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nicolemoffat
Joined: 07 Dec 2015 Posts: 3
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 1:22 am Post subject: Teaching in China no degree |
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Hi everyone,
I'm hoping some of you will be able to help me here, I'm wanting to know whether or not I'm able to legally teach in China without a degree.
I seem to get a mixed range of results when I look on various sites, a lot are saying that a degree is required and that you cannot legally work without one. Some are saying that certain cities require degrees but some don't and some say that if you're the right fit some schools will overlook the absence of a degree.. 😥
I am a 24yr old from New Zealand, have a TESOL certificate and have experience teaching English to a refugee family here in NZ. I'm planning to travel to China with my partner who has a degree but no TESOL certificate.
If anyone is able to help steer me in the right direction or point me to a useful webite I would be extremely grateful!
Thanks in advance!! |
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Shanghai Noon
Joined: 18 Aug 2013 Posts: 589 Location: Shanghai, China
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 2:12 am Post subject: |
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You need a degree to work legally anywhere in China. |
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doogsville
Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 924 Location: China
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 2:40 am Post subject: |
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The degree is a requirement for the Z visa, work permit and resident permit, rather than the job itself. This means that employers who tell you that no degree is required probably don't have a license to employ foreigners, and so won't be able to get you the necessary papers for you to work legally.
It's getting tougher and tougher to work illegally in China, and rightly so, but some people still choose to take the chance. There are plenty of dodgy employers out there willing to take advantage of that. Whether you choose to work illegally and risk a fine and deportation is up to you. |
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Spyro
Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Posts: 36
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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You can definitely teach here without a degree but it will be illegal (with that comes the risk of being at the mercy of your employer, getting caught through a crackdown, etc etc).
It used to be pretty common and easy to do, but nowadays not so much. As a result, there is a tendency for only the most unscrupulous and desperate schools to resort to illegal hirings (not necessarily a hard rule though). |
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Babala

Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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The schools who tell you that you not having a degree is not a problem are either going to Photoshop a degree for you or put you on an illegal visa. I disagree with Spyro however, I think illegal hiring is going to be more common with the new stricter visa rules. |
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murray1978
Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 84
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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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You know the rules: You need a degree to teach. I think it is an absolute joke that people without the credentials can come in China and teach English.
You will be at the mercy of recruiters/ agents and there has been a crackdown on this sort of thing.
Frankly, if you do decide to teach and work illegally in China, I hope you get caught. Would you recommend people go to your home country and work illegally without the necessary documentation? |
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OhBudPowellWhereArtThou

Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Posts: 1168 Location: Since 2003
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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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murray1978 wrote: |
You know the rules: You need a degree to teach. I think it is an absolute joke that people without the credentials can come in China and teach English.
You will be at the mercy of recruiters/ agents and there has been a crackdown on this sort of thing.
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Re: Part 1
Murray, I felt like that for years about all FTs in China. I have three English degrees. Those who teach on the university level should have an English degree of some sort.
However, on the primary and the secondary level, it's not quite as important as long as the teacher has a GOOD TEFL certificate and some teaching experience and teaches ONLY language, not something else such as literature, world history, and anything above basic writing and sentence structure. In the U.S., much of what is taught in certification classes isn't taught in high school or even in college. Most of those (whom I know) who hold PhDs in English don't know the parts of speech and cannot articulate most rules of grammar as TEFL certificate holders can. It's unfortunate, but it is true.
Re: Part 2
Yes, the uneducated will be devoured by vultures. Holders of TEFL certificates (I hope) care enough about what they embark upon and do their homework before they arrive. If they get chewed alive, they deserve it. |
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lionheartuk
Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Guangdong
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 3:32 am Post subject: |
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I have been teaching here for eleven years at reputable high schools and middle schools and doing so legally. I do not have a degree but have what is equivalent to an associates degree. I also have a TEFL certificate alongside eight years of working with primary school and special needs kids (as a teaching assistant and while doing my Higher National diploma in childhood education ) in my home country and running a boys under 12 football (soccer) team for three years.
I think it depends on the school the province and safea as to whether it is legal or not, allowed or not.
I have been asked for a degree and said I don't have but my experience and TEFL certificate has given me the opportunity and I have had no problems with anyone. |
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Babala

Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 4:03 am Post subject: |
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It's a hard situation for some people. I have friends who have been here for years, back when China didn't require a degree. How is it that someone can be completely legal and deemed qualified for years then all of a sudden be told that they are now not qualified?
I agree that certain subjects require a degree such as subject teaching, writing and teaching English Majors at university however I would take someone with experience and TEFL training over a Masters degree in science or maths for teaching basic oral language speaking |
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nicolemoffat
Joined: 07 Dec 2015 Posts: 3
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 8:42 am Post subject: |
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murray1978 wrote: |
You know the rules: You need a degree to teach. I think it is an absolute joke that people without the credentials can come in China and teach English.
You will be at the mercy of recruiters/ agents and there has been a crackdown on this sort of thing.
Frankly, if you do decide to teach and work illegally in China, I hope you get caught. Would you recommend people go to your home country and work illegally without the necessary documentation? |
Haha Murray1978, chill man. If I knew the rules do you think I'd be posting this shit online? And personally, I'd be quite happy to pay for somebody to teach me another language if that was their native tongue. Provided they were a decent teacher. I personally don't think a degree in biology, for example, deems somebody proficient enough to teach English.
Just my opinion!!
Thanks to everyone else that has replied, it's been super helpful, we're most likely going to go to Japan on a working holiday visa, problem solved  |
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Shanghai Noon
Joined: 18 Aug 2013 Posts: 589 Location: Shanghai, China
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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OhBudPowellWhereArtThou wrote: |
Murray, I felt like that for years about all FTs in China. I have three English degrees. Those who teach on the university level should have an English degree of some sort.
However, on the primary and the secondary level, it's not quite as important as long as the teacher has a GOOD TEFL certificate and some teaching experience and teaches ONLY language, not something else such as literature, world history, and anything above basic writing and sentence structure. In the U.S., much of what is taught in certification classes isn't taught in high school or even in college. Most of those (whom I know) who hold PhDs in English don't know the parts of speech and cannot articulate most rules of grammar as TEFL certificate holders can. It's unfortunate, but it is true.
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I used to think what Murray thinks too, but then I registered on seriousteachers.com and got bombarded every day with job advertisements. Even with just a BA I felt overqualified for most of them. If TESOL certificate holders without any degree come to China to sing Old MacDonald to kindergartners, I don't really have a problem with that. It's still better than singing along to the CD. |
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Longer
Joined: 08 Jan 2016 Posts: 28
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Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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Not easy - a bit dangerous so be careful. |
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