If youâre heading to Taiwan to teach English, youâre stepping into a country where education is a big deal. Taiwanese students start learning English from a young age, and many attend after-school classes, weekend tutoring, or cram schools on top of regular school. Thereâs real pressure to performâespecially when it comes to standardized testsâand English plays a huge role in academic and career success.
That said, teaching English in Taiwan isnât just about grammar and vocabulary. Itâs about understanding the cultural values that shape the classroom. Teachers are seen as authority figures. Students are often respectful, diligent, and well-behavedâbut they may also be shy, hesitant to speak up, or afraid of making mistakes.
To be an effective teacher here, it helps to know more than just your lesson plan. Youâll need to navigate classroom dynamics, communicate with students who may not talk much at first, and build trust in a learning environment that can be very different from what you're used to.
In this article, weâll walk you through:
Whether you're just getting started or looking to improve your classroom experience, this guide will help you teach with more confidenceâand get more out of your time in Taiwan.
One of the first things youâll notice when teaching in Taiwan is that the classroom setup can vary quite a bit depending on the type of school you're in. Public schools, buxibans (cram schools), and international schools each come with their own rhythm, structure, and expectations. Understanding these differences will help you adapt quickly and teach more effectively.
Public schools usually run from early morning until mid-afternoon, and English classes are just one part of a packed academic schedule. As a foreign teacher, youâre often brought in to teach speaking and listeningâskills that local teachers may not emphasize as much.
This setup means you'll have to bring the energy and creativity to get students talkingâespecially since they might be shy or afraid of making mistakes.
Buxibans are private after-school academies where students go in the late afternoon or eveningâafter a full day of regular school. These schools are more fast-paced, business-oriented, and focused on results.
Buxiban jobs are a great way to gain experience and earn a decent salary, but they can be demanding in terms of energy and scheduleâespecially if you're teaching into the evening.
These schools cater to children of expats and upper-middle-class locals and follow international curriculums (e.g., IB, AP, or British systems). English is the main language of instruction.
If you have teaching credentials or experience in your home country, international schools are a great optionâbut theyâre competitive and often require a teaching license.
No matter where you work, your main role is to provide natural English exposureâespecially in speaking, pronunciation, and listening. You're expected to make the language come alive in a way local teachers usually canât.
That said, your status in the classroom may be different depending on the school. In public schools, you're more of a guest teacher. In buxibans, you're the main act. And in international schools, you're a full team member.
Taiwanese classrooms often reflect a deep respect for authority. Students may stand when you enter, greet you in unison, and be reluctant to challenge what you say. Itâs not personalâitâs cultural.
As a teacher, youâre expected to be kind but firm, enthusiastic but professional. Earning respect here isnât about being strictâitâs about being consistent, prepared, and fair. Once students feel safe and supported, theyâll begin to relax, speak more, and genuinely engage.
Every student is different, of courseâbut when teaching in Taiwan, youâll start to notice some cultural patterns that shape how your learners behave in class. Understanding where your students are coming from, both socially and academically, will help you connect with them more easily and tailor your lessons more effectively.
In general, Taiwanese students are extremely respectful toward their teachers. Theyâre raised in a culture that values hierarchy, hard work, and humility, so youâll often find your students:
But this respect often comes with a side of shyness. Many students are hesitant to speak in class, especially when it comes to pronunciation or forming full sentences. This isnât lazinessâitâs fear of making mistakes, losing face, or being laughed at by their peers.
Education in Taiwan is competitive. Students grow up with a strong focus on standardized tests, rankings, and academic performanceâand that pressure starts young. English is a core subject on entrance exams for high school and university, which means:
One of your biggest jobs as a foreign teacher is to make English feel safe and funâa break from pressure, not another source of it.
Different age groups come with their own strengths, challenges, and classroom personalities:
In Taiwan, youâll likely find students who know English on paperâbut freeze up when asked to actually use it. Thatâs because much of their prior learning has focused on reading, writing, and test prep. Your role as a foreign teacher is to flip that script: bring the language to life and help students feel confident using it.
Here are proven teaching strategies that work well with Taiwanese learners:
Many students are afraid of making mistakes or being corrected in front of others. The key to unlocking their potential is creating a space where it's okay to stumble, experiment, and grow.
Confidence, not grammar accuracy, is the first step to fluencyâand youâll need to build that trust every day.
Taiwanese students already get plenty of grammar and reading practice in school. What they often lack is real, meaningful exposure to spoken English.
Start small with sentence frames or speaking prompts, and gradually build toward full conversations. Even simple exchanges help students feel theyâre âreally usingâ the language.
To help shy or hesitant students speak up:
Remember, many students can speakâthey just donât believe they can yet.
