Be Careful Teaching English Illegally in Taiwan

While teaching English in Taiwan isn t really that difficult to do thanks to the basic requirements, there still are a lot of foreign teachers in Taiwan who are teaching illegally. To be fair, they aren t all in the same boat. Some teachers in Taiwan are teaching illegally and they know they shouldn t. There are, however, another group of teachers who have no idea that where they work and what they are doing is completely in violation of the law regarding just how can teach in classrooms and cram schools around the island. It might be hard to believe that this is even possible, since teaching illegally can get you deported and you won t be able to return to Taiwan for at least five years. Teaching illegally, whether by accident or deliberately, is something that shouldn t be treated lightly.

The first group of teachers who work illegal in Taiwan are those who know that they are breaking the law. This kind of teacher is one that might not be from an English speaking country or doesn t hold the required qualifications, such as a Bachelor s degree. How can they possibly find work if they don t have a degree or aren t from a country approved by the Ministry of Education for native English speaking? Most of the large or big schools will turn you away of you don t meet these two requirements; however, you will still be able to find work in smaller run schools. You may only be able to get a few hours a week, but many will be happy to pay you cash in hand and overlook that you don t meet the legal requirements to teach English in cram schools. The other kind of teachers are those who have no idea that what they are doing is illegal.

Many teachers who believe they are working legally actually aren t. How could this be possible? The main reason this happens is because the laws regarding where and who you can teach English to aren t easily available or published widely in English for teachers to read. Some common illegal activities teachers get into are working at multiple branches. When you come to Taiwan to teach, you are legally only allowed to teach at the branch that granted you your working permit and papers. This means that if you work, even if only for a few hours, at another school, it is illegal. The same goes for teaching in kindergartens. Many teachers are completely unaware that it is illegal to work in kindys, yet many schools hire and continue to hire foreign teachers to fill positions. The sad truth is that your employer is fully aware of the law, but they break them because they are rarely enforced. The downside is that when they are enforced, you will be deported from Taiwan and they will receive a fine.

Teaching English in Taiwan is easy to do and you should seriously consider making sure you meet all the working and legal requirements before making the move to Taiwan. Be aware that employers will try to take advantage of you, as they are in the English education business to make money first and educate children second. Try to be aware of the laws regarding teaching so you know where you stand if a problem arises.