Job Discussion Forums

joey2001 · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 697

One of my students whose son I am also tutoring (Chinese) has a friend who runs a large language school in Nanjing with branches in Suzhou and Zhongshan. She knows I'm not a native speaker and that I have no qualification as a teacher whatsoever (I have gone to live in China for other reasons and became a teacher more or less "by accident" in the past). That school supposedly has over 50 foreign teachers (anyone know a school that large in Nanjing?). I repeated to her that if I go work in China again it would have to be 100% legal. She said no problem, her friend knows how to run a school and is sure to get all the "documents" for me. She wants me to write him an email and send a hand-written resume (in Chinese) first, then discuss the details. From what I read here there is no way at all teaching at any school in China as a non-native without any certificate could possibly be legal. Is contacting that person even worth the effort? I addressed the legal issues and my student replied something like "you know how it is in China... connections are everything etc..." I never once asked her to help me find a job, on the contrary, she seems to want to "push" this job on me for some reason. I'm glad she is happy with my tutoring, but in this case she appears to have vastly overestimated what is possible for a foreigner in China. Also I have the impression that by her recommending me like that she may want to put me in a position where I would be "obligated" to her AND her friend, to do whatever kind of favor they think I might be able to do them. Surely a huge and legally run language school like that can't possibly be desperate for foreign teachers?? And even if they somehow manage to get me a Z visa, is that 100% safe? Or can the authorities check if a Z visa is actually based on the necessary certificates? Can anyone confirm that it is really absolutely NOT legal to be teaching without the proper documents. I mean, I don't mind writing that resume in Chinese, but if I could be certain that it would be for nothing anyway I might as well save the effort for myself and everyone else involved. And the last thing I need is to go to jail or get deported.

Markness · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 738 Location: Chengdu

I've met some ukrainians/russians/polish/dutch folk who have Z visas. It is possible. Some companies can do it and some of them paid an agent a decent amount of money (3000ish RMB) for a 1-year Z visa. Is it legal? I dono, but they all seem to have their Z visas.

Son of Bud Powell · Joined: 04 Mar 2015 Posts: 179 Location: Since 2003

In China, anything is possible. I came to China as an exotic dancer speaking only my native language of Tinigua.

The rest is history.

joey2001 · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 697

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

GreatApe · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 2:38 am Post subject:

Son of Bud Powell wrote:

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

hdeth · Joined: 20 Jan 2015 Posts: 583

I would think it's possible, especially if you have a university degree. What I don't understand is having to write the resume by hand. Is it to prove you can write in Chinese without a computer? Don't really get that part. Most seem to want it in Word (presumably so they can edit it).

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

My wife is Russian with a uni degree and 100hour online TEFL and gets a Z visa every time. With our most recent job it says they are employing her to teach Russian, even though she will teach English. There are always ways around everything in China.

And a school with 50 foreign teachers is probably desperate for anyone that they can get. It can't be too easy to find experienced native ESL teachers willing to work in language mills.

joey2001 · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 697

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

Judging by your posts on here, your English seems as good, if not better than a lot of natives who frequent the EFL world.

There are lots of ads stating you don't need a degree to work in China. Some people will disagree with this. I have first hand experience of meeting non-natives without a degree who were teaching kindergarten in the city where I used to work.

A lot of the time Chinese companies just want a white face - or at the very least a foreign face.

joey2001 · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 697

kev20 · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 114

I don't see the problem. A private company offers you a job in China and for that you get a work visa. Surely, if the company is happy with your credentials then that's all that matters. Different companies have different requirements. Is it a legal requirement to have certain certificates to work for a private company in China?

hdeth · Joined: 20 Jan 2015 Posts: 583