Teaching English in Taiwan is big business. While the established schools possess the lion’s share of the action, it is easily possible to take on private students to supplement one’s income. In fact parents from your school and even your school may ask you to teach private lessons.
Note that it is technically ILLEGAL to do this without a license, and can result in ARC (visa) cancellation. However, most teachers in Taiwan do teach private students and at more than one school but you need to remain committed to your contract/ARC school. Most contracts have a clause stating that you cannot work at other schools for legal reasons but they also understand that you may teach elsewhere.
That being said, many Taiwanese want the one on one attention of a foreign teacher. And they are willing to pay for it. Foreign teachers take advantage of this, but of course it’s all on the down-low.
Without any sort of advertising or effort you will be approached to teach private classes. The classes can range from teaching children to University students to teaching a group of adults at a business. Depending on your negotiating skills, number of hours, and location in Taiwan you can make anywhere from $700NT to $1,500NT+ per hour. It may be less if it is a lot of hours or in a smaller town.
Teaching privates is also quite easy, most of the time they just want to be around a foreigner and have simple books/questions that they already want to review for their classes.
Pros for teaching Private Classes in Taiwan
- Huge increase in income if the student becomes regular.
- You set your own hours, and things become very flexible.
- No taxes, cash only.
- Easy networking opportunities with well to do, successful folks (who are usually the only ones that can afford private lessons). They may also refer you to other students.
Cons for teaching Private Classes in Taiwan
- Technically it is not legal.
- Travel time to the student’s house is unpaid, but sometimes they will come to your house or meet where you want to.
- Some privates can be unreliable, canceling when you get there or just not showing up without prior notice. It is important to come to an agreement if either party cancels.
