Public schools
Teachers in positions at public schools in Taiwan are generally placed through teaching programmes, such as the FET programme discussed above. This means that, while not a hard-and-fast rule, it's most likely that you’ll need to have a valid teaching certification in order to land a position at a public school. Although not always the case, the majority of those who do meet this requirement will usually end up teaching at high school level, instead of at elementary schools or middle schools.
The perks of working at a Taiwanese public school include a good salary, weekends off, input into the curriculum, and an end-of-contract bonus. On the other hand, working hours can be long and class sizes can be much larger than those in private schools.
If you do end up teaching English in Taiwan at a public school, you can expect to make somewhere in the region of NT$50,000 – NT$65,000 (£1,335 – £1,735 / $1,700 – $2,220) per month.
Private language schools
Unlike some other countries in Asia, private schools tend to be slightly less well-paid than Taiwan public schools. But, with smaller class sizes and extra benefits like paid holidays and housing allowances, this is where most teachers in Taiwan want to be.
On average, private schools in Taiwan will pay around NT$50,000 – NT$60,000 (£1,335 – £1,620 / $1,700 – $2,000 ) per month. Working hours will vary depending on the type of school but will usually be between 16-25 hours per week.
Private schools in Taiwan will often accept those who aren't a certified teacher, as well as those without any teaching experience. This makes a private school position the best option for new ESL teachers and those who are just starting their teaching English abroad journey. If you prefer teaching young children, a private school is probably your best bet. You'll usually have your own classroom and, if you're working at a private international school, often some say in the teaching curriculum.