Teaching abroad can be one of the most rewarding parts of a career path within the education system. It is a way to bring some knowledge of different cultures to foreign students, and it can be personally enriching for the professional development of the teachers themselves. Many who undertake this path will typically teach abroad for a few years on a visa. After this time, they may extend the visa for another period, or they might choose to return to their countries of origin. Once there, they will share some of the experiences and different teaching methods that they learned with other professionals in the field.
A great way to secure a job teaching overseas is by becoming a teacher of languages and cultures. The Taiwanese language is one such path, and you can secure a J-1 visa as a way to take your skills abroad. There are some benchmarks you’ll have to meet first, but J1Teachers can help you get there. We here at J1Teachers have spent many years helping prospective and active teachers just like you realize their dreams of traveling abroad for work. We can help you figure out what you need to do to apply, what you’ll be expected to know beforehand, and how to get where you’re going. Today, we’ll focus on Taiwan, and how any teachers who are native to or knowledgeable in this area can bring their skills to the United States.
How Can I Become a Taiwanese Language Teacher?
Also known as Taiwanese Hokkien, Taiwanese is one of several official national languages of the country of Taiwan. Although many residents of the country will have familiarity with at least one of the other national languages there, it is also true that more than half of them will have an understanding of Taiwanese. It is likely that Mandarin is one of the other primary languages, and that can be important for securing your position later. Before you apply for a J-1 visa program with J1Teachers, you should know that there are some expectations of education and work experience that you’ll need to complete beforehand.
Teachers who use the J-1 program to travel to the US for work will go to a particular school in a particular state. J1Teachers.com can help with this, and most candidates will try to choose a state that appeals to them. More specific placement may be based on the particular needs of the cities in that state. Before you apply, it is important to understand that different states have their own sets of rules that govern teaching proficiencies and requirements within them.
Many of the broader milestones will be the same throughout the country, but these things can change as focus narrows. Various states have certain guidelines that they want to meet for the benefit of their students. We will speak on this more in the next section, but you should be aware of it during your own training at home, particularly as the skills and experience you have might help you determine where to go in the US for teaching.
In addition to the educational requirements, the process of filling out forms, applying for the visa program, getting accepted, and finding placement are all things you’ll need to do if you want to teach this language in the US. Fortunately, J1Teachers.com employs people who have years of experience with this sort of thing. Everyone here can help you figure out the best ways to fill out and submit your documents, what kinds of things to talk about, how to show off your background, and how to make the skills you have to seem like a good fit for a US school in the state in which you’ve chosen to teach.
Useful information - https://www.j1teachers.com/post/guide-to-teacher-visas-in-the-usa
What Do I Need To Become a Taiwanese Teacher in the USA?
Your first step on your journey to becoming a teacher of Taiwanese language and culture for foreign students is to secure your own degree at home. Typically, you’ll need a bachelor’s in order to meet the minimum requirements of most schools that accept foreign teachers on a J-1 visa in the US. You can start with a bachelor’s in the field of education in general. After that, you can move on to more specific language and culture studies. If your school at home offers it, you may be able to find a way to complete both of these programs concurrently.
Because you may be the first point of contact for many US students who are learning more than just their native language, some mastery of English may be a requirement for some states or schools within various states. Even if you plan to teach at a school that has an immersive method of language learning, knowing some English is going to help you stand out from the rest of the candidates trying to apply. We recommend taking at least one course in learning English while you are completing the rest of your studies in your home country.
You’ll need to get certification in teaching Taiwanese to students. For this specialty, you will probably want to get some certification in Mandarin as well. In fact, it is possible that being able to speak some Mandarin will help with classroom management techniques. Although this part may not be required, it can be a useful way to help your US students understand how countries with more than one national language might work. For the most part, you may be working at a school that expects you to teach fully in another language as an immersive process for students. However, most of them will accept some level of English as a way to help new learners become more familiar with the basics of the foreign language that they are trying to absorb.
Taiwanese Language Teacher Certification
If your school at home offers a course in Taiwanese languages and culture, it is best to enroll in that. Even if you cannot find an institution that offers this at home, you may be able to find one that offers some courses in East Asian studies. This will be slightly broader, but it can still contain useful information that helps you bolster the skills and knowledge you’ll need in order to teach Taiwanese to students in the US.
We mentioned Mandarin earlier as well, and it is possible that you’ll need to complete a program that certifies you in that, even though your primary focus will be on Taiwan. Although many US schools won’t expect this, it can help you on your application. Further, there may be some schools in your own country that expect this route as the most typical path to gaining knowledge about the various languages and aspects of culture in Taiwan. In either case, you’ll go for more specific language training after obtaining your general degree in education. Keep in mind that, for many US schools, teaching about the whole culture of the country of your choice is an expectation.
The Importance of Taiwanese Language or Culture Teachers
Taiwan has a long and storied history, and this includes relations with various other countries nearby, the settlements of different ethnic groups in the region, a contentious political status on the world stage, and several languages used throughout. It may not be as popular as some of the larger nations, but it is clear that there are rich and varied opportunities for learning here. This is doubly true for US students who may not know much about the region or its people from their general history courses. You can fill this void by bringing some knowledge and understanding about the country to your students, and J1Teachers.com is here to help with that.
Required Skills for a Taiwanese Language Teacher
Expert knowledge of the languages, cultures, customs, and history of the region is a must for any candidates who want to teach about Taiwan in the US. However, most schools will expect some softer skills that can come in handy, too. Knowing how to teach content at specific grade levels to students of particular ages is a good starting point. Additionally, good listening skills, classroom management, and lesson planning are all crucial. Although you may have your own style of teaching, knowing how to be flexible and able to meet the needs of a diverse range of students is also important.
Conclusion
The US has a great need for competent taiwanese teachers, and the country works with many nations to bring professionals in from abroad to help manage students and teach new skills for a few years. Though the process can seem overwhelming at first, J1Teachers.com has your back. We can help you start out on the right path to meet this end goal. Please feel free to register with us today, and don’t hesitate to ask any questions. We’re here with you for this whole journey.
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