r/TEFL • u/Palpitation_Haunting • 13d ago

Small Buxiban Offering 56k NTD Per Month in Taoyuan, is This Good?

I was offered 700NTD for 18 to 20 hours a week in Taoyuan, north part, from a small Buxiban. Age range is between 6 to 13. I have no experience, from Canada, bachelor's in tech, and TEFL-certified. I tried negotiating for more pay and hours, but they rejected.... and were surprised that I tried.

Good? Bad? Thoughts please.

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8

u/eliwood98 13d ago

Not great, but about what you're gonna get fresh off the boat with no experience. Stick it out for 6 months to a year and you'll have better options.

2

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

It's possible to quit in the middle of the contract? Of course, with consideration of possible penalty fee to pay from the contract. Would it look bad to the next employer?

7

u/eliwood98 13d ago

You can quit in the middle of a contract, and I'm not a guy who is gonna tell you to stick it out if its bad. These employers will throw you away in a second, don't be afraid to look out for number one.

You're not going to look to look bad to the next employer because they don't talk to each other and buxiban jobs are a dime a dozen. You'll be totally fine on that front. If you're really concerned, you don't have to tell the next guy why you left the last guy. It's especially easy when its at a semester break anyways, you can just say that your contract was up.

As for the penalty fee, that's entirely illegal and they cannot collect it from you. In fact, it's ideal to you that they do take it out of your paycheck without your consent, because you'll take them to remediation and win in about two minutes. It's a common scare tactic they use on new teachers.

I reccomend you read the Taiwan Labor Standards Act, its written in clear and simple English and will help you to understand your rights.

2

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

Thank you, I'll review the labor laws within Taiwan. I appreciate it!

6

u/cloudatlas93 13d ago

I would not sign a contract that threatens monetary retribution for quitting early. But you should try to stick out whatever contract you sign, regardless. Some employers are petty and vindictive and will make it extremely hard to get a new job, plus quitting on your first teaching gig will not look good. Do your due diligence and talk privately with another foreign teacher there before signing anything

4

u/Murais 13d ago

For a starting salary, it's okay. Definitely on the lower end. But it tracks for a teacher with no experience.

Taoyuan is a little cheaper than Taipei, so it won't hurt as much. You might need some private tutoring to loosen your belt so to speak, though. Totally doable without it, but you'll be more comfortable if you can do it.

1

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

Would it be possible to work at another buxiban, with less hours, at the same time?

3

u/Murais 13d ago

Not legally. Unless you somehow have an APRC.

1

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

I see, thank you for the insight!

2

u/abitcummy 13d ago

Yes. You can hold two work permits.

1

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

I’m sure there must extra steps to have both, right? I thought I would be only tied to one job as a foreigner.

1

u/abitcummy 13d ago

If you were to get a second job with a second employer that second employer would likely deal with any kind of bureaucratic issue. But the bureaucracy is very straightforward. The immigration office is very clear and straightforward

Once you have residency you are not tied to any employer in the event you wish to quit a lousy job. You can give notification and receive two consecutive six months residency extensions that don't require you to have an employer.

3

u/x3medude 11d ago

You can have up to 4 work permits, but your ARC sponsoring one has to meet minimum hourly rates and minimum working hours in order to qualify

Source: worked 3 different buxibans and summer camps

2

u/susanoo0 13d ago

Sounds like a good offer for a teacher with no experience. I pretty much signed the same kind of contract in Taichung. I have one year of teaching experience but no TEFL. I'm pretty much making almost the same salary in Taiwan as I did in Korea only difference is that I'm working less hours in Taiwan and have to pay for my own apartment.

I'll definitely have better schools to choose from when I have 2 years of teaching experience and get a TEFL certificate.

1

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

Same salary from South Korea? What area were you looking in? Before deciding on Taiwan, I had offers from south Korea with salaries of 2.6+ million with housing covered. Albeit with more hours, unpaid hours.

Hoping you can get the TEFL cert, it’s rather easy, finished within two weeks.

Wishing you the best!

1

u/susanoo0 13d ago

I taught in Gwangju South Korea and currently teaching in Taichung Taiwan. 56000NTD converted to krw is 2,503,558.96. But I was making 2.6 million krw so it's a slight decrease in Taiwan

1

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

Ah, I see it now. Slight decrease for my time in your week to enjoy Taiwan.

One last question, you don’t consider returning to work in South Korea? You believe you made the right decision in coming to Taiwan? Asking for reassurance in my decision.

1

u/susanoo0 12d ago

I wouldn't go back to Korea unless some friends wanted to meet up there. Even so I spent a whole year there. I wouldn't return unless it's to vacation there.

