Job Discussion Forums

Lack · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 252

Just be handsome/beautiful. That's the only qualification you really need.

I've seen non-native English speakers (who made lots mistakes and had heavy accents) with no experiences, degrees, or other qualifications get jobs and even be paid the same and favored over superior teachers who are native speakers, degree-holding, and experienced with TEFLs (but who were not physically attractive.)

Just be handsome.

jas5sk · Joined: 07 Aug 2010 Posts: 23

Depending on where you work, the best qualification is your ability to sucker Chinese parents out of their money. Chinese parents care about the marketing more than the quality of education their children are getting. China has few laws in place when it comes to who they can hire and the laws that are in place can be circumvented for the right price. It's still very much the wild wild west, so just show up accordingly.

The_Kong · Joined: 15 Apr 2014 Posts: 349

jas5sk · Joined: 07 Aug 2010 Posts: 23

Voyeur · Joined: 03 Jul 2012 Posts: 431

Even when dealing strictly with the letter of the law the answer seems to be complex. It is unclear to me whether all laws and regulations are provincial, or whether there are also some national--and even city--laws that are also at play. Perhaps they even contradict one another, in which case to be 'safe' one would have to meet the stricter standard.

Wo Dong · Joined: 02 Sep 2014 Posts: 54

So many people dance around this issue and from my point of view it seems pretty black and white to me as SAFEA has standardized the five mandatory requirements and the only deviation I see is that some provinces demand police certificates and others do not.

http://open.salon.com/blog/china_business_central/2014/09/07/new_china_foreign_employee_teacher_requirements_now_strict

I see many users say each city is different but none of them have posted any links to cite a source of this info which to me amounts to only a rumor unless something can be posted as a source, especially when the post is coming from someone who left China years ago. I have been here teaching since 2010 and see things getting more controlled than ever before when it comes to foreign employees of any kind.

SAFEA and all the embassies are very up-front and direct about legal requirements to teach in China (as the OP specified) yet, there are still dozens of recruiters, and even TEFL/TESOL company reps telling people they don't need a university degree to teach in China. This deception is just plain rude and misleading decent newbies who just want an honest job in China.

Capt Lugwash · Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 346

Such a pity the author of that article is illiterate.

The_Kong · Joined: 15 Apr 2014 Posts: 349

Wo Dong · Joined: 02 Sep 2014 Posts: 54

Funny that you care more about the source of the information than the information itself - which according to the U.S. embassy, the SAFEA Beijing office, and the Canadian consulate is absolutely correct. By any chance are you no longer in China Mr. Kong? That might explain why you are not up to speed on this stuff.

Anyone who doubts what is is said in this article about current 2014 China foreign teacher requirements can go to the other links below for third party verification. I don't think that the U.S. embassy nor SAFEA are in the business of misleading people about basic, standard, and legal employment standards.

http://open.salon.com/blog/china_business_central/2014/09/07/new_china_foreign_employee_teacher_requirements_now_strict

When I see the same information coming from independent government sources and people who are actually teaching in China today, I am inclined to believe the information that jives is true sir. I have been made well-aware by other user PMs that many people on this forum are in fact sales reps for various TEFL, TESOL, and CELTA training programs which is cool with me so long as you do not mislead people to think they don't need the mandatory bachelor degree and can get by with only a TEFL or TESOL or CELTA certificate. This was feasible two years ago - I agree. But they have really clamped down since last year [2013] you know.

1] http://safea.gov.cn

2] http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/acs_teach.html

3] http://www.scam.com/showpost.php?s=c421c216d2be7b21d808f2378cfaed23&p=1783414&postcount=3

4] http://www.chinascampatrol.org

5] http://www.realscam.com/f8/china-tesol-tefl-certificate-requirement-fraud-alert-foreign-esl-teachers-3371/

6] http://chinablacklist.wordpress.com

7] http://eslwatch.info/china-2/news-98/603-china-newsflash/12162-official-foreign-teacher-requirements-to-teach-esl-tefl-in-china-today-not-what-you-think.html

8] http://chinascampatrol.wordpress.com

9] http://www.chinaforeignteachersunion.com

10] https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AwrSbmY6URZUdGIAfNdXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzbWxiODRqBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNARjb2xvA2dxMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDUwMl8x?qid=20140825054117AAEkKAR

11] http://www.scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=88874&p=216150

12] http://www.abroadreviews.com/tefl-tesol-certificate-scams-no-china-requirements

Can you please post some links showing that TEFL, TESOL, and CELTA certificates are mandatory requirements or some official source that supports your claim that requirements are different in every province?
Maybe the above information is not convenient to some of the advertisers on this forum but the facts are not going to change to suit their sales quotas. Do you really disagree?

Aside from the facts, I will surely concede that real TEFL, TESOL, and CELTA training programs will make most anyone a better teacher - but this should be the selling point, not a lie that their certificates are a "mandatory requirement" to teach in China.

Capt Lugwash · Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 346

Your own link to the US embassy site states unequivocally that all schools and provinces have different requirements - is proof YOU provided proof enough for you?

Three months ago my documentation was renewed yet again. I still have no degree.

Wo Dong · Joined: 02 Sep 2014 Posts: 54

Capt Lugwash · Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 346

I agree but I was taking issue with your assertion of a "mandatory degree".

Wo Dong · Joined: 02 Sep 2014 Posts: 54

Capt Lugwash · Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 346

The link is me. If you read my post above, I stated categorically that three months ago all my paperwork was renewed for another year and I don't have a degree.

Capt Lugwash · Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 346

What do you mean "what province can overrule SAFEA"? They ALL can because SAFEA only makes recommendations, it does not and cannot lay down laws - it is an advisory body.