Job Discussion Forums

[amohamud15]

Hello all! I'm just on the brink of starting my TEFL adventure! Though, I've got a few questions for y'all Please forgive me if this has been discussed before - I couldn't find a relevant thread.

I'm 19 years old going on 20, and decided that, despite good A-levels, University wasn't really for me. (I do hope to get an OU degree to broaden my options)

After some digging, I've discovered that most countries require a degree for visa purposes. Though, I was slightly disheartened by this, I found out that China didn't require a degree! Which actually works in my favour - I've always wanted to travel to China and see the culture and experience a new perspective on life.

After some browsing around, I stumbled across a few articles here and there that said 'being black had huge disadvantages' (paraphrasing here) and I would be discriminated against. Now, I'm not native to think that all 1.3 billion people in China are racist but I'm a little concerned it may dampen my experience there.

My parents are from Somalia and I was born in London, so I do obviously speak English fluently. I would describe myself as energetic, creative and generally outgoing so the idea of teaching a kindergarten class somewhere aboard is completely ideal for me.

Please note I'm in no way generalizing here nor implying that the Chinese people are a racist nation - I can understand that seeing someone of a different ethnic origin may be a new experience for some there with state-controlled media and everything and It'll be up to me to make a good impression on the people in my surroundings. I just wanted to know whether there will be any hardships so I can be mentally prepared. I'm hoping to complete my 120 hour course by Mid-November (providing I start now!), so would like to be out there by the new year.

So, I'd love to hear of people teaching/have taught in China and any experiences of this nature? Travelling to China has always been a dream of mine so I understand (and can cope with) if there may be issues here and there.

Thanks for reading!

[Denim-Maniac]

Sorry, but I am the bearer of bad news buddy. The information you read on China and their visa regulations and requirements are wrong. To get the correct and legal visa, a university degree is required (and I believe) two years post-degree work experience.

You mention that you are going to start a TEFL course of some sort? Im taking a wild guess, but I wonder if the course providers are the people who have told you that you dont need a degree to work in China? Many course providers are a bit of a rip-off really ... they arent selling internationally recognised, valued and accredited qualifications ... they just exist to line their own pockets from gullible people with TEFL dreams. The main course providers are CELTA / Trinity / SIT, all of whom offer 120 hour courses with observed teaching practice. Anything less than this is worthless and will not circumvent visa regulations. i-i, Oxford Seminars and many many others are guilty of these false claims. Avoid.

You ethnic origin may be a problem with some employers in some areas, but the biggest problem you face is the lack of a degree and your age. You are not likely to get a legal work visa in China. Sorry!

(NB - There will doubtless be other young people working in China as we write. There will also be people working in China without a degree. However, it is very unlikely that they are doing this with legal paper work. At the moment you have nothing going for you really, no experience, no degree, and your age is against you (possibly ethnicity too). It would be a bad idea to pursue China IMO)

[Denim-Maniac]

http://chinavisaukheadoffice.co.uk/china-work-visa.htm

This was the top result when I searched China work visa regulation. It states that the minimum required is normally a degree, but if you find a willing employer they may still secure a visa for you.

If you were older, and have a CELTA and relevant documented teaching experience with references, maybe a willing employer could organise something, but as it stands....I wouldnt think so.

[zactherat]

so.. you are worried that you might be called a racist if you call chinese people racists?


Stuff white people like #664: irony.


Anyway ~

your conundrum is as follows:
most businesses that would want to take advantage of your enthusiasm are based in the bigger, more developed cities,
but these places are the very same that DO require you to be above a certain age, educated to degree level, and have two years' experience and a TEFL cert.

Places that bend the rules are all out in the boonies,
and they are really racist out there, all of them, I swear.. so..

[kungfuman]

[roadwalker]

OP you might also look into coming over as a Chinese language student. Some of the schools that provide Mandarin language lessons also might be interested in having the students teach English, if they have the right passport.

[GeminiTiger]

the reality is...
too young
no experience
no degree
wrong color

no, your chance of working legally is really slim.

Advice, go back to school, get "old" and overcome your color with experience and knowledge, simple enthusiasm isn't enough.

[Kysorb]

[relaxtischina]