Job Placement
David's English Center is one of the largest English schools for adults in Taipei, Taiwan. We employ over 150 teachers, at four locations, serving thousands of students. And Davidís is growing. In addition to our three schools in Taipei City, we have established a new campus this year and have plans to continue expanding.
David's Needs You!
We are looking for native English speakers who are university graduates (required by law). Preference is given to those people who majored in or who have experience teaching English, linguistics, education, business, or finance. At the same time, qualified applicants should be outgoing, fun, lively, sociable, happy, active, patient, enthusiastic, passionate, and interested in learning about Taiwanese culture while gaining teaching experience.
Benefits Package
We offer comprehensive health and dental insurance, transportation reimbursement for off-campus classes, teacher training, free internet access, bonus package for good performance and attendance, above-average pay with shift differentials (extra pay for evening hours), and paychecks deposited into your bank account every two weeks. Each office has subscriptions to English-language newspapers and magazines. Accommodation is arranged in advance for teachers when they first arrive, so finding a place for the first few weeks isn't a worry.
Our Programs and Curricula
We offer classes in conversation, grammar, business English, writing, TOEFL test preparation, and English for specific purposes. Students are given a placement test to determine their level, and there are multiple levels of each type of class. Classes are taught on- and off-campus, in the mornings, afternoons and evenings, Monday through Saturday. Most classes meet two times a week for an hour and a half each time, though some classes meet more often or for longer periods. Our schools are located in the heart of Taipei's downtown by the train station, Nanking East Road Section 2 and Section 3, (you can walk from one to the other in fifteen minutes), and the fourth school is in the Shilin District. All schools are approximately five minutesí walk from a subway line. All of David's branches are stocked with curriculum files and resource libraries, are air-conditioned, and have photocopiers, computers, and CD/tape players. The working environment is relaxed and friendly. Each course has a textbook, listening comprehension tapes, and a curriculum folder to follow, planned out lesson by lesson. Teachers are also able to check resources in the library and surf the internet to look for additional exercises and material. So, you can be creative within the structure and are not asked to ìreinvent the wheelî every time you have a class.
Training
A comprehensive training program gives you the tools and confidence to be a great teacher. All new teachers at David's are first orientated to the library and observe classes taught by seasoned teachers. Training also includes theory and method of teaching conversation, approaches to tutoring, business English, and lesson planning. Follow-up includes student evaluations, teacher observations, and feedback. At David's, even a teacher with no prior teaching experience can enter a classroom with confidence, knowing they can do a great job.
Staff
David's has a truly international staff, employing teachers from the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and Taiwan. Teachers range in age from 23 to 40+, and have a wide variety of backgrounds - from biochemistry, fine arts, and real estate, to computers. Teachers share experiences in and out of the classroom, and your coworkers often become your friends. The secretaries are all capable English speakers, and are here to help you get what you need to do the job well. We are a dynamic and highly interesting group of people. Please join us!
Students
Students in Taiwan are a joy to teach. They are open, enthusiastic, fun, friendly, and easy-going. They are also quite respectful of teachers, and teaching is considered to be a high-status profession. Education is highly valued, and viewed as necessary for self-improvement. Ages range from 15 to 50, and many of them have an excellent grasp of English grammar and vocabulary. They usually need someone with whom to practice conversation and correct mistakes.
What's up with Taiwan?
Taiwan is truly the Pearl of the Orient. It is the world's fifteenth largest economy, despite a population of only 21.5 million people. It is also a democratic country featuring open and fair elections, an internationally-exchangeable currency, complete freedom of speech and press, and a high standard of compulsory public education. A good percentage of the population speak good English. There are no foreign troops stationed here, and crime is almost nonexistent. The per capita income is high, and people are cosmopolitan, friendly, and undeniably modern. The climate is subtropical, with warm summers and pleasantly cool winters. The public transportation is excellent: intra-city subways serve the capital city, Taipei, and a high-speed train system is under construction. Buses and taxis are cheap and plentiful. If you like to bicycle, Taiwanís own Giant corporation is the worldís largest bicycle manufacturer, and bikes of excellent quality are available at a fraction of the cost of the export price. All this on an island only 395 kilometers in length and 144 kilometers in width! So, traveling around the country is quick and convenient.
The Future Meets Yesteryear
Cutting-edge technology coexists with the ancient customs of Chinese culture. You can see people making offerings of incense at temples, sending text messages on their cell phones, wearing a traditional silk shirt over a pair of Calvin Klein jeans. Traditional ceremonies and rites are actively followed while Western customs are added to create a blend of the old and the new. Modern high-rise buildings under construction are surrounded by bamboo scaffolding, Starbucks Coffee shops sit next to traditional tea shops, and motor scooters compete with one another for a space n the traffic. You can buy Swiss chocolate, French cheese, and German beer at a 24-hour supermarket, or you can shop in the traditional markets for soy-bean milk, fresh vegetables and fruit, and peanut candy. From 711s with automatic motion-detecting sliding doors to three-walled restaurants, from temples hundreds of years old, to the tallest building in the world, the recently-finished Taipei 101 skyscraper, you can find the past alongside the present.
