How to Teach English in Taiwan Without Getting Lost in the Process

Last Updated on 22 April 2025

Teaching English in Taiwan is simple if you understand how the system works. You don’t need to be a licensed teacher. You don’t need to speak Mandarin. Most of the work isn’t even in schools—it’s in private classrooms, tutoring centers, or online.

What makes Taiwan different is the balance. Life is relaxed, the education culture is strong, and the demand for English never slows down. It’s not just about teaching kids their ABCs. You’ll find people of all ages trying to improve their English for school, work, or exams.

That means there are options. And if you know how to position yourself, you can work on your terms.

The requirements aren’t strict, but there are things you need to know

You don’t need to be an English major. You just need a degree. A bachelor’s in any field is the baseline. Combine that with a passport from a native-speaking country, and most schools will talk to you.

Let’s break it down:

A bachelor’s degree (any subject)
Native English speaker (US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.)
TEFL or TESOL certificate (recommended, not mandatory)
Clean criminal record
A willingness to commit for 12 months

That’s it. You don’t need teaching experience, though it helps. You also don’t need to speak Chinese, which makes life easier outside class. What matters is you’re reliable, easy to work with, and can communicate clearly.

Getting the right visa makes everything legal and simple

To work legally in Taiwan, your employer needs to sponsor your work visa. Once that’s done, you get an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate). This card allows you to live, work, rent housing, open a bank account, and join the national health insurance system.

The process looks like this:

Sign a contract with a school or language center.
The school applies for your work permit.
You enter Taiwan or change your visa status.
You apply for your ARC after you arrive.

Once you have your ARC, everything runs smoothly. Without it, you can’t teach legally. Some people try to freelance under tourist visas. That’s risky and not recommended.

Let’s talk about salary because that’s why most come to Taiwan

Salaries in Taiwan depend on where and how you teach. Cram schools usually pay hourly. Private schools pay monthly. Online platforms let you set your rates.

Typical pay looks like this:

Cram school: NT$600–800 per hour
Private school: NT$60,000–90,000 per month
Online tutoring: NT$500–1,000 per lesson, depending on your profile

If you teach 20 hours a week at NT$700/hour, that’s NT$56,000/month. A small apartment outside Taipei costs around NT$12,000. Food and transit are cheap. You can live well and still save if you budget.

Many teachers increase earnings by teaching IELTS or TOEIC prep. Students pay more for exam-focused lessons. More on that later.

Not every English teacher works in a school, and that’s important

A lot of people assume they’ll be placed in a public school or teach full classes. That’s not the case for most teachers in Taiwan. Public school placements are rare for foreigners. The real work happens in the private system, especially in after-school programs.

This is where cram schools, or buxibans, come in. These are after-school learning centers. Kids go there for extra lessons in English, math, science, or test prep. Some students attend five days a week. Classes usually run from 4 PM to 9 PM.

If you’ve never taught before, buxibans are a solid entry point. They give structure but also flexibility. Lessons are usually short. Groups are small. You teach the same students every week.

English test prep is a huge part of private teaching in Taiwan

Beyond general conversation lessons, many students look for help with international exams. The two biggest are IELTS and TOEIC. Both play a big role in the local education and job market.

IELTS is for students who want to study abroad. Many universities in the UK, Australia, or Canada require high IELTS scores. Taiwanese teens and university students often sign up for months of prep before applying.

If you know how to teach IELTS, you’re already ahead. Even if you don’t, you can get trained quickly. Platforms like 雅思補習班 connect you directly with learners who want this kind of focused support. These aren’t young kids. They’re motivated learners with clear goals.

TOEIC is different. It’s the go-to test for working professionals. Many companies in Taiwan require a TOEIC score for hiring or promotion. That’s why adults take English classes after work. Teaching TOEIC prep requires a different approach—more business terms, less grammar drills.

Test prep pays more, has older students, and comes with clearer goals. That’s a smart direction if you want to teach long-term.

Online tutoring gives you more freedom

Not everyone wants to clock in at a cram school. If you’re looking for flexibility, online tutoring is the way forward.

It works simply. You set your schedule. You choose how to teach. You meet students through a platform or on your own. The best part? No commute, no office, no classroom noise.

Students in Taiwan are already used to online learning. This trend grew fast during COVID, but it stuck around. High school students, college kids, and adults all take lessons online now. Many even prefer it.

You don’t need to be in Taiwan to teach Taiwanese students. That’s what makes the system flexible. You can live anywhere and still earn from this market.

You need to understand how Taiwanese students think about learning

Students in Taiwan grow up in a highly structured learning environment. School is serious. Tests are everything. The culture rewards consistency and effort over creativity. That reflects in how they approach English.

Most of your students will have studied English since primary school. But many still struggle with fluency. That’s because classroom English often focuses on memorization, not conversation.

This is where foreign teachers make a difference. Your job isn’t just to teach grammar rules. It’s to give students a space to practice real-world speaking. That’s what parents and learners want. They already have the textbooks—they need confidence and clarity.

Don’t expect a lot of back-and-forth in the beginning. Taiwanese students are polite but shy. Once they trust you, they open up. Keep your lessons clear. Be patient. Use examples. Repeat often. And don’t rush silence—it usually means they’re thinking.

You’ll see more results when you specialize in something

Most teachers start with general English. But if you stay in the field longer, the smart move is to niche down.

Here’s why: general English has high demand but also high supply. Everyone teaches it. But test prep, business English, and IELTS/TOEIC coaching have fewer teachers and better rates. You’ll also get more motivated students.

多益補習班 brings in working adults. Most are preparing for job applications, company tests, or internal promotions. These learners usually come prepared. They’re consistent and outcome-driven.

Specializing also gives your profile more weight. You can charge more. You can teach fewer hours and earn the same. It’s a better long-term game.

Life outside the classroom is a big part of why teachers stay

Work is one thing. But daily life in Taiwan is what keeps most teachers here longer than they expected.

Public transport is clean and cheap. Food is everywhere and affordable. You can eat out every day and still save money. Cities are safe—even at night. Locals are friendly but not intrusive.

You can live in cities like Taichung, Kaohsiung, or Tainan and enjoy a slower pace than Taipei, but with all the convenience. That’s rare in Asia.

Weekends mean hikes, hot springs, bike trails, or just café hopping. If you’re coming from a high-stress culture, the lifestyle shift in Taiwan can be refreshing.

That balance between solid income and simple living is what turns many one-year plans into five-year stays.

Final Words

A lot of new teachers mess up early. It’s usually not about teaching skills. It’s about expectations and preparation.

Here’s what to avoid:

Don’t take the first job you see. Some cram schools overpromise and underdeliver.
Don’t forget to read your contract—check for overtime policies, paid holidays, and working hours.
Don’t assume students will adapt to your teaching style. You need to meet them where they are.
Don’t think “speaking English” is enough. Structure and clarity matter.

Also, don’t come unprepared. Bring all your original documents. Taiwan’s visa process is straightforward, but slow if you’re missing paperwork. Scan copies. Make backups. Ask schools if they’ll handle the permit before you fly out.

If you’re going online instead of working in a physical school, treat it like a business. Polish your profile. Create intro videos. Offer a free trial if needed. Be responsive. Build trust, then build your schedule.