by Hall Houston
2. Make sure you understand your rights as a teacher in Taiwan. Read this article for a clear explanation.
3. Copy the list of schools for the city where you intend to do your job search. Invest in a phone card or two, and call a bunch of schools. If you don't have a motorcycle yet, you will be riding the MRT (or the bus or a taxi) to these schools, as you will definitely have to attend some interviews to get any information from the bushiban bosses. AND, you might want to take a quick look at some of these pages:
Black List, SSETT Open Forum, English School Watch - Notebook, Forumosa.com - Blacklist of schools
to see which schools are worth working for and which are worth avoiding.
4. Look at the classified in a recent copy of one of the English-language newspapers, The China Post, Taipei Times, or Taiwan News, for an idea of who's hiring.
5. Copy down some names and numbers from the ads on the bulletin boards at the Mandarin Hostel, Mandarin Training Center, and the Taipei Hostel, a few blocks away from the train station.
6. Make business cards in English and Chinese, and pass them out wherever you go. If a friend or acquaintance meets someone who needs a teacher, they might remember you, and pass the card along to a potential student.
7. Post signs on bulletin boards around where you live, marketing yourself as an English teacher.
8. If you have access to a computer, get on one of the BBS (bulletin board systems) for universities in Taipei, and leave a few messages indicating you are a teacher looking for private students.
9. Make friends with fellow expatriates, and politely inquire about the current English teaching situation.
10. Attend a Toastmasters Club meeting, and mingle like crazy. This is where many businesspeople go to practice their English. For more information, take a look at this list of Toastmasters Clubs in Taiwan.
11. Get a cellular phone, and be sure to put the number on your business cards.
12. If you are reasonably fluent in Mandarin Chinese, you have several advantages. Get a copy of the yellow pages, and call not only the schools, but also immigration service centers and translation agencies. Even if the place you call is not currently looking for a teacher, you can give them your phone number, in case they need someone.
13. Find more ways to meet people on-line at eslIsland.com, Asian Friend Finder, Taiwan Love and Friendship BBS, Taiwanfun.com, and Forumosofieds.
14. These organizations might be able to lend a helping hand: Community Services Center (#25, Lane 290, Chung Shan Rd., Sec. 6. Telephone: (02) 2838-4947) and Connections (770 Chung Shan N. Road, Sec. 6, 3F. Telephone: (02) 2871-0731).
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