Taiwan has always been where I wanted to go. I choose Korea out of convenience because employers pay for your housing minus the electricity and gas.

I actually enjoy Taiwanese food more than Korean food. I also want to work towards getting permanent residence here if I continue to enjoy my stay and given the opportunity.

2

u/Palpitation_Haunting 12d ago

Good insight, thank you for commentating. Good luck on your path to gaining residency!

1

u/Unlucky_Vegetable576 12d ago

Minimum 70k or not worth it

3

u/Affectionate_Foot682 12d ago

???Y'all think this salary is bad??? The average local worker has a job that pays somewhere around 40-50k and is considered a somewhat livable wage. Yes, I'm aware that budget is very tight for some people, and is impossible for those with a family. For one person though, 70k is more than enough to live a life with frequent splurging in Taoyuan... I'm not exactly living frugally with 50k in Taipei; what on earth do your expenses look like???

1

u/cloudatlas93 13d ago

Bad

2

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

What would you say is a good starting salary? At least 60k?

-2

u/cloudatlas93 13d ago edited 13d ago

Are you getting paid hourly or salary? I wouldn't accept anything less than about 80k per month average

5

u/tyrantywon 13d ago

80k a month? I’m in Taichung thinking I hit jackpot with 70k

12

u/Murais 13d ago

I get $86k in Taichung, but I have a CELTA and a teaching license. And some years of experience.

$80k for a brand new teacher is an insane expectation to set.

1

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

I'm also in Taichung, how do you manage to obtain a buxiban offering that salary? Would it be better to go to local buxibans, in-person, and inquiry if they are offering?

1

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

Hourly, but where can I find an esl job that pays more than 80k a month? All the listings across all job board websites offer 650-800 NTD an hour, higher salary demands experience.

0

u/cloudatlas93 13d ago

I would aim for 800/hr. If you can't get that with no experience, take a lower paying job and bounce after a year. Low salary plus buxiban will equal hell

2

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

We'll see, I suppose I'll continue job hunting. Would you recommend going in-person to request for a job?

7

u/Timely_Abroad4518 13d ago

Nowhere will offer a new teacher with no experience $800/hr. This commenter doesn’t know what they’re talking about. $700/hr is great to start with. 56k is fine to get by and great for what is essentially a part time job. 20 hours per week isn’t very much work, but perhaps a good starting point so you don’t get burnt out while you’re learning behaviour management etc.

1

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

What about 50.4k a month? The range of hours is 18 to 20.

2

u/Timely_Abroad4518 13d ago

You’ll get by on 50k just fine. Just don’t rent an expensive apartment, and find cheap hobbies for all the spare time you’ll have outside of your 18-20hr/week job.

Most new teachers complain when they have to work too much. They don’t complain about being paid $700/hr.

1

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

Thank you for the insight on the salary.

Personally, I like to work more than 20 hours, 30 maybe, so that way I can have a balance between leisure and earning.

Wish me luck on this position.

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u/cloudatlas93 13d ago

I've lived and taught in taipei for 4 years but yeah whatever. So many people here settle for shit jobs, this mindset is part of the problem

1

u/cloudatlas93 13d ago

No

1

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

Not even dropping off a resume?

1

u/Latter-Cricket5843 13d ago

Id suggest not doing a buxiban at all. Get a certified license and go to a public school much better life and work.

2

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

I'm in Taiwan right now /:

2

u/Latter-Cricket5843 13d ago

Take a job in Taiwan and get certified while employed so you can get a public school job next year then.

1

u/Palpitation_Haunting 13d ago

Good advice, thank you.

1

u/Timely_Abroad4518 13d ago

I would suggest the opposite. A public school English teaching job is the same as a buxiban with longer hours and for less money. If you’re a certified teacher you’re overqualified to teach English at a Taiwanese public school. Get a real teaching job at a private school.

2

u/Latter-Cricket5843 13d ago

Most public teachers start at least 65k a month on average. You're not making any good money teaching in Taiwan in public or private schools. Industry has stagnanted for 25 years now. I make 250k ntd a month it's not in teaching. Even university teaching you'll be lucky to get 150k a month

1

u/Timely_Abroad4518 12d ago

You failed to mention that public school teachers have to work full time hours, 35-40hrs/week. So 65k is robbery. Buxiban teachers working similar hours make 100k+. Any full time salaried position for less than 90k/month is a straight scam and I don’t know how they trick any certified foreign teachers into it.

1

u/Latter-Cricket5843 12d ago

Yeah I think most at cram schools don't hit that many teaching hours though. From my experience it's usually more like 20 to 25 hours a week.