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Living and Teaching English in Taiwan - Habits, Customs & Curiosities

Taiwan is one of the most popular countries in Asia for teaching EFL as there are always a large number of jobs available that offer very competitive salaries and attractive extra benefits such as paid housing and airfares.

If you are thinking about teaching in Asia, take a look at these brief guides to Taiwan to see if it might be the right destination for you.

They provide a range of travel advice to help you plan your trip and some fascinating facts about the country that you probably don’t know.

There is also a handy weather guide to help you choose what to pack depending on the time of year.

If you want to join the thousands of foreign teachers who are living and working in Taiwan, take a look at this travel guide for an insight into what to expect on arrival. It is also a good idea to take some local currency with you so you can make small purchases such as a bus ticket or taxi fare to your accommodation.

Before you leave home you should make sure you have all the necessary vaccinations including Japanese encephalitis. Once on the ground, these cultural tips should help you feel more comfortable in your new surroundings, while learning a few basic words of Mandarin is a great way to quickly feel more at home.

As it lies firmly in the tropical region of East Asia, Taiwan typically enjoys warm weather year-round. The summer months of June, July and August see the hottest temperatures, as well as the most rain as this is the peak of the East Asian Monsoon. If you are packing for a one year teaching contract, you should make sure you include lightweight comfortable clothing, a couple of light jumpers and an umbrella for the monsoon downpours.

However, if you are planning to live and work in the country in the medium to long-term you will notice the seasons changing throughout the year. During December, January and February you will experience the coolest weather, although you can still expect to enjoy plenty of warm sunny days.

If you have researched Taiwan with a view to teaching EFL you are sure to have learnt many things about the country that you didn’t previously know, Other less known facts that are good news for foreign teachers are that Taiwan has the lowest rate of poverty and the second lowest crime rate in the world. With so much to offer, Taiwan is unsurprisingly a very popular destination for teaching English abroad.

but did you discover that Taiwan has the highest density of convenience stores in the world or that it is ranked third in the world baseball rankings? According to a 2016 survey Taiwan is also the most popular country to live in for expats with over 80% giving it a positive review.