Digital Nomads’ Guide to Teaching English in Taiwan

Ready for your next adventure? Teaching English in Taiwan offers an excellent blend of professional opportunities and cultural adventure for digital nomads. Here is everything you need to know to navigate the beautiful island nation Taiwan as a digital nomad English teacher. 

Why Taiwan?

A digital nomad is a person who works online (digital) and is location-independent (nomad). This means digital nomads can work from anywhere in the world. So why Taiwan? 

Taiwan is an island east of China. Despite its small size, it has a rich cultural heritage with a mix of fascinating Chinese, Japanese, and indigenous traditions and customs such as night markets, ancient temples, art, and beautiful natural landscapes.

Besides a rich cultural history, Taiwan has also heavily invested in technology and infrastructure. As a result, it has one of the fastest and most reliable internet connections in the world. Thanks to this modernization, larger cities like Taipei and Kaohsiung have a thriving international community with many networking events and co-working spaces. 

Taiwan, especially in comparison to western countries like the USA and the UK, has a very attractive cost of living. Even compared to nearer, very popular TEFL destinations like Japan and South Korea, it’s considerably cheaper to live in. That’s a real boost for newer TEFL teachers and those looking to save while they work. 

While Taiwan is affordable to live in, it still has an excellent healthcare system. Taiwanese citizens and expats alike can rest assured that they have access to quality medical facilities. Most expats enrol in the government-funded healthcare program called National Health Insurance (NHI), which covers about 80% to 90% of all your healthcare costs. 

The Landscape of English Teaching in Taiwan

Like many other Asian countries, Taiwan has a high demand for English teachers. The island emphasises heavily on international trade and tourism, which require being proficient in the English language. In 2019, Taiwan received over 11 million tourists. 

As an English teacher, you can find local employment in language schools, public schools, universities and colleges, or via private tutoring. For digital nomads, the excellent infrastructure and reliable internet connection means you can continue to teach English online, either freelance, for a company or a language learning platform. The benefit of being a digital nomad English teacher is that you can live in Taiwan, but teach online, anywhere in the world. No need to change jobs!

Important to know is that you do need to have the right qualifications to teach English. The specific minimum requirements will vary depending on the institution or platform, but most English teaching positions require at least a TEFL certification, in Taiwan or any other place in the world. TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. 

Getting Started

The most important step in the preparation process is researching the visa requirements for teaching English as a digital nomad. Depending on your nationality and the type of teaching position you’re pursuing, you may need to apply for a work visa (ARC) or a teaching visa (TECO). 

Navigating the Cultural Landscape

Working and living in a new country is exciting, but it also takes some time to adjust to the cultural landscape. 

Learning the local language is immensely helpful, and demonstrates respect for your new surroundings, even if you only learn a few phrases. Many Taiwanese people speak English, but learning basic Mandarin Chinese can greatly improve your ability to communicate with locals, especially in more rural areas. 

Understanding and respecting cultural norms is also important for expats and digital nomads who wish to spend time in Taiwan. Taiwan has a rich history of traditions and social customs such as saving face and hierarchical relationships. Saving face is the act of keeping personal and familial honour and integrity so it prevents individuals from losing respect for themselves or avoiding embarrassment. Taiwanese people also place great importance on humility and modesty in their interactions with others. 

A good way to fully understand the cultural norm is by building relationships with students, colleagues, and other local community members. Even if you are only staying in Taiwan for a little while before moving on, connecting with locals is the fastest and easiest way to immerse yourself in the local culture. 

Embracing the Nomadic Lifestyle

The “nomad” part of digital nomads means you are not bound by a certain place. This requires flexibility, resilience, and adaptability. But once you master the nomadic lifestyle, a whole new adventure awaits.

Tips for embracing the nomadic lifestyle include designing a flexible schedule with both work and free time for exploration, adopting a minimalist way of living and travelling light, immersing yourself in cultures by engaging with local communities, and connecting with other digital nomads. Crucially, it’s also important to maintain a healthy balance between work and life, prioritising self-care and the ability to see the world. 

Parts of Taiwan to explore as a digital nomad

Travel is a big part of the nomadic lifestyle and Taiwan has a lot to offer for adventures. The island is known for its natural beauty and diverse cultural heritage. The Central Mountain Range and the Yushan Range are majestic mountain ranges with beautiful vistas, diverse forests, and many types of outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. 

Being an island, Taiwan also has beaches. More precisely, a coastline stretching over 1.500 kilometres or 1.000 miles. You can find anything from sandy beaches to secluded coves and dramatic cliffs overlooking the ocean. Popular activities are beachcombing, surfing, snorkelling, and enjoying the sun. 

Next to natural beauty, Taiwan also has a rich cultural heritage with centuries-old traditions and spiritual practices. You can find ancient temples deep in the mountains and beautiful Buddhist monasteries perched atop cliffs. The historic streets of Jiufen, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, and the ancient capital of Tainan are just a few examples of sites worth visiting.
Interested in more? Head over here for more Taiwan Travel Tips for Educators.