Teach With Us
We are hiring international English teachers to join the international and Taiwanese team in Yu-Jen's English Program.
Yu-Jen Catholic Elementary School in Taichung, Taiwan, is looking for international English teachers. Join an ESL program running since 2002, where children learn an American curriculum for half of every school day, in English classes of about 23, with over 20 international teachers and just over 20 Taiwanese English teachers. We hire directly and never use agents.
About Yu-Jen
Yu-Jen was founded in 1967 by Belgian Catholic priests and is run today by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The school is known for pairing character education with high academic standards, and it has almost completed its transition to a fully bilingual school, with nearly 900 children in the ESL program.
Our campus is modern and well equipped. All buildings are air-conditioned, earthquake-resistant and served by elevators. Every classroom has a smartboard, and the school has three libraries (including an English library), four science labs and a 1,500-seat auditorium. Every teacher has their own workstation. We are in north Taichung, close to a railway station, a large city park and the city's cycle paths.
The roles
| Role | What you do |
|---|---|
| Literacy Advisor | Teach reading, writing, grammar, speaking, phonics and listening to two cohorts in the same grade, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, working alongside each class's Taiwanese homeroom teacher. |
| PBL specialist | Lead hands-on STEM and STEAM projects. |
What you will teach
Our curriculum is American, and we teach American English, so you will use US spelling and usage in class. Literacy is built on the Wonders series (McGraw-Hill) and grammar on Grammar Goals (Oxford). Grammar is taught explicitly and always practiced through speaking, guided by our own "can do" standards, aligned with the CEFR. Students follow the Cambridge English pathway from Grade 2 to Grade 6.
Your week
| Hours | 08:00–17:00, Monday to Friday, with a half day off each week (a 4.5-day week) |
| Lunch break | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Teaching load | 24 forty-minute classes a week |
| School year | Late August to late January, then mid-February to June |
Beyond teaching, you will write weekly lesson plans, give regular quizzes and exams, write reports twice a semester and attend one Saturday parent-teacher conference each semester. Teachers also join school events such as sports day, the school fair, graduation and the mid-year and year-end dinners, some outside normal hours.
How we support you
- A partner teacher: your Taiwanese homeroom colleague handles classroom management and communication with parents.
- A supervisor who speaks your language and theirs: our international teachers are led by a supervisor who has been with the school since the early 2000s and is fluent in Chinese.
- Training: new-teacher training and ongoing professional development.
- Paperwork: the school handles your work permit and residence permit.
- Insurance: National Health Insurance and Labor Insurance, plus free personal accident insurance.
- Settling in: if you are coming from abroad, we can introduce you to housing agents to help you find a home.
- Contracts: a one-year contract to start; after three years, you can choose a three-year contract.
Pay and benefits
| Base salary | A competitive pay scale that recognizes relevant past experience and qualifications |
| Monthly and yearly incentives | Daily preparation fee, monthly advisor fee, monthly attendance bonus, yearly performance bonus and paid vacation |
| On top of that | A year-end bonus (a 13th month of base pay), two pension plans, full insurance cover and quality-of-life benefits |
Life in Taiwan
Taiwan is consistently ranked among the safest countries in the world. Many of our teachers have stayed for over a decade; several have married, bought homes and raised families here. Taichung has a mild climate and mountains close by, and many teachers live in hill communities 15 to 30 minutes from school.
Who we are looking for
- A bachelor's degree or higher
- A teaching license (a substitute license is acceptable)
- Citizenship of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand or Australia
- Teachers of other nationalities who already live legally in Taiwan are welcome; English is assessed as part of the application
- Teachers already living in Taiwan are especially welcome
How to apply
- Email your resume to teach@stm.yjes.tc.edu.tw. Please include details we can verify.
- If you can, add links to videos of your teaching.
- Shortlisted applicants have a detailed interview. Applicants in Taiwan also teach a demonstration lesson.
- Before starting, every new teacher needs a police background check, a drug test and a health check, wherever they are coming from.
Most teachers start in August. We begin reviewing applications in February.