Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What do I need to become an
English teacher in Taiwan?
Actually, it is not difficult
to become an English teacher here!
ACI requires the following from
our applicants:
a) Native English Speaker of English
and must hold passports from the
U.S and Canada. Please do not apply
if you are not from the U.S. or
Canada!
b) Able to work immediately.
c) Must hold a B.A. degree or higher
and between the ages of 22 - 32.
TESOL trainings help, but are not
required.
d) A professional disposition and
a sincere desire to teach children.
e) A team player that enjoys sharing
and collaborating with colleagues.
2. How long are the teaching contracts?
Do I get paid holidays?
Teaching contracts are usually
one-year long. Full-time teachers
usually will get paid for the Taiwanese
national holidays (about 10 days
a year). There are certain school
events that the teachers are usually
required to attend but will not
receive pay. Some examples of these
events are open houses for the school,
Christmas parties, parent-teacher
conferences, and graduation ceremonies.
However, each school is unique,
and these are simply general rules
of thumb.
3. What happens if I break the
contract?
The teacher will need to pay a
penalty if he/she breaks the agreement.
You should read through the contract
thoroughly before you sign the contract
with the school. Breaking the contract
not only results in a fine, but
may get you blacklisted. In that
case you may be deported and never
be allowed to teach in Taiwan again.
4. When/How am I paid?
You will receive pay directly from
the school. ACI does not take a
portion of your salary. Teachers
are usually paid on the 10th or
15th of each month for previous
month’s work. The school will either
pay you in cash, check, or direct
deposit. Some schools might keep
a portion of your salary for the
first few months. If they do require
so, it will be stated in the contract.
Some schools also give bonuses;
they could be for attendance, performance,
or cotract-renewal.
5. How does the tax system in Taiwan
work?
The tax year in Taiwan runs from
January to December. For the first
six months (183 days) that you are
in Taiwan, you will need to pay
20% tax on your earnings. This period
of time is determined by the entry/exit
stamps in your passport, and not
your employment contract. You then
file for tax returns before May
31st of the following year. However,
if you arrive after July 31st, you
will not be in this bracket. You
will therefore still need to pay
the 20% tax, but will not be able
to file for tax return on it. If
you arrive before the July 31st
cutoff date and are present in Taiwan
for longer than 183 days in that
tax year (for example, if your arrival
date was in March), then you can
claim a partial refund on the taxes
paid in the following year. Be careful
as any time spent out of the country
(visa runs, holidays, etc.) will
not count toward this 183-day period.
5. Will I be reimbursed for airfare?
Rarely will a privately-owned cram
school in Taiwan provide reimbursement.
7. Will the school provide living
accommodations?
Schools in big cities usually will
not provide any free accommodations.
However, we or the school can assist
in finding a suitable place to rent.
On the other hand, schools located
in more rural areas may give free
housing (usually furnished and air-conditioned)
or housing subsidy.
8. How many teaching hours are
there in a week?
A full-time teaching job can be
20 to 25 hours a week. Often the
teacher will also be requested for
additional office hours at the school.
Each school will vary slightly,
and the terms will be specified
in the contract.
9. How many students will I have
per class?
It can be anywhere from 6 to 16.
Usually, the maximum number of students
will be 20 per class.
10. Does the school provide me
with teaching curriculum, or can
I use my own?
All of our schools will provide
teaching curriculum, materials and
lesson plans. You are allowed to
be creative with your teaching as
long as you operate under the stated
guideline.
11. Can I tutor outside of the
school I work for?
Private tutoring is a great and
lucrative way for teachers to make
some extra money. Officially, teaching
at other places must be permitted
by your contractual school. Usually,
if you are doing a good job at your
school, outside tutoring is acceptable.
ACI will also assist the teachers
in obtaining tutoring jobs.
12. How do I get the visa I need
to work in Taiwan?
In order to teach legally in Taiwan,
you must have a work visa and an
alien residency certificate (ARC).
Your school will apply for your
ARC directly. You will not receive
your ARC through ACI.
13. Do I need to get health insurance
to come to Taiwan?
No! Taiwan has the 2nd best national
health plan in the world. You can
get your teeth cleaned for $5! The
school will cover for 70% of the
insurance, while you will pay 30%.