Types of English Teaching Jobs in Taiwan
Taiwan has five distinct teaching job types. The buxiban is the most accessible; TFETP the most structured; international schools the most lucrative. Here’s how each sector works, what it pays, and who it suits.
Buxibans: Taiwan’s cram school culture
The buxiban (補缞班, bǒxíbān — literally “supplementary learning class”) is the defining institution of Taiwanese private English education and the first employer for most foreign teachers in Taiwan. Children and teens attend buxibans after regular school hours — typically from 4pm through the evening — for additional English instruction, exam preparation, and academic support. The culture behind this is deep: Taiwanese society’s emphasis on academic achievement, university entrance competition, and English proficiency for international careers creates enormous demand for after-school English education.
For foreign teachers, buxibans offer the most accessible entry to Taiwan’s teaching market: year-round hiring, lower paperwork requirements than public schools, visa sponsorship typically included, and evening schedules that leave days free. The trade-offs: evening and weekend teaching (most classes run 4pm–9pm); student age range predominantly 5–15 (younger learners require different energy and approach than adult learners); salary lower than TFETP public school positions. Typical buxiban salary: NT$50,000–70,000/month ($1,560–$2,190).
Major buxiban employers
HESS International Educational Group — one of Taiwan’s largest chains; structured; good support for new teachers · Sesame Street English · Gram School Group · Kojen ELC · American Eagle Institute · Wall Street English Taiwan · Hundreds of independent single-location buxibans throughout every major city. Chains provide more structured support; independents often offer more creative freedom and sometimes better hourly rates.
Buxiban red flags
Research any buxiban before signing — quality varies enormously. Red flags: reluctance to provide written contract; vague about ARC sponsorship process; asking you to start before visa paperwork is complete; very small classrooms (20+ students in a small room); no paid training period; unusually high hourly promises. Check TEALit.com (Taiwan’s most established English teaching job board) for reviews and warnings about specific schools.
Buxiban hiring timing: Buxibans hire year-round — Taiwan’s most continuously active hiring market. Slight upticks in July–August (before September semester), November–January (before February semester), and after Chinese New Year. Teachers arriving with degree, TEFL, and passport from an approved country can typically find buxiban work within 2–4 weeks in Taipei, Taichung, or Kaohsiung without a confirmed job offer before arrival.
TFETP public schools
The Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program places foreign teachers in public elementary and junior high schools under the Ministry of Education’s framework. Two positions:
Foreign English Teacher (FET)
The full teaching role. Salary: NT$62,720–78,045/month based on qualifications and experience. 40-hour work week with 15–20 classroom teaching hours. Responsible for curriculum delivery, lesson planning, and student assessment alongside a local Taiwanese co-teacher. Requires degree plus formal teaching qualifications (teaching licence strongly preferred). Benefits: housing support, flight subsidy, national health insurance.
Foreign English Teaching Assistant (FETA)
The supporting role. Salary: NT$45,000/month (stipend). Co-teaches with a local English teacher — less independent classroom responsibility. Better suited to teachers newer to the profession or those who prefer a more collaborative role. Lower pay but similar benefits package. Better entry point for teachers without formal teaching licence. Application through same TFETP process.
Ready to teach English abroad?
Browse TEFL Heaven’s full range of teacher placement programs — from Southeast Asia to Europe and Latin America.
International schools
Taiwan has a well-developed international school sector concentrated in Taipei, with presence in Taichung and Kaohsiung. Taipei American School (TAS) is the most prestigious — one of Asia’s finest international schools, serving a primarily US-citizen student body with comprehensive facilities. Taipei European School (TES; British, French, and German sections). Morrison Academy (Christian; multiple campuses; family-friendly). Dominican International School. Pacific American School. Kaohsiung American School.
International schools in Taiwan pay NT$80,000–200,000/month depending on experience and position, with comprehensive benefits including housing allowances, annual flight reimbursement, comprehensive health insurance, and professional development funding. Requirements: formal teaching licence (PGCE, QTS, or state certification), subject/education degree, and 2–5+ years’ international school classroom experience. Applications through TES, Search Associates, and ISS platforms, typically beginning 12–18 months ahead of start date.
