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Location
  • Taiwan
    • Taipei
Length
52+ weeks

Program Details

Job Type
Government

Pricing

Salary / Benefits
We offer positions all over the island of Taiwan. The average salary for a first-year teacher is between $1,600 and $2,000USD. Some of our schools offer a flight stipend or a contract completion bonus, while others include paid holidays and other perks. The cost of living in Taiwan is extremely low, so you can expect to save a large portion of your paycheck once you're set up. Taiwan also offers an excellent Universal Health Care plan to all employees.
May 03, 2019
Aug 11, 2018
Wish List
55 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Do you enjoy travel? Do you enjoy being around children? Do you think you have what it takes to be a creative and inspirational teacher? If so, then teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) may be the perfect opportunity for you. Reach to Teach staff are all former ESL teachers from countries around the world. We understand the business and care about our teachers and their students. The schools we represent are among the best in the business.

When you arrive at your school, our support does not end. We are there to help you through your exciting year of cultural challenges and adventures. We currently have many exciting opportunities in Taiwan. Reach to Teach is a FREE ESL Teacher Placement service. All you NEED is a 4 year degree, but you MUST have a great imagination and sense of adventure! If you would rather be experiencing the varied cultures of the world instead of the inside of a cubicle, this is for you!

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Video and Photos

Children in a Taiwanese classroom

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Program Reviews

4.81 Rating
based on 37 reviews
Leave a Review
  • 5 rating 89.19%
  • 4 rating 8.11%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 2.7%
  • Benefits 4.75
  • Support 4.85
  • Fun 4.6
  • Facilities 4.7
  • Safety 4.9
Showing 25 - 32 of 37 reviews
Default avatar
joymeckes
39
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Reach to Teach in Taiwan

Sep 2, 2011

Reach to Teach got me my first TEFL job ever in Taiwan. At first glance, it almost seemed too good to be true, but it really exceeded my expectations.

After being waitlisted for the JET program, which was an extremely long process, I was very eager to find another way to get to Asia. I applied to RTT, and was surprised by how quickly they got back to me. I had an interview with Mitch within a few days, and got a decision almost immediately. Even though it was already May and I wanted to be there by the end of June, RTT managed to match me with a school and help me get my papers in order so quickly, that I got there before July.

Throughout my time in Taiwan, RTT was a great resource for socializing and getting to know Taipei. They regularly organized weekend activities, and I made some lifelong friends during my time there. Really, I couldn't be more pleased with how much they helped me. Taiwan was a life-changing year for me, and I couldn't have experienced it without RTT. I strongly recommend them if you're considering teaching in Taiwan.

54 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Charlotte88
31
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Reach to Teach

Aug 28, 2011

I found the support given by RTT to be really great. The monthly meetings (although I have only been to one) are a great way to meet other teachers and it was nice to meet other people who were also just new in Taiwan and in the same boat as me. I trust RTT selects the schools carefully and I know if I have any troubles I can go to Carrie for help. The school I am at is really friendly, and although the first week has had quite a few challenges, I am really happy to be teaching there for the next year.

I would recommend anyone looking to teach in Taiwan to use RTT. It is such a new and confusing experience moving to a new country and having support really does make all the difference.

52 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
portteach
49
Male
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An opportunity to teach in Asia

Aug 23, 2011

Reach to Teach found a set me up with a great program to teach ESL in Taiwan. They were courteous and very pro-active as far as finding a placement for me. I would recommend Reach to Teach to anyone looking to teach ESL in a foreign country.

51 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Alan
49
Male
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Reach to Teach

Jul 19, 2011

I was impressed by the additional support offered by RTT. When the time came to renegotiate my contract, I contacted the RTT guys and asked for some help. I got taken to coffee and a chat. Mitch Gordon wanted to know what I was looking for. From that point he guided me and help me get exactly what I wanted. With his help we weighed up the possible options. When the time came to negotiate, I got more than I expected. RTT areprofessional and well organised. THey also, ulike many other recruiters are prepared to do what they promise.