Engagement is everythingâespecially in cram schools or afternoon classes when students are already tired from a full day at regular school.
Effective interactive tools include:
These not only make learning fun but also take the pressure off speakingâespecially for students who donât want to be the center of attention.
The ideal teaching style varies depending on where youâre working:
Teaching English to students who arenât fully fluent can feel like a balancing actâyou want to be clear and accessible, but you also want to challenge them and model natural English. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to communicate effectively, even if your students are just starting out.
Good classroom English isnât baby talkâitâs clear, purposeful, and well-paced. Focus on:
Avoid overly idiomatic or complex language, especially in the early stages. But donât water everything downâchallenge them gently with natural phrasing and expressions theyâll hear in the real world.
When words fail, your body and the board can do the talking.
The goal is to create a classroom environment where students can follow alongâeven when they donât understand every word.
Giving clear directions is one of the most important skills youâll develop. When your students are still building their language foundation, use a three-step approach:
Avoid multi-step instructions at first. Break things down. Say one thing, get it done, then move on to the next.
Using Mandarin in the classroom is a personal choiceâand it depends on your setting.
In most cases, especially in cram schools and public programs, you're encouraged to stick to English only to promote immersion. However, there are a few exceptions where knowing a few key Mandarin phrases can be helpful:
If you do use Mandarin, keep it brief and intentional. You want students to rely on their English skillsânot wait for the Chinese shortcut.
One of the hardest parts for students is speaking when they know only a few words. Your job is to make it feel possibleâand fun.
Try these techniques:
Itâs not about perfect grammarâitâs about getting students to speak, make mistakes, and build confidence with every attempt.
Teaching in Taiwan isnât just about mastering classroom management or lesson planningâitâs about understanding the cultural values that shape how your students behave, learn, and interact with you. The more culturally aware you are, the more effectively you can teach, connect, and create an environment where your students thrive.
Taiwanâs education system is competitive, and students are under a lot of pressure to perform. Starting at a young age, theyâre preparing for exams that determine everything from middle school placement to university admission. English is a core subject, and doing well is often seen as a path to a better future.
This pressure comes not only from the school but also from parents, who may have high expectations or compare their childâs performance to others. As a result:
As a foreign teacher, your role is often to balance the pressure with encouragement. You're not just an English teacherâyouâre someone who can make learning feel a little less stressful and a lot more human.
In Taiwanese culture, respect and reputation matter deeplyâespecially in the classroom.
Understanding this dynamic is key. Instead of calling out errors publicly, try:
Respect works both ways: when students feel safe and seen, theyâre more likely to open up.
Western classrooms often reward students who speak up, debate, or show initiative. In Taiwan, quietness doesnât mean disengagementâit often means students are listening, processing, or waiting for the ârightâ answer.
Many students blossom with consistency and encouragement. You might be surprised how much a âquietâ class can grow over time.
Feedback is a powerful toolâbut it can either inspire growth or cause shutdown, depending on how itâs delivered. In a culture that values modesty and indirect communication, consider these approaches:
Strong relationships are at the heart of every great classroom. In Taiwan, where students are often taught to respect authority and avoid standing out, itâs especially important to strike the right balance between being a respected teacher and a trusted, approachable mentor.
Hereâs how you can build meaningful, positive connections with your studentsâregardless of age or English level.
Taiwanese students generally come from structured, rule-based classrooms. Theyâre used to respecting the teacherâs authority, but they still need clear boundaries and consistent expectations.
This sets the tone: youâre someone they can rely onânot just to teach, but to lead.
One of the easiest ways to build rapport is to show that you see your students as people, not just learners.
These small moments create trust and connection, especially with students who are shy or unsure about using English. When they feel like you genuinely care, they become more comfortable participating and taking risks in class.
Students will naturally look up to you as the teacherâbut that doesnât mean you have to be distant or overly formal.
The goal is to be the kind of teacher who is warm but respected, someone students enjoy learning from without feeling like the rules donât apply.
Itâs common in Taiwan to have students who barely speak in classâespecially younger ones or those new to English. Donât assume theyâre not interested or paying attention. Instead:
Over time, youâll often see quiet students slowly open up. Some may even become your most engaged learners once they feel safe.
Teaching in Taiwan is incredibly rewarding, but like any teaching job, it comes with its own set of challenges. Whether youâre in a public school, cram school, or tutoring privately, youâll likely encounter a few common roadblocks along the way. Knowing what to expectâand how to handle itâcan make all the difference in your day-to-day experience.
This is probably the most universal challenge foreign teachers face in Taiwan. Many students are shy or hesitant to speak up in class, even when they understand the material. Why? Because theyâre afraid of saying the wrong thing and âlosing face.â
To help them feel safe:
The more you encourage risk-taking and reduce pressure, the more confident your students will become over time.