People
The majority of the population is the Han Chinese ethnic group, most of them having emigrated from China (particularly Fujian Province) in the last 400 years. There are also indigenous people belonging to 12 tribes. They emigrated from Polynesia long ago and have conserved their languages and culture. Together, these two groups are the Taiwanese, and you will not meet a warmer and more hospitable people in the world. Most people are bi- or trilingual, speaking Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese (the dialect of Fujian Province), Hakka, or an aboriginal language.
Cuisine
If you like Chinese food, you'll be surprised to find a variety of all the provinces of China. Cantonese, Sichuan, Hunan, and Yunan are all served. There are dishes unique to Taiwan, available nowhere else in the world. At the same time, the whole world's menu is present, and you can eat at a Mexican, Japanese, Italian, Indian, Thai, Mongolian, Korean, or Indonesian restaurant. Fast food McDonald's, KFC, Subway, and Pizza Hut are everywhere too.
Public Safety
No worries here. A high level of civic morality exists and security is very good. There are cameras installed at intersections, in pedestrian underpasses, and in the subway system.. Police are on duty at major intersections to direct traffic and to help the odd foreigner out. A feeling of safety pervades the country. There are no ìroad rageî incidents, no motorcycle gangs (until Taiwan joined the WTO in 2001, the largest engine available was 150cc), and often one can leave one's umbrella or bag in a public place and return to find it later.
Healthcare
Healthcare in Taiwan is a dream come true: excellent, modern, and efficient. Hospitals and clinics are numerous, well-staffed, and clean. Full-time teachers are entitled to join the National Health System and receive the health care insurance. For less than US$30 per month, insured people can see a doctor at a cost of around US$4. Prescription drugs are just as cheap, and they are issued by the pharmacist on duty at the clinic. By the time you leave the examination room, the information the doctor entered in the computer has alerted the pharmacist. Your prescription is filled before you leave the room! Health care staff often speak English, because many of them got their medical degrees in North America or Europe.
Cost of Living
Apartments, computers, cameras and stereos, clothing, beer, cigarettes, bicycles, bus and subway fares, and rice (of course) are surprisingly low in cost. At this writing, payphones start at US$0.07, taxis start at US$2, and you can rent an apartment for less than US$300. Eating out at a Chinese restaurant can cost as little as US$2 (I know, it seems hard to believe), but western-style places and brands can cost double or triple the local variety. Many of the articles manufactured in Taiwan are sold in North America at a much higher price (bicycles, remember?), so this is the land of opportunity. You can manage to live well, save money, and enjoy financial independence in Taiwan.
Getting Around
Taipei is not a big city geographically speaking, and walking around is certainly a possibility. It has the most comprehensive public transportation system in the country, featuring fleets of buses, a subway with multiple lines (all being expanded at the moment), and there are hordes of taxis. Roughly 50% of the population own a motor scooter or motorcycle. Many foreigners take the driverís test (available in English) or use an international driverís license, and buy or rent a scooter. Riding a bicycle is also an option. Traveling outside of Taipei can be done by bus, train, car rental, or plane at a fraction of the cost of prices in North America.
The Expatriate Community
The community is thriving and very cosmopolitan. There is a large presence of North Americans, Europeans, Australians/New Zealanders, and even Africans and South Americans. In addition, because of the proximity and business opportunities, there are large amounts of Japanese, Koreans, Indonesians, and Filipinos. If you like to mingle with an international set, you can do so at many popular venues, including pubs, Christian churches, ethnic restaurants, and parks. There are many social clubs catering to foreigners, including rugby, jogging, ballroom dancing, kayaking, ultimate Frisbee, Toastmasters, Alcoholics Anonymous, Amnesty International, Darts, Lions and Rotary Clubs, Sailing, Soccer/Football, etc. You may also spend a lot of time going local, learning about Taiwanese culture while experiencing it with your friends and neighbors.
Taipei Entertainment
English-style pubs, American-style bars, dance clubs, live concerts featuring big names from around the world, multiplex movie theaters showing all the latest movies in English, coffee shops, tea houses, 24-hour bookstores , art galleries (both contemporary and historical), ancient temples, sports and exercise facilities, bike paths, museums (the National Theater is reckoned to hold the world's finest collection of ancient Chinese artifacts), and shopping venues (shopping is the national pastime) all abound. There is something for everyone here. Unique to Taiwan are the night markets, huge areas set up with stalls and kiosks where all manner of goods and foods are sold until the wee hours.
Local Sight-Seeing
- Some must-see destinations around Taiwan include Kenting National Park at the southernmost tip of the island. It features white sand beaches, water sports, interesting flora and fauna, and wildlife in a semi-tropical environment.
- Taroko Gorge, a marble canyon of dramatic proportions and a rushing white-water river, is located on the beautiful and under populated east coast of the island.
- Sun Moon Lake, set at 760 meters above sea level is a lovely lake popular with honeymooners and couples
- Hot Springs. They are all over the island, reputed to have medicinal properties and are especially popular during the winter.
- Orchid Island, where aboriginal culture still flourishes.
- Hsiukuluan River, Taiwan's top venue for white-water rafting.
Regional Travel Opportunities
Centrally located, Taiwan is just an hour away from Hong Kong, and less than five hours away from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand by air. Japan is accessible by plane, or ferry to Okinawa.
