| ESL jobs in Taiwan are typically part-time. Most | | | | The other problem regarding unpaid hours is that |
| teachers end up working about 20 to 30 hours a | | | | most schools require you to turn up at least half an |
| week and typically work in the evenings. While this is | | | | hour in advance, and sometimes an hour before |
| much less than the typical 40 hour work week you | | | | classes start. This time is unpaid or is paid at a |
| might expect back home in a normal 9 - 5 job, it | | | | so-called "office" rate. What this means for you is |
| doesn't mean that teaching 20 hours a week in | | | | that you'll probably be paid about $3 to $5 USD for |
| Taiwan isn't without complications. What many | | | | office hours, which is clearly much less than what you |
| teachers end up discovering is that they put in a lot | | | | get paid while in a classroom teaching. Again, schools |
| of unpaid hours, and typically end up working much | | | | either brush over very quickly or completely neglect |
| more than the number of class hours they get paid | | | | to point this out. The best thing you can do before |
| for. If you aren't careful when looking for a job as an | | | | taking any job is to ask what responsibilities and |
| English teacher in Taiwan you may end up with one | | | | duties you have outside of teaching hours. Only by |
| that has a lot of unpaid hours. | | | | doing your homework and raising the matter of |
| So what is the number one complaint teachers have | | | | unpaid hours can you be sure that you won't end up |
| in regards to unpaid hours? The biggest culprit is time | | | | working 30 hours a week and only get paid for 20. |
| spent correcting homework and grading tests. Most | | | | Teaching in Taiwan can be a very enjoying and |
| cram schools leave out or do not go into much detail | | | | rewarding experience, but the work environment is |
| about the kind of work you have to do outside of | | | | most likely very different to what you may be used |
| your teaching hours. If you teach four hours a day | | | | to back home. Many people are used to working for |
| then many schools will require you to spend at least | | | | an employer that listens to and values your input and |
| one hour marking homework. When this is taken into | | | | even understands that you have a life outside of |
| consideration you are working five hours and only | | | | work. However, this is definitely not the case for |
| getting paid for four. It is much worse when exams | | | | Taiwan. Employers have no problem with taking |
| come along. You can expect to spend two to three | | | | advantage of or exploiting workers and this is why |
| hours marking exams and I have never met a | | | | you need to thoroughly check out any ESL job and |
| teacher who got excited at the idea of knowing that | | | | ask the prospective employee questions before |
| next week one of their classes had a major test. | | | | accepting the position. |