Because the education system in Taiwan is so test-focused, many students are used to memorizing answers, translating word-for-word, and sticking to textbook formulas. While this might help with written exams, it can hinder fluency and natural communication.
What you can do:
Your role is to show them that English is a tool for communication, not just a subject to pass.
Many students come to your class after a full day at school or work. By the time you see them, they might be tired, hungry, or mentally checked out. This is especially true in cram schools or evening programs.
To keep them engaged:
Sometimes a little energy from you is all it takes to re-light the spark.
Flexibility is key in Taiwan. Schools might change your schedule, cancel classes, or ask you to sub with short notice. Students might miss class for cram school exams, family obligations, or illness (especially during flu season).
Tips to handle this:
Donât take it personallyâjust roll with it and stay adaptable. Teachers who go with the flow tend to have a much better experience.
One of the most impactful things you can do as an English teacher in Taiwan is to adapt your materials to better suit your students. Textbooks are a starting point, but theyâre rarely one-size-fits-all. Many are designed for generic global learners and donât always align with the interests, abilities, or cultural context of Taiwanese students.
By customizing your lessons, you can make them more engaging, relevant, and effectiveâand youâll likely enjoy teaching them more, too.
Many textbooks are either too easy or too hard, especially in cram schools where studentsâ skill levels vary widelyâeven within the same class. Some pages may fly by, while others feel like a grind.
To tailor materials more effectively:
Your students will be more motivated if the lesson feels like it was made for themânot just pulled from a book.
Cultural relevance boosts comprehension and interest. If your textbook talks about Halloween or Thanksgiving, students might go through the motionsâbut if you bring in Mid-Autumn Festival, Lunar New Year, or Bubble Tea Day, suddenly the classroom lights up.
Try:
When students see their own world reflected in the lesson, they connect more deeply with the language.
Donât be afraid to bring the âoutside worldâ into your classroom. Whether your students are into K-dramas, PokĂŠmon, BTS, or video games, tapping into these interests makes learning feel natural and relevant.
Some ideas:
If it gets them talking, itâs a win.
Most schools provide a curriculum or set of booksâbut that doesnât mean youâre stuck using them word-for-word. In fact, the best teachers know when to stick to the script and when to throw it out.
Signs itâs time to switch things up:
When you do go off-script, keep it purposeful. Align your creative activities with skill goals (listening, speaking, writing, etc.) so that they still feel like âreal learningâ to students and supervisors alike.
One of the most powerful things you can do as a teacher in Taiwan is help students see English as more than just a school subject. For many, English is tied to test scores, grades, and academic pressureâbut it can be so much more. By encouraging students to use English outside the classroom, youâll not only accelerate their learning, but also help them build real-world confidence and curiosity.
Encouraging students to take ownership of their learning makes a huge differenceâespecially for those who may be shy or lack classroom confidence.
Try these strategies:
Itâs not about homeworkâitâs about making English part of their everyday lives.
Give students fun, accessible tools to reinforce what they learn in class. Here are some great resources that work well across age groups:
Introducing these tools gives your students a chance to explore English on their own termsâand have fun with it.
Even if your schoolâs curriculum is textbook-heavy, try to weave in lessons that help students use English in real-world contexts:
These activities not only improve fluency but also make students feel more prepared for the futureâwhether thatâs travel, work, or social situations.
Especially for test-focused learners, itâs important to reframe English as a life skill, not just a school subject. Talk about:
If students start to see English as a tool for living, not just passing, their motivation and mindset will shift dramatically.
Teaching English in Taiwan isnât just another overseas jobâitâs an experience that challenges you, grows you, and often surprises you in the best ways. Taiwanese students are some of the most respectful, hardworking, and thoughtful learners youâll meet. They might be shy at first, but when they open up, theyâre funny, curious, and incredibly motivated.
What makes Taiwan truly unique is the balance between structure and warmth. Yes, the education system is intense and test-drivenâbut thatâs where you come in. As a foreign teacher, youâre not just there to cover grammar rules. Youâre there to spark confidence, build communication skills, and help students see English as something living and excitingânot just something written in a textbook.
Whether you're teaching in a busy buxiban, a public elementary school, or a relaxed one-on-one setting, your ability to adapt, stay patient, and bring creativity into the classroom will set you apart. And outside of work? Youâll find yourself in a beautiful, safe, and welcoming country full of street food, nature, and culture waiting to be explored.
If you're looking for a place where your teaching can truly make an impactâand where you can grow personally and professionally along the wayâTaiwan just might be the perfect match.
Helping teachers find jobs they will love.