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Chip Jolley

Chip Jolley - ESL Teacher in Asia Chip dressed up for Halloween here in Taiwan

Recruiting Coordinator

“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward. And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.” - Lincoln

I was born in a small southern US town. As a teenager, I had already seen everything my area had to offer, so I decided I wanted to see some new places. I went away to university in a significantly larger city, but... this wasn’t enough. I decided I wanted to see the world. So, in an effort to see the world and prepare myself for the future, I took a strong interest in the German language. It led me to Europe a few times, and I enjoyed my travels there. Soon after I graduated from university, I went into the job market and the daily grind of full-time employment. It only took a few years before the travel bug hit me once again.

Just as I was contemplating leaving my company, I had an epiphany. I love traveling, I love language, I love new cultures, and I love working with people. Teaching English in a foreign country seemed a perfect fit. After some careful deliberation, I decided upon Taiwan.

Somehow I remember the trip: Twenty-fours on the plane from my hometown to Taipei. I couldn’t sleep the night before, and I couldn’t sleep on the plane. My feelings were a mixture of nerves, excitement, and confusion. I landed in Taiwan and a car picked me up from the airport and took me to my new home. Even after two days of no sleep, I still couldn’t sleep! The first thing I did was put my things down and walked around until I had blisters on my feet. After finally getting some good sleep…about 5 hours, I did the same thing the next day. I was dumbfounded by what I was seeing. It was amazing and everything felt new and exciting. It just didn’t feel real…and I still debate if that was lack of sleep or just being in a place that I had only seen on movies. Sure there is some initial shock, but does culture shock happen that quickly?

Since that day, that confused, excited feeling I had has transformed into a lasting fondness for Taiwan. Taiwan has been great to me, and I can only hope I have been able to return the favor. I told myself: “One year.” Well, that day has come and gone, and I now find myself committed to at least two more. Why? I am confident if the next two years are half as nice as the first year, I will be signing on for a few more. Somehow, I have never lost the feeling that I had from day one.

Chip Jolley - ESL Teacher in Taiwan Chip with some Taiwanese friends at the Taipei Zoo!

One of the most common questions I have received from Taiwanese people is, “What is your favorite thing about Taiwan?” First of all, it’s nearly impossible to limit this question to just one thing. The food is amazing, the people are incredibly polite, and I truly look forward to my classes. I enjoy learning new (and often very interesting) phrases in Mandarin, some of which are practical, some of which are just flat out interesting to know. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I really enjoy the attention of being different from everyone else. They have a strong curiosity about me and western culture, and I gladly answer their questions.

I have been teaching various children’s and well as adult classes. Both have a very different feeling. The children love a teacher who can keep them entertained, and they will respond enthusiastically. The adults sincerely appreciate your helping them advance their careers, or pass that test…whatever their cause may be. Either way, the respect and gratitude I have received from teaching here has been among the best feelings I have ever had. When you see that light come on above a student’s head…you know you have helped and you can see it in their face. That’s a feeling money just can’t buy.

Chip Jolley

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