Considering moving the family to Taiwan...Looking for some info

Member since 05 January 2020

TwanedMember05 January 2020 12:17:51

Hi there,
My husband and I would like to relocate to Asia with our 2 year old son in the next 2-3 years.
I spent my 20s teaching abroad and would like to return to Asia, as one of my favourite places.
We've been discussing where we would like to go and we seem to have narrowed the list to Japan, Tawian and Singapore.
I plan on teaching in an international school but we're not sure what the opportunities will be like for my other half. He's a plumber by trade and, ideally would like to do something related to this, but he's also open to doing a tefl and teaching English (he has a degree).
Could anyone advise us on:

1) what opportunities there might be for English speaking plumbers in Taiwan (if any!)
2) opportunities for him teaching EFL in Taiwan
3) what can I expect to earn working in an international school in Taiwan? Would it be enough to support the family?
4) what benefits should I be looking for in an expat package from an international school in Taiwan?

Another motivation for the move is to access decent healthcare. We're from the UK and with the situation with the NHS at the moment, I've developed chronic illnesses due to improper healthcare during pregnancy and labour. These need to be managed with medication and monitored regularly. What is the healthcare like for expats in Taiwan?
Any information, advice and tips would be appreciated!
Thanks so much

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AVAI VAYAYANA Member

Member since 17 December 2019

AVAI VAYAYANAMember07 January 2020 04:17:56

You should contact the British and other international schools in Taiwan.
The available places for teachers is limited and highly competitive.

The local healthcare system is great but does not cover everything. Even then if you pay privately it is still cheap compared to other countries.

Your husband would need to get a work permit himself if he wanted to work as dependent spouses do not have work rights. As he has a degree he would get working teaching but there are other areas of work that many expats hold in Taiwan.

ladivo779 Guest

ladivo779Guest23 January 2020 00:45:54

Your choices of Taiwan, Japan and Singapore are very good, although Singapore is the "ultimate" expat location with the best conditions, medical and salary, but finding a job there is very competitive. Even if your husband got his CELTA or other TEFL certificate there really isn't much chance of working for say the British Council, who I believe have recently been letting staff go. He's need years of teaching experience and probably with the BC so I would forget about Singapore.

For Taiwan, I would suggest he get his CELTA certificate which is just a month long course. Taiwan has a lot of English language schools and being a native English speaker helps a lot. He is not going to get a job as a plumber so I'd forget that as an option. Also, while plumbers can earn well in the west, they are not so well paid in Asia and he'd probably have much difficulty in being able to work as one, and I assume he doesn't speak Mandarin. So forget plumbing.

For expat packages, you really need to ask the school about what they are offering since they would have absolutely no difficulties in finding teachers to fill a position. Certainly it should include medical and housing or at least a good enough salary to afford decent housing.

Salaries are always good in International schools and certainly enough to have a decent lifestyle. The reason international schools are so expensive is because of the salaries they pay to their staff and the usually decent housing allowances.

Medical is excellent in Taiwan whether covered or paying yourself. The standard is high.