Cars parked everywhere, signs jutting out...yes, it's a Taiwan neighborhood.

Teaching English in Taiwan Michael A. Turton Introduction Questions to Ask Employers Can I Teach Illegally in Taiwan? Protecting Yourself Can I Teach for a couple of months? Schedules Who Shouldn't Come Visas When to Come Your Students Getting a Job Other Work and Links Who to Teach   Where to Teach Email Me Are They Ripping Me Off? Return To Home Page

Are they ripping me off?
Vendors crowd a street corner in Taichung.	How do I Know If They Are Ripping Me Off? The question of questions!  They are ripping you off if:
You are paying a substantial part or all of your health insurance (you are automatically covered in a legal job. Employer pays 80%, employee, 20% -- a couple of hundred NT$$ or so). Your pay is habitually late. Pay is under $400/hour in Taipei ($450 outside of it). That's rock-bottom! The average is much higher. There are many unpaid hours for preparation. You do not get paid for parties, school openings, etc. All your time should be compensated. You are teaching more than 20 kids in a class without a pay boost. You are at a cram school but are salaried (You shouldn't accept a salaried position at a cram school as it often means lots of free hours for them). Salaried positions at a public/private accredited junior high/high school are OK. Your paycheck contains deductions for anything other than taxes and insurance. They do not compensate for unusual travel time. Next month you'll get the hours they promised (unless it is a big established school like ELSI or Hess, those are usually reliable). You are working at a second job, and they tell you they are taking out taxes. If true, you run the risk of being deported for a work permit violation if the job is not on your work permit. If false, they are simply pocketing the cash. Pay taxes only at the job on your work permit. They want you to invest in the business. Never  go into business with a Taiwanese unless you are married to them.

Here is a list of Questions You Should Ask When Asking for Employment from Overseas Bear in mind, the system is much better than it used to be, and most places are moderately honest now, at least to foreigners.

An'adult' 'intermediate' class at a university language center. Universities are increasingly erecting these language centers as cash cows. The competition is fierce and most do not make much money. Here fiscal desperation has led to a bizarre melange of college students, high school students, engineers from a local computer hardware firm, clerks from local trading companies, housewives, and two nine-year-old kids. Let's hope you don't run into many classes like this one.