Private K-12 schools
Taiwan’s domestic private school sector sits between buxibans and international schools in pay, requirements, and environment. These are Taiwanese private schools — not international schools serving primarily expat students — that offer English-medium or bilingual instruction to Taiwanese families who want enhanced English education. Salary NT$50,000–60,000/month; smaller classes (10–20 students) than public schools; more structured environment than buxibans; weekday daytime schedules.
Well-known private school employers include HESS International (which operates both buxiban and private school divisions), Lexington English Academy, and various independent private schools. These positions typically offer more curriculum stability and administrative support than independent buxibans. Degree plus TEFL required; teaching licence helpful for accessing better positions and higher pay scales within this sector.
Universities
Taiwan’s universities employ foreign English instructors for oral English, EAP, business communication, and academic writing courses. National Taiwan University (NTU), National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), and dozens of regional universities all have English-language instruction needs. Salary: NT$100,000–150,000/month for full professors; lower for instructors. Master’s degree required; PhD increasingly expected for tenure-track positions.
The university lifestyle is genuinely attractive for the right teacher: light teaching loads (6–12 hours/week), semester-based schedule with generous holidays, intellectual environment, and access to Taiwan’s excellent research infrastructure. Taipei alone has 500+ degree courses taught in English — the demand for English language instruction at university level is real and growing.
All Taiwan job types compared
| Position | Monthly (NT$) | Schedule | Degree | Teaching licence | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buxiban (entry) | NT$50–60K | Afternoons/evenings/weekends | Required | Not needed | Entry to Taiwan; young learners |
| TFETP (FETA) | NT$45K | Mon–Fri days | Required | Not needed | Co-teaching; first-time teachers |
| TFETP (FET) | NT$62–78K | Mon–Fri days | Required | Preferred | Government stability; good benefits |
| Private school | NT$50–60K | Mon–Fri days | Required | Preferred | Structure; smaller classes |
| International school | NT$80K–200K+ | Mon–Fri days | Education/subject | Required | Max income; career; expat students |
| University | NT$100–150K | Flexible; light hours | Master’s/PhD | Helpful | Academic career; research; free time |
Job types FAQ
Is it better to start with a buxiban or go straight for TFETP?
Depends on your qualifications and goals. Buxibans: lower bar, year-round availability, faster hiring, more flexible entry timing. Good for teachers who want to arrive quickly and establish themselves in Taiwan before navigating the TFETP application cycle. TFETP: government employer stability, better Monday–Friday daytime schedule, slightly better salary for FETs with formal teaching qualifications, housing support. Requires more advance planning (application January–March for August starts). For teachers with a formal teaching licence and organised documentation: TFETP is worth pursuing directly. For teachers arriving without a confirmed position or with first-time international teaching experience: starting at a quality buxiban, building Taiwan classroom experience, then applying to TFETP in year two is a practical and common pathway.
Can I moonlight with private tutoring alongside my main teaching job?
Technically, private tutoring on the side is not authorised under a standard work visa (ARC) tied to a specific employer. Some teachers do it informally; the practical enforcement is low for small-scale individual tutoring. However, the TEFL Org explicitly notes this and it’s worth being aware. The safest approach: check your specific employment contract for exclusivity or moonlighting clauses; ensure any private tutoring isn’t competing directly with your employer’s student base; keep any tutoring informal and small-scale. Corporate English training through a separate licensed channel is a cleaner route than informal private tutoring if this income is important to your financial plan.
Ready to teach English abroad?
Taiwan’s night markets, Taroko Gorge, bubble tea origin story, and one of Asia’s most welcoming TEFL markets. TEFL Heaven places teachers across Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America — browse our full program range to find your best fit.
TEFL Heaven · Placing teachers abroad since 2007 · 3,000+ teachers placed worldwide