How do you wake up in the morning? Does an alarm ring in your ear at 7am telling you to get up and get ready for work? Or do you just know that you need to be in the office by 830am and you naturally wake up at 7am? For many people this is how they start their day. However, I wake up and get out of bed when I feel ready. I am in no rush. Yes, I work and I have a job. I am an English teacher in Taiwan and that is how I start my day. For many people the idea of teaching English doesn t excite them, but if you are looking for a change of pace or would just like to get out of your current daily grind then it might be something you are considering. Teaching English in Taiwan, like any job, has its advantages and disadvantages. Regardless, I can t think of many other jobs that pay as well but give me as much freedom as teaching English does.
I am not a morning person. I don t hate the mornings, but I hate waking up thinking I have to be somewhere by 9am. I prefer to go at my own pace. Being a teacher here in Taiwan allows me to do that. I start work usually in the afternoons and I finish at nights. That kind of schedule isn t for everyone, but if you aren t a morning person and find that you get more done at nights, then it could be just what you are looking for. Having afternoon classes allows me the freedom to do what I want during the day. This could be just sitting and drinking coffee or maybe exploring the Chinese food and culture. Teaching in Taiwan gives you that opportunity to free up most of your day to do things you want to do. It could be anything from learning Chinese or pursuing other personal interests. Whatever it is you ll have plenty of time to do what you want.
Another great thing about being an English teacher in Taiwan is that for the most part my work is relatively stress free. I am not a sales person. I don t like to push people into buying something I know they don t want. It is probably this that lead me to teaching in the first place. At work, I am relatively free to do what I want. I know my job and I know what I need to do. As long as I do it I am left alone. If you are sick of sitting in a cubicle and having your boss walk past every few minutes, this change of work place environment might be what you are looking for. There aren t many jobs that give you as much freedom as teaching does.
Teaching English in Taiwan isn t for everyone. Just like any job, it might not be something you are really interested in. However, if you are looking for a way to earn some money while still having enough time to pursue your personal interests then being an English teacher in Taiwan could be what you are looking for.