Thanks for the great information. So is there no middle ground? It sounds like there are the big chains where the students don’t really learn (I don’t want that.) or the “hardcore” schools that require you to stay 2 to 3 years. I have a degree in education, have taught elementary students in the states, and am currently teaching english in Prague. I am a dedicated teacher, but only want to stay in Taiwan for a year (and as of right now I don’t speak any Chinese). Are there any other options as far as schools go??

http://toshuo.com/2006/what-im-doing-now/
http://toshuo.com/2006/curriculum-development/
http://toshuo.com/2007/the-churn/
http://toshuo.com/2007/the-hardest-week-at-school-yet/
http://toshuo.com/2008/buying-out-dings/

I’ve worked with a couple of TESOL guys, and haven’t found those sorts certifications or degrees to be any guarantee of their teaching abilities. Much like programming skills, teaching skills seem to have only a tenuous connection with formal certifications.

That said, if two teachers’ classroom control skills and charisma were equal, I’d take the linguistics or TESOL major in a heartbeat.

I lived and taught English in Taiwan for 5 years and the only conclusion I can make regarding teaching there is that the schools/cram schools etc are 90% owned and operated by Taiwanese,(mostly women) who view the employment of foreign teachers solely as an opportunity to make money.This money comes from ignorant and naive parents who have this absurd idea that if there little Sarah or Michael is in a classroom with a blond haired blue eyed foreigner, preferably one with an American accent, then they will be able to speak Englishy better. A good example of this 3rd world mentality is when a girl from Lithuania found work easily in Taiwan even though her level of English was lower than some of the kids. The most important qualification she had was that she had blond hair and blue eyes! Foreign run schools are supposedly better but as a rule I refused to work for other foreigners simply because this mentality I’m talking about applies to them also and the pay is usually lower.The best esl teachers dont go to Taiwan because they know what to expect there. It took me 5 years to finally get the hell out! Oh yes,fortunately for the black guy with the MA in TESOL, who I met the last year I was in Taiwan, found a good paying job in Europe. I wonder why he couldnt find work in Taiwan?