Teach English Abroad and Change Happens (TEACH) Fellowship in Taiwan

Please email TeachingFellowsTaiwan@iie.org if you have questions.

You must be a citizen of the United States of America.

Due to government policies related to foreign teacher credentials, you must be a native speaker of English.

Retired certified teachers are welcome to apply

There is no Chinese language requirement.

If applicants have a teaching certification, they don’t need a TEFL/TESOL certificate.  

Yes, if you have a state-issued teaching certificate, you are eligible to apply.

There is no minimum work experience, though those who have teaching experience will be more competitive. More information can be provided in the Eligibility section. 

The list of accredited universities and colleges is based on the Database for the Reference List of Foreign Universities from the Ministry of Education, Republic of China (Taiwan) website. If your institution is not on the list, you may be eligible for an exception and should contact AICEE.

Any degree is OK; although applicants with education degrees are preferred. 

Yes, retired certified teachers are welcome to apply for the fellowship.

Yes, however, applicants without prior teaching experiences in either Taiwan or other countries are highly advised (but not required) to provide education or teaching qualifications that are either certified through Republic of China (Taiwan) Embassies and Missions or verified by a recognized credential evaluation agency [such as WES (World Education Service), NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Service), Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACESC), and International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)].

No previous overseas experience is necessary, but it is preferred.

You need your passport and visa to come to Taiwan. 

Start dates will vary by school assignment, but the fellowship recipients are expected to travel to Taiwan in August 2024 until the end of June 2025 (Academic Year of 2024-2025). 

The program provides a stipend, outlined in the Program Benefits, which can be used for research, but direct research support is not provided.  

There are a number of differences between public and private school placements. Most fellows will be based at public schools; the number of private placements is limited. Some of the other main differences are as follows:

  • Public schools are all in Taipei City; the private school is in New Taipei City, Linkou about 1 hour away.
  • Private school housing is likely to be near the school (Linkou) and away from Taipei City.
  • Public school means the same as in America with a wide range of students; the private school is selective, more expensive, and consequently more demanding.
  • Public schools use co-teaching in classes with Mandarin (your co-teacher) and English; the private school is an all English/fulltime environment in which you teach alone.
  • Public schools may involve teaching in English classes and/or teaching in content classes like health, life sciences, PE, art, music, etc. using CLIL techniques (Content and Language Integrated Learning); the private school is content based teaching in English.
  • Public school classes range widely in the number of students, from 10-30; the private school classes are normally 25.
  • Public schools have a maximum of 20 hours of class per week although the number may vary from 12-20; the private school has 25 hours of class per week.
  • Both types of schools have other activities and meetings required of the teachers, i.e., assemblies, sports days, field trips, professional development, etc.
  • Private school stipend is higher. (see below)

Teachers will be placed in Taipei City or New Taipei City. Taipei City Fellows meet all the schools over the internet in the summer, and rank their preferred schools. AICEE then assigns the recipients according to their preferences, application information, and the host schools’ needs. In the past, all Fellows received one of their top 4 choices. Fellows must teach at the school where they are placed.

Reimbursement will be made after your arrival in Taiwan. Exchange rates are calculated based on the date of purchase. You must provide a receipt and boarding passes.

While the stipend is more than adequate for living and enjoying Taiwan, you may need your funds for the initial expenses of renting, deposits, and settling in. AICEE can help with stipend advances, and will provide assistance in finding housing.)

The amount of the monthly stipend ranges from $2,000 to a limited number at $2,800 depending on level of experience and public or private placement.

The exact stipend is determined based upon teaching experience (service length). Graduate degree holders receive a small additional increment. Teaching experience only refers to a U.S. or overseas public elementary, junior high, or high school; or a legally registered U.S. private elementary, junior high, or high school. In addition, experience prior to the acquisition of the teacher certificate, part-time teaching, intern teaching, service less than one year of teaching, or service as a headmaster/headmistress or principal is not considered.