55 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Annanaqu
39
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

If you're going to teach in Taiwan, do it HERE!

Jul 15, 2011

Mitch and the support at RTT are trustworthy, well organized and fun. Taiwan can be an intimating place so its great to be set up with a group of bright-eyed teachers in the same position.

Highly, highly recommended! Get out there and explore :)

54 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Alex
39
Male
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Great Experience with Reach To Teach from Interview to Contract Expiry

Jul 14, 2011

Reach To Teach was side by side with me during my initial research process, through the interview and acceptance stage, at my arrival in Taiwan, and during my year.... they even gave me nice fair well to boot.

The company structure is extremely solid and professional and the people working for RTT maintain this reputation. Right off the bat I found the company was responsive, informative, honest, and genuine. I never felt I was being "sold" or pushed to do something but rather I always felt I was having a conversation with a group of people that were genuinely trying to find the best fit for me.

RTT answered all my questions in the time leading up to my arrival in Taiwan and really helped me prepare physically and psychologically. Then, upon arrival, I had the chance to meet with other RTT teachers through sponsored events and networking implemented by RTT.

During the year I had a few small problems and RTT staff were always willing to help. They created an incredible environment for me during my year in Taiwan both on the professional side (teaching) and the social side. It was truly one of the best years of my life and some of the people I met during that year have remained as some of my best friends.

Honestly, Reach To Teach is an incredibly well run company that provides professional service, expert advice, and genuine care for teachers. They have my full endorsement!!

55 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
VSage
39
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Very Dedicated and Helpful Organization

Jul 10, 2011

When my boyfriend and I decided to teach English in Taiwan we showed up at a hostel with a little money, no experience and a lot of hope. We contacted Reach to Teach after we arrived and they were very quick to respond. When we first sat down for an interview we thought they were too good to be true, it must be a scam! We couldn't have been more wrong. They were totally genuine, knowledgeable and truly dedicated to putting good teachers with good schools. They placed us in jobs within 2 weeks and were there for us until the day we left. The support was amazing. Reach to Teach is more like a community than a recruiting agency. I attribute my great experience in Taiwan to finding Reach to Teach.

54 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
jonnyserio
49
Male
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Broadening my reach

Jul 10, 2011

Leaving everything I knew in NY to find my way in the world wasn't an easy thing to do all alone. Working with Reach to Teach made it such a painless experience. They set me up with an interview at a great school, which ended up being a job that I took - and kept - for nearly 4 years. I felt so supported by RTT staff every step of the way; if I had a question about the job, my school, the law of the land/culture, or where to get the best hot pot in town ... there was always someone ready to take my call (or email) or hand and set me on the right path. I have heard plenty of horror stories, but one thing that stands out as respects RTT: they're primary purpose isn't to place as many teachers as possible and make as many NT dollars as they can. They want to find the best schools and the best educators and help them find a happy harmony. I truly felt, in all my years of interactions with RTT, that they had both my best interests and the interests of the schools (read: the students) in mind. That makes Reach to Teach different, and better, than the rest.

52 people found this review helpful.
Helpful

Questions & Answers

When is a good time to apply?

Hi, I'm keen to know more and apply for this program. I am located in Saudi Arabia at the moment. My current contract expires, May 2016. When is the best time to apply?

By Stephen May on April 5, 2016

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Jennifer Gemmell

Program
Reach To Teach - English Teaching Jobs in Taiwan
Duncan Hardock hails from Washington DC while Jennifer Gemmell is from pretty much all over the United States. They are both graduates of Colby College and just completed their contracts with Teach and Learn with Georgia. You can read more about their adventure at Mzad Var. Jennifer took all of the epic photos and Duncan wrote all of the poetical paragraphs. Both of them really miss the taste of guacamole.

Why inspired you two to teach ESL?

