalking
• iTutorGroup
• Cambly

A TEFL teacher in Taiwan makes NT$ 60,000 – NT$ 90,000 ($2,000-$3,000) on average a month. The higher your experience and qualifications, the higher your salary!

Teaching in a buxiban is a good option for TEFL-qualified teachers looking for experience. Salaries range from NT$ 45,000 – NT$ 60,000 ($1,500 – $2,000), but the more you work, the more you’ll earn. Buxibans are, in essence, businesses more than schools. This means that you could be asked to work long hours and you can be made to feel like an employee more than a teacher. If you’re keen to work hard, ask around and find out which buxibans have a good reputation with their teachers.

Teaching at a public school comes with a good salary with benefits. Teachers can earn from NT$ 60,000 – NT$ 75,000 ($2,000 – $2,500) but teaching degrees are expected for these positions.

Teaching at a university is an option if you have a Master’s degree (preferably in teaching or TESOL) and some teaching experience.

Private tutoring is a popular option for TEFL teachers who want to earn a bit of extra money on the side. It’s not common for teachers to be able to tutor full-time but many do it to supplement their teaching salaries. Teachers generally charge NT$ 750 – NT$ 1,000 ($25 – $35) an hour for 1:1 lessons.

Be sure to check with your prospective employers on their specific benefits. Here are some general benefits you should expect to receive:

• Health insurance
• Housing allowance or accommodation
• Paid vacation (2-4 weeks per year)
• Airfare reimbursement (depending on employer)
• Professional development opportunities
• Performance bonuses

All legal workers in Taiwan, including English teachers, are required to have National Health Insurance. The NHI provides access to medical care and treatment at a reduced cost, and is funded by both your employee and yourself.

As a TEFL teacher in Taiwan, having travel insurance is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

The cost of living in Taiwan is reasonably low, compared with the rest of Asia. You can expect to have a great quality of life both financially and culturally.

Curious about what the basics could cost? Look no further!

Accommodation

• One-bed apartment in Taipei: NT$ 12,500 – NT$ 25,000 ($400 – $800)
•  One-bed apartment outside Taipei: NT$ 6,000 – NT$12,000 ($200 – $500)

Utilities

• Water, electricity, heating: NT$ 2,200 ($75)

Groceries

• Monthly groceries: NT$ 3,500 ($120)

• Meal in a restaurant: NT$ 100 ($3.50)

Transport

• One-way bus fare: NT$ 30 ($1)
• Monthly transport pass: NT$ 1,300 ($45)

Internet

• Unlimited: NT$ 750 ($25)

Entertainment

• Gym, cinema etc: NT$ 7,500 ($250)

If you’re intent on saving money, Taiwan is a great place to practise! With a lower cost of living and competitive salaries, saving up for a holiday or paying off debt is super do-able.

Take a look at these hacks for saving money as a TEFL teacher in Taiwan:

1. Lower accommodation costs by sharing your space or moving to a more affordable area.
2. Cut down on eating out.
3. Use public transport.
4. Shop at local markets
5. Teach private lessons (online and in person).

Living and teaching in Taiwan is a conundrum. It’s a relatively small island with amazing natural beauty, chilled, small towns – and intense, bustling cities! The climate is tropical, so even though it’s hot and humid for most of the year, don’t forget to pack your umbrella!

Along with the dramatic weather comes dramatic weather events. Earthquakes and typhoons are frequent. But don’t worry, Taiwan is used to it! Their buildings are earthquake-proof and safe!

Street food is the name of the game in Taiwan. Iron eggs, pork belly bao buns, grilled squid, oyster omelette and peanut ice cream rolls are common snacks which can be eaten Taiwanese streets and food markets – if you dare!

Locals in Taiwan are exceptionally friendly and welcoming. While there isn’t a massive expat community, there is a sizeable community of TEFL teachers. 

In terms of teaching, teachers work hard but are remunerated accordingly. Especially if you teach in a buxiban, you’ll work long hours but you’ll earn good money and be able to save a pretty penny.

Start your teaching journey with our certified TEFL Courses. If Taiwan sounds like your vibe, get TEFL-qualified and reach for your dreams!