Teaching at BigByte

To BE (BigByte Education) or not to BE, that is the question. 

If you are considering teaching at BigByte, this post is for you. By the end, you will have more information about teaching in Taiwan and at BigByte that will help you make your decision.

Teaching in Taiwan

As stated in our article on why you should teach in Taiwan, Taiwan has a very strong academic culture. Parents and teachers place a strong emphasis on academic achievement, so students learn to be very conscientious at a young age. 

This emphasis on education also makes teaching a respected profession. Parents are grateful to teachers and view them as experts. 

English teachers often teach at English language centers (sometimes called cram schools or buxibans). They typically teach elementary and middle school students in the afternoon and evening. They may also teach preschool students in the morning or high school students at night.

Now that you have an introduction to teaching in Taiwan, let’s explore what it’s like to teach at BigByte. 

Mr. Andre taking students on a field trip. 

Teaching at BigByte

BigByte is a welcoming team of open-minded, ambitious teachers who are passionate about education. All six BigByte branches are in Taipei, Taiwan, so public transport is very accessible. Four of the locations are in Da’an District, right in the city center.

Classes

BigByte teachers usually teach 2-3 classes. Most of our students are around 7-12 years old, but they could range anywhere from 2½ to 18 years old. As far as the branch size goes, it could typically be 3 to 5 teachers and around 50 to 100 students per branch.

At BigByte, teachers get to know their students very well. There are 12 students or fewer per class, and the contact time ranges from 6 to 10 hours per week. Teachers also keep their same classes for a whole academic year. There are no co-teachers at BigByte, though of course there are substitutes if needed. 

The classrooms have projectors, and teachers may borrow iPads upon request. So teachers can engage their students with interactive activities like Kahoot!

Teaching

Every teacher at BigByte starts with an initial week of orientation and training. BigByte staff help teachers navigate immigration, find apartments, or whatever they need for a smooth move to Taiwan. During training, teachers get an introduction to the curriculum, lesson planning advice, game ideas, and more. Trainings may also occur throughout the year for teachers to sharpen their skills. 

When teachers request more or less hours than assigned, BigByte tries to accommodate them depending on branches' needs. Our teachers usually work at only one branch, though teachers who ask for more hours may get a class at another branch.

Mr. Casey and his students viewing their writing projects

Curriculum

BigByte uses the Wonders Curriculum by McGraw Hill. Since this is an American common core state standards (CCSS) curriculum, the students learn the same way as native speakers. The curriculum consists of units with themes that shape the content. For instance, in a unit about travel, students may read stories about going on trips, learn travel vocabulary (walk, ride, fly, etc.), draw a map, and learn to give directions.

Teachers are provided with books, tests, and online resources to use in their classes. While there are general guidelines and required pages, we encourage teachers to develop their own style. This can mean introducing topics in fun ways, playing games, or customizing projects and activities for their classes.

The curriculum also incorporates project-based learning. At the end of a semester, students turn something they’ve learned into a project that they present to an audience. These could be traditional presentations, skits, songs, debates, or other creative presentations.

Project Work

One benefit that makes BigByte unique is the opportunity to do project work. Teachers with extra skills or areas of expertise may be able to shift some of their teaching hours into project work hours. Areas that teachers have done project work in include: curriculum development, training, HR, marketing, robotics, and study abroad trips. 

If a teacher's skills align with our goals, we are happy to provide resources to collaborate on a project. This can be a great opportunity for teachers to explore their career interests and develop professional skills. 

Mr. Joshua teaching a robotics course. He programmed the robot to hold a pencil and draw shapes. 

After reading all this, if you think BigByte might be for you, there’s only one way to find out—apply! Head to our career page for the application and more details about working at BigByte. We hope to hear from you soon!