*According to the General Accounting Office, Executive Yuan of Taiwan, the average monthly consumption expenditure per person in Taipei is NT$ 32,305 (approx. USS1,042.00). According to the cost-of-living database, EXPATISTAN, the cost of living in Taipei is 120% less expensive than in New York City.

Rent is included in the stipend.

Like other cities in the world, the rent in Taiwan depends on the living area and the quality of the property. Taking the Taipei metro area (Taipei City and New Taipei City Metropolitan Area) as an example, the monthly rent for a single-person suite ranges from approximately US$400 to US$1,000. However, 2–3-bedroom apartments rent per month from US$800 to US$1500; hence the per person cost is lower. Also, we generally would advise renting with one or more of the other fellows.

Your TEACH Fellowship will fall in two tax years and in two tax authorities (the U.S. and Taiwan.)

  • Legally we are unable to advise on U.S. taxes. Look this up in the U.S. tax code or consult with a qualified tax advisor. Filing is your responsibility.
  • Regarding Taiwan taxes, AICEE staff are not tax specialists, but this is our general understanding. Please do your own research:
    • The likely scenario is that Taiwan taxes will be deducted from your stipend.
    • Taxes may depend on the type of visa held by the TEACH Fellow
    • The tax rate changes based on the number of days in Taiwan.
      • If you are in Taiwan less than 183 days, taxes are 18% (i.e., probably first semester). (You could come early enough to save 12%).
      • If you are in Taiwan for more than 183 days, taxes are 6% (i.e., January through July 1).
      • It may be possible to apply for a tax refund after departure.

For more information, the Taiwan National Taxation Bureau has produced an Alien Individual Income Tax FAQ, available for download here. You can also read a post titled, “Income Tax Filing FAQ for Foreigners in Taiwan” from the Foreigners in Taiwan blog here.

The only formal funding you can receive in Taiwan and coming from Taiwanese sources is provided by the fellowship, given visa restrictions. Funds from abroad, like retirement income or family gifts, do not fall within these Taiwan tax and visa regulations.

Please see Program Benefits.

Candidates are selected based on their qualifications and matched with areas of specialization desired by the host institutions. Placement in the same school is not guaranteed; however, if you are both selected, the host will consider placing you and your spouse in the same general area, convenient to both school assignments.

The following documents are required by AICEE after a fellow is selected for a TEACH Fellowship to ensure a safe and healthy student environment.

  1. Police Check/Police Clearance Certificate: Finalists must provide a criminal record certificate/police check)
  2. Passport: Finalists must provide a copy of their passports with photos and personal information) 
  3. Health Check
  4. Proof of previous employment: Finalists must provide employment verification letters from current and previous employers/schools. The content must include dates of employment, job tile and job descriptions.

Please make sure that any scanned documents meet the following requirements:

  • The scanned copy must be CLEAR and LEGIBLE with good image resolution;
  • The scanned copy must be from the original and in color;
  • Documents must be scanned at the original size;
  • Documents must be placed on a flat and plain background when scanned;
  • Information must not be obstructed by your fingers, a shadow or reflections, etc.

Only selected fellows need to take a physical exam. The physical can be done in Taiwan. If you would like to take the physical exam in your residing country, please inquire the responsible “Embassy”, “Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office” or “Taipei Economic and Cultural Office” for information on the hospitals qualified for health examination. The physical exam ensures the health of the students will be protected.

You will be teaching children in Taiwan schools and the schools need to make sure of the basic character of the teachers.

AICEE does not recommend recipients to bring their spouses/children. If participants choose to be accompanied, dependents are the recipients’ responsibilities. All related fees and requirements should be covered by the participant. 

The contract between the candidate and the fellowship organizer will specify the penalties for the early return situation. Also, if the participants drop out of the program for personal reasons, normally IIE and AICEE will not recruit him/her again.

AICEE will provide a detailed visa guide. The candidates can prepare all the visa documents by following the procedures on the visa guide. AICEE will provide necessary assistance if the candidates meet any difficulties in applying their work visa. The fees for the visa and for the ARC (Alien Residency Card) card are the responsibility of the grantee.

AICEE will provide orientation and regular adjustment activities for participants.