Frequently asked questions.
I have a lot of teaching experience, does none of these years of experience get factored into my projected salary?
The government of Chiayi only factors experience in the same program in the calculation of your salary.
How many days of holiday will I have?
The contract is 11 months long, so you will have the summer holiday off.
Are there winter and summer camps? And if not, would I have to be on campus the full 8 hours?
During winter and summer breaks, you will have to be in school during working hours, either for teaching or for preparing classes. There might be some camps. Usually winter camps last 2-5 days and summer camps last 2-10 days.
How is the apartment searching conducted when the foreign teacher arrives? Will I have to live in a hotel first?
You will have to provide your budget and preferences (kitchen, rooms, …). The coordinator will find a few options (2-3) around a week before your arrival. If you don’t like the options, you will have to stay in a hotel first (own cost) and look for an apartment yourself (with local help).
What is the actual salary after all taxes?
As for the tax, the first 6 months you will have to pay 18%. This will be deducted from your salary by the school. Starting from the 7th month you only have to pay 5% of tax. If in that year you have stayed for longer than 183 days in Taiwan, you can get a tax refund of 13% for the first 6 months. This is a cycle that repeats every year starting from January. Our coordinator will help you apply for the tax refund.
Since I'm currently unemployed, will the school pay the rent upfront?
You will get a housing stipend of 5000 NT per month. However, schools will not pay your salary up front. Coordinators will help you negotiate that the rent deposit will be paid in two months instead of one month with the landlord.
Is there a maximum number of overtime hours I can be assigned per week?
Normally you don't have to work overtime. Your contract states that you will have to work 40 hours a week. If in exceptional circumstances you are asked to work overtime, e.g. during a school event, you may use these hours as a compensatory leave in the following weeks.
When are the school holidays?
Winter break (2-3 weeks around CNY), summer break (July-august) and public holidays.
Is there a teaching plan or do I have to come up with the teaching material?
There will be a year curriculum, but how that is implemented is up to the teacher.
Will I get my ARC, visa, police declaration, work permit, … reimbursed?
Personal documents are for your own cost. Work permit is paid for by the school.
When will I be required to land in Taiwan?
The coordinator will discuss this with you. This will depend on the status of your work permit.