Duncan & Jennifer: We’re both pretty big nerds. We loved college and everything that came with it. We know we want to go back to school someday, but like many just-grads, we don’t know exactly what we want to study. Sometimes, and we’re being completely serious here, teaching ESL is the perfect way to buy yourself a couple of years to think about what comes next.

It’s not always easy, but it’s really a great deal. We’re getting paid to travel to amazing places and teach something we’re already good at. Most of the time, you don’t even have to jump through too many hoops to do so. Our application process wasn’t exactly painless, but we ended up in a great place.

Market in Georgia

Why did you choose Reach to Teach?

Duncan & Jennifer:The biggest hurdle throughout our job search was the fact that we were applying as a couple. It made everything complicated and we needed a program that was willing to work with us.

Sometimes, all you’re looking for is someone to make a genuine effort to get to know you. Everyone wants to be more than a number, and that’s never more true than when you’re looking for a job. A friend recommended Reach to Teach to us, and we sent an email outlining our situation. John Kellenberger, one of the Co-Presidents, called us personally and we talked on the phone for more than an hour that first night. This was after weeks of waiting on email after email from every other shadowy enterprise we were inquiring after. It was a breath of fresh air. By the end of the conversation, we knew we were working with the right people.

Please describe the application process/obstacles for couples wanting to teach abroad?

Duncan & Jennifer:The fact of the matter is that dealing with couples is a headache for every program. Some programs are willing to put up with it, but others aren’t, and pretty much every program that was even willing to look at our joint application had stipulations in their contract saying they would try to place couples together, but they weren’t willing to promise anything.

If you’re married, it becomes much easier, but we aren’t married yet. I still remember laughing when John jokingly asked us to get married just because that would make everything a whole lot simpler. But we didn’t want to rush a marriage for the sake of a job application.

Sometimes you just have to take a risk. We spent our first week in Georgia in Eastern Europe not knowing for sure whether we would be living in the same house or across the country from each other. That was scary, but at least we were ready for it.

Reach to Teach was with us every step of the way. They made sure we knew what we were getting ourselves into and worked with the program to make sure we had the best possible chances to be together. Everything worked out in the end!

Describe your day to day activities as teachers in Georgia.

Duncan & Jennifer: We’re kind of in the middle of nowhere, but not in a bad way. We live in a pretty small village in the wine-region in Eastern Georgia, and share a bedroom in our host-family’s house. We work every weekday, but the hours aren’t grueling. We have a total of 16 classes a week with 1stthrough 6th graders which we co-teach with a local teacher. The hardest thing about our experience has been not having our own place. Even when school is over for the day, we never really get a break from teaching. We have host-brothers and sisters to tutor and being foreigners in a small village like this is like being a celebrity; everyone wants a piece of us. But living with a host family comes with a lot of upside. It’s the best way to really experience a foreign culture and there is so much we would have missed without it.

Duncan & Jennifer together in Georgia

How has this experience impacted your relationship?

Duncan & Jennifer: It's definitely a test, and not one to be taken lightly. Teaching abroad is an isolating experience; it really makes you appreciate your friendships. Living here as a couple definitely lessens that sting of loneliness, but you kind of end up having to be everything for your partner. You become each other’s confidants, practice partners, shoulders to cry on when one is desperately needed, and nurses when disease inevitably strikes. All of these responsibilities add up. It’s like being stuck in a canoe together; you have to be willing to work with each other, or the pressure can really start to break you apart.

But when it works, it’s the best. We get to grow together, see the world, and share this absolutely amazing experience.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Carrie Kellenberger

Program
Reach To Teach - English Teaching Jobs in Taiwan
Carrie Kellenberger, co-owner of Reach To Teach Recruiting, is a Canadian expat. She moved to Asia in 2003. Carrie lived in Northern China for her first three years abroad before relocating to Taipei, Taiwan with her husband in 2006. Carrie still works with Reach To Teach teachers in China and Taiwan, but her primary duties at Reach To Teach are now focused on client development, marketing and advertising, and overseeing the day-to-day operations at Reach To Teach.
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What position do you hold at Reach to Teach? What has been your career path?

