Students in Taiwan

Students in Taiwan, for the most part, are very respectful. The underlying principles of culture are rooted in the foundations of Confucianism where teachers and education are to be respected. In grade school, at the end of class, students are expected to stand and say in unison, "Thank You Teacher".

Times have changed in Taiwan just like any other country and students are motivated more out of respect and interest rather than through discipline or fear.

To connect with your students you need to be a good teacher. This takes time and energy.

Pre-School and Elementary Aged Students in Taiwan

Taiwanese society has changed over the years and now it is very common for both parents to work. In these cases the grandparents are important figures in the lives of children in Taiwan. It is very common to see groups of grandparents waiting outside schools and buxibans (bushibans - private before and after school learning institutes).

Children run from school to the welcoming embrace of their grandparents where they drop their bookbags, lunch boxes, are various school projects and run home ahead of their grandparents. A common site is of an elderly Taiwanese person walking down the street with a Hello Kitty backpack and a coloring assignment in hand.

These young children are doted and often no expense is spared to make sure they have all they need and that they are exposed to every aspect of learning possible. Through media and various education resources these children are afforded every opportunity to learn and explore any area of interest.

Bilingual pre-schools in Taiwan have become quite popular where children learn in Mandarin Chinese and equal attention is paid to English as well. Interestingly enough, it is still illegal for native English speakers to teach English at this level. Schools that employ teachers in their bi-lingual pre-schools and kindergartens are doing this at a risk of fines. Teachers in these situations are often told that if the authorities visit the school that they are "guests".

This is a great age group to teach and the kids are like little sponges for anything and everything you throw their way.

Teenage Students in Taiwan

Teenagers in Taiwan are not unlike teenagers in most other countries. Their focus is on pop culture, music, friends and spending mommy and daddy's hard earned money. Their lives revolve around study but their is increased focus on identity and material want. This is often a good way for teachers to connect with their students. If you're teaching this age group it is important that you also "keep up with the times".

Attitudes toward teachers are different with this age group as student enter their "rebellious" phase of life where they challenge thoughts and "traditional" ways of thinking. This is why connecting with them on their level is important for progression.

Many middle school and high school students will study from 8am-5pm in public schools and will then attend various buxibans in the evenings, often until 8, 9 or 10pm. Life for these students revolves around getting into a good Taiwanese university so getting good grades is critical.

University Students in Taiwan

A Taiwanese scholar described Taiwanese university students as "an intelligent but not a diligent crowd". After years of study, once accepted into a university, students have a tendency to focus on extracurricular activities.

It is mandatory for all students of any major to study English for two years.

Adult Students in Taiwan

Adult students in Taiwan are easily the most respectful but they often represent one of the hardest groups to teach.

Adult Taiwanese students are often passive and shy, and will speak out only when directly spoken to. It is often difficult to engage classes in debates or discussions for a number of reasons. The first is the level of respect and conservatism expressed and shared among the people of Taiwan that are not familiar with one another. Add to that different age groups and different sexes and you have a challenging situation for teachers. Though these students all realize that in order to grow and develop their skills they need to speak out, they will seldom ask questions or volunteer information. There is a common idiom attached to this phenomenon that goes: "It is like playing a lute to a cow." They listen but it seems to be a futile effort.

Adult students are also the most discriminating. They want to get the most bang for their buck so it is critical for schools to ensure they have the best teachers possible. It is really easy for an adult student to simply leave a school and find another if they aren't satisfied with the class or the teacher. This puts a lot of pressure on teachers to perform and do well.

Teaching Jobs in Taiwan

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Find out more about teaching English in Taiwan in our Taiwan Country Info section

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