By: Jeff Penick
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in 2017 and has last been updated for freshness and accuracy on December 27, 2019.
Most people that initially teach English in Taiwan find jobs working with recruiters or by applying directly with schools on job boards. The basic qualifications required by schools for teaching English in Taiwan are outlined below.
To teach English in Taiwan, you must meet these basic requirements:
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Citizenship from one of the following countries: US, Canada, UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand
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Bachelor’s degree or higher in any field
****There is an exception to this requirement. One organization, Hess International Education Group, hires teachers who possess an Associate’s Degree (commonly known as an "AA" degree) in addition to a TEFL certification. -
As of 2019, a clean FBI criminal background check (US citizens)/national criminal background check (minor traffic violations will not disqualify you)
- TEFL Certification: Though not technically a legal requirements, reputable private language schools in Taiwan will typically require that their teachers be TEFL certified. Quality schools offering quality jobs typically are not interested in hiring teachers who have not received proper training.
TEFL teachers applying for jobs in Taiwan should expect to have the following documents available:
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Bachelor’s/Associate’s Degree
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Valid Passport
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College/university transcripts
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Passport photos
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TEFL Certification
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International resume/CV and cover letter
A couple bonus documents recommended to have available: sample lesson plans, copies of Bachelor’s/Associate’s degree apostilled or authenticated.
Side note: Most teachers that work in Taiwan will enter on a passport stamp or on a tourist visa if needed, then process their actual work visa after they arrive with assistance from their school or employer.
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More Resources:
- Taiwan Country Profile
- Teaching English in Asia -Alumni Blogs & Articles Index
- Teaching English Abroad - World Job Index
About the Author: Jeff Penick
Prior to joining International TEFL Academy as an advisor in 2011, Jeff spent over two years teaching English in Seoul, South Korea. He used the money he saved while teaching in Korea to fund a year of travel throughout Asia and South America. Much of that year was spent in Medellin, Colombia where Jeff spent several months studying Spanish, exploring the Colombian countryside, and embarrassing himself on the dance floor at local salsa clubs. Jeff is now a senior member of the advisor team and has also published numerous articles on the subjects of TEFL & TEFL certification.