I’m a Canadian expat, living abroad in Asia since 2003. I lived in Northern China for my first three years abroad. My husband and I moved to Taipei, Taiwan through the Reach To Teach Program in 2006. We became the new owners of Reach To Teach in June 2012. My role offers many responsibilities and brings me into contact with many different people and countries. As a company, all our goals are centered on a very simple and important phrase: “To match great teachers with great schools”. My job is to make sure this happens. We are definitely not your average recruiting company. We take our responsibilities to both our teachers and the schools that we work with very seriously. Our service is completely free for teachers.

Did YOU teach abroad? If so, where did you go and what inspired you to go?!

My husband and I both came to Taiwan as Reach To Teach teachers, so let me start by saying that it is a company we have believed in and supported 100% right from the start. We joined the program when it had just started, and throughout the years we have received nothing but amazing support from the staff at Reach To Teach. We have also met dozens of new teachers and made friends that will last us a lifetime.

How have you seen the ESL industry change since you've started teaching English?

We’ve seen a sharp increase in the number of applicants in recent years. More and more people are realizing that teaching abroad is not only a viable career option, but also a means to travel, pay off student loans, and ride out an unstable job market in their home countries. Consequently, we are seeing many applicants who are very well-qualified to teach overseas. Schools are now demanding that teachers have more qualifications, and the competition for those jobs can get quite fierce.

The emergence of new markets, such as China, also plays an important role in the ESL industry. China was once known for taking almost anyone on as a teacher, but those days are pretty much gone. Just recently, the Chinese government changed the requirements to teach English in China. For many teaching jobs you need to have graduated at least two years ago and ideally have some teaching or education experience. Places like South Korea continue to mature in terms of reliability and excellent remuneration packages, while Taiwan continues to attract teachers that are looking for a competitive salary offset by a low cost of living and tropical lifestyle!

What about the future of the ESL industry? How do you think teaching abroad will change over the next 10 years?

The days of arriving in a country with a backpack and the expectation of finding a job are pretty much gone. You simply can’t land in a country like South Korea or China and expect to find a job by knocking on doors. Taiwan has been known in the past for having plenty of jobs for everyone, but the truth is that the job market in Taiwan is dwindling. We get phone calls and applications every day from teachers who are in Taiwan and are unable to find work. It’s getting harder and harder to find a good teaching job without arranging for a job in advance. Today, it’s all about planning ahead and beating out the competition. That’s why Reach To Teach works with the best teachers. All of our teachers are well prepared and ready to go with their teaching adventures abroad.

Furthermore, teaching requirements are becoming stricter, especially in terms of TEFL qualifications. In the last few years we have seen a big shift in schools preferring applicants that hold a TEFL qualification. Schools are becoming much more selective about who they hire and a TEFL qualification is one of the best ways to be selected. In many schools, a 100+ hour TEFL course will allow you to qualify for a higher salary.

Do you have any tips for teachers applying through a recruiter, such as Reach to Teach?

Be sure this is something that feels right for you. Are you excited about working overseas? Are you committed to working abroad for a year? Before you apply, ask yourself what your reasons are for teaching abroad. Are you ready for the highs and lows of the challenge that lies ahead?

- Complete the application form as thoroughly as you possibly can. The more information you give us, the better we’ll be able to assist you.
- Read our FAQ page and contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Make sure you read up on TEFL and CELTA qualifications.
- In your interview, be upbeat and personable. Give us an idea of what you’re going to be like in the classroom. Show us your ideas and charisma. Be yourself.

About Reach to Teach

As any ESL Teacher can tell you, finding a good teaching job abroad can be difficult. Similarly, a lot of ESL schools feel that finding a good teacher is equally difficult. This is where we at Reach To Teach come in. Our motto is matching great teachers with great schools. There are a lot of ESL jobs available abroad, however it can be difficult to...

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