Teaching English in Taiwan Frequently Asked Questions

General Information


General Information

What is the Teaching in Taiwan Program?
This program provides Ohio elementary and middle school ELA, TESOL and World Language teachers the opportunity to teach English to elementary and middle school students in Taiwan for one academic year.

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How do I apply?
Complete and submit the Teaching English in Taiwan Program pre-application.  Select two people to serve as references and include letters of recommendation from your references. The Department will conduct a prescreening interview, and if you meet the program’s basic requirements, the Department will recommend you as a candidate to the Taiwanese Ministry of Education’s Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program (TFETP).

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What qualifications must I fill to work as a visiting English teacher in Taiwan?
Ohio applicants must be U.S. citizens. Also, they must have one of the following credentials to participate:
  • Elementary certification in grades K-3, K-8 or 1-8;
  • Certification in foreign language or reading;
  • Early childhood license;
  • Middle childhood license with a reading and language arts concentration;
  • Multi-age license in bilingual education, foreign language or TESOL;
  • A teacher license endorsement in bilingual education, literacy specialist, middle childhood generalist, reading or Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL);
  • Pass a health examination; and
  • Complete a background check to ensure no criminal record.

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How many Ohio teachers will be accepted for the program?
There is no limit.

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How will I be compensated for my work in Taiwan?
The Taiwanese government will provide Ohio teachers with housing stipends and wages. Monthly wages will be dependent on teaching experience and level of education attainment, according to the following schedule
  • Holders of doctoral degrees: NT 75,950~100,010 = US $2,505– $3,299
  • Holders of master’s degrees: NT 72,760~94,980 = US $2,400 – $3,133
  • Holders of bachelor’s degrees: NT65,230~85,380 = US $2,152 – $2,816

Note: The conversion to U.S. dollars is based on the current exchange rate and is subject to change. At the time of publication, 1 USD was about 31 TWD.

Teachers who have worked for a full school year and have received an “A” for their annual performance are given an extra month’s pay as a bonus. Teachers who have worked for a school year and have received a “B” for their annual performance are given an extra half month's pay as a bonus. Overtime pay is also available when merited.

The employing schools will provide “work accident insurance” for their foreign teachers. In addition, foreign teachers will be subsidized for all the expenses required to work in Taiwan. Applicants should keep all related receipts including passport issuance/renewal, work visa, health examination fee, residence permit, non-criminal certificate and academic document certification.

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Are the American visiting teachers required to pay income tax in Taiwan?

Yes. Starting in 2012, all K-9 teachers in Taiwan must pay income tax, including foreign teachers.

By reference to the Income Tax Act of the Republic of China, the only criteria for deciding the tax character of a foreign taxpayer is the 183-day rule (from January to December of each year). This means a person who was physically present for 183 days or more in Taiwan in a taxable year will be classified as a tax resident and shall have 5% of income withhold beginning on the day s/he is declared a tax resident. On the other hand, a person who hasn’t spent more than 183 days living in Taiwan in a year is considered a non-resident and his withholding rate will be fixed at 18%. The host school in Taiwan will deduct income tax from your salary every month. Any excess money that is withheld for taxes can be claimed back by filing an individual income tax return with the national tax administration following the prescribed refund procedure. The actual rates are subject to change by the government of Taiwan and will be calculated based on the guidelines of Taiwan’s taxation authority.

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How does a year in Taiwan affect a teacher's job status in Ohio?
As an employee of a school district in Taiwan teachers would not be paying into State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS). Your time abroad will not count towards years of service or other benefit accruals in Ohio. You should contact an STRS customer service representative at 888‑227‑7877 to understand the impacts that being out of the country and not paying into the system will have on your future retirement in Ohio.

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How does a year in Taiwan affect contributions to STRS?
See "How does a year in Taiwan affect a teacher's job status in Ohio?". If a teachers secures a leave of absence from their district and return to the same district, they can purchase the year they were away by making monthly payments equal to what they would have paid had they remained in the district. Teachers would have up to two years to do this. For further questions, call STRS at (888) 227-7877. 

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Is a school district obligated to keep a teacher's job while they are away?
This is a local decision and wilI depend on the arrangements that a teacher makes with the district.

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Would a teacher need to resign or request a year's leave?
Teachers must make arrangements with the school district since hiring and extended leave decisions are made at the local level.

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Is there a Health Insurance System in Taiwan? How much will teachers have to pay?
The National Health Insurance system requires each person to pay an average of 1.55% of their income a month for health insurance coverage. This will be about $50 a month for foreign teachers. A family member who is brought to Taiwan must wait 6 months to join the insurance program.

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Will a teacher have to buy a plane ticket?
The Taiwanese government will subsidize each teacher annually up to NT$40,000 for his or her round-trip, economy class plane ticket to Taiwan. Additionally, the government will subsidize annually the round-trip; economy class airfare for one spouse or child. Total annual airfare reimbursement is capped at NT$40,000 for the English teacher alone or NT$80,000 for the teacher plus one lineal family member if they come to Taiwan within 3 months from the start date of the English teacher’s employment.

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What if a teachers is selected and signs a contract with Taiwan’s Ministry of Education but decides not to go after all?
Teachers must purchase their own plane ticket(s) to Taiwan, but they will be reimbursed by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education after arriving. However, if the teacher decides not to work in Taiwan and cancels the trip after the plane ticket has been purchased, the Ministry of Education will not reimburse the amount of the plane ticket. It will only reimburse the ticket cancellation fee.

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What kind of documentation will teachers need to travel to and work in Taiwan?
Teachers will need a current and valid passport, a visa and a work permit. It is recommended that all applicants apply for a passport right away. It can take several (8-10) weeks to receive a U.S. passport once documentation has been submitted.

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When do teachers travel to Taiwan? For how long is the contract?
The Taiwanese school year is similar to Ohio’s and will require teachers to travel to Taiwan in early August for orientation and onboarding. Teaching contracts are typically 11 months in length.

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Whom do teachers contact for more information about the Teaching in Taiwan program?
Contact Ryan Wertz in the Office of Learning and Instructional Strategies, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, at: Ryan.Wertz@education.ohio.gov.

 
For more information, visit the Taiwanese Ministry of Education’s Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program (TFETP) website:  https://tfetp.epa.ntnu.edu.tw/en/tfetp/web/faq
 

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Last Modified: 3/18/2024 1:24:06 PM