Question about teaching without being a native English speaker

[mpin]

Hello! I have a bachelor's degree and I am currently studying in translation (english to french) which means I am good both in French and in English. However, English is not my first language. I would like to know if I still qualify to teach in Taiwan. Thank you.

[gfell]

As English is not your first language, it will be somewhat more difficult to get a teaching job in Taiwan.

If you scan over ESL job lists, you will notice many of the positions ask for Native English Teachers as part of their requirements.

Having said this however, it's still possible to find a teaching job in Taiwan. If you can show the employer you have a clean accent, am able to speak cleary, slowly and with simple words and body language, then they will like you.

I would point out on your resume that you are a English to French translator. That way they will feel more comfortable with seeing you.

[cdevine]

There are many non-native English teacher's still teaching English. If you have a nice fluency and excellent grammar, then don't hesitate to look for a job teaching English!

It's definitely possible.

[Brian]

I am afraid that I don't agree with the other posters. I don't think that it would be wise for you to come to Taiwan to try and find work teaching English if you are not a native speaker of the language.

Firstly, the market here is changing. There is still plenty of work around, probably more than there has ever been, but there are also a lot more qualified applicants, too. Therefore competition for positions is high, and as a result schools are becoming a lot tougher in their recruitment processes. If you don't meet the nationality, age etc, requirements that they are seeking then they probably won't give you a look in, and instead only give consideration to applicants who meet all of the governments and the schools requirements.

Secondly, even if you can find an employer who is willing to employ you, you could be 99% sure that you will be employed illegally. The reason for this is that the government in Taiwan has determined a certain group of countries as being native English speaking countries. Applications for work permits for teaching positions from passport holders from other countries cannot be processed and would be sent back to the applicant. Although there is some scope for the employment of non-native speakers, many schools don't either know this, or don't want to go to the trouble of doing such an application (particularly if they have a choice). In order to secure a work permit for a non-native English speaker your employer would need to prove that you can do the job and that a non-native English speaker from Taiwan can't. Governments in every country of the world have a responsibility to protect the rights of their citizens, and it would be difficult for your employer to prove that a second language learner from another country should have the right to a position that a second language learner from this country can undertake.

Be very careful in your job search. I certainly don't doubt the earlier post about there being non-native speakers teaching here, but I can almost guarantee that non of them are doing legally. If you research jobs you will likely get a job offer eventually, but I doubt that it would be in your best interests to actually take the position.

Probably a good way to check the validity of what I have stated above would be to contact some of the more reputable schools in Taiwan such as Hess, Joy, Kojen etc, or contact the Council of Labor Affairs directly.

Be very wary of any advice that suggests that you will have no problems when you get here as the comments from people in your position who have done this just doesn't bear this out.

[mpin]

Hello !
Thank your for your answers. I will contact some schools to ask if they think I could work in Taiwan. I have already contacted three agencies and two of them answered. Their answers were positive. Thanks again!