Job Discussion Forums

[jimpellow]

Has anybody heard of this?

I came across this June article today that states that ESL teachers will need to be certified (in China!) just like Chinese teachers are.

"Expats who want a job as an English teacher will have to obtain a teaching certificate in China, just as Chinese teachers do," said Qiu Xusheng, a senior official with the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.

The new policy has been designed to meet the ever-rising demand for high-quality foreign experts, Qiu said. Although he declined to reveal further details of the upcoming regulations, he said regulators at the provincial and municipal levels will be required to fully implement the new policy."

I wonder how long it will take this one to trickle down? I am sure that being instructed by Chinese on how to properly teach English will have great beneficial effect. I think they will need to open the Exit door even wider.

Some funny comments comparing Chinese teachers to native speakers if you read the entire article.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-06/21/content_25781121_2.htm

[adventious]

Ever heard of Betteridge's law of headlines?

But seriously, I think many teachers share your skepticism and weariness with conflicting policies vis-à-vis the rigmarole qualified teachers come up against with every passing year. That said, the quote "...will have to obtain a teaching certificate in China just as Chinese teachers do...," must be a meaning lost in translation.

At the very end of May of this year, this article from Global Times reported the pushback involved in the recent policy affecting non-native English speakers:

According to Qiu Xusheng, the director of the department of cultural and educational experts of SAFEA, non-native English speakers who do not have work experience and education background can still have a chance to be an English teacher in China.

"They need to obtain an International language certificate with a minimum of 120 class hours of education, and have pre-job training," said Qiu.

A September policy of SAFEA caused an uproar in the foreign community because it prohibited schools and language training centers in China from hiring non-native English language teachers who did not have a degree from a native English speaking country. The stringent policy made it difficult to hire English language teachers in China, so SAFEA decided to adjust it. The details are still being ironed out.

It's difficult (at best) to conclude immigrant workers from the "Big 5" would be required to sit a course after having arrived in China, regardless of who delivers it, Chinese or not. Its wholly impractical.

[Shanghai Noon]

Either he is referring to the FEC, or the article is fake. Foreigners are ineligible to obtain a Chinese teaching certificate. You need a Chinese ID number for that.

[SH_Panda]

[SH_Panda]

[plumpy nut]

A teacher should have at least a TEFL or an equivalent. A teacher with a TEFL and one year of English in college and good English ACT scores is all you need. The problem is it opens a Pandora's box for more bureaucratic bullshit.

[Non Sequitur]

Chinese teachers in Chinese schools are not all certificated.
Former student (English Major) taught at a local high school on the basis of her degree only.
She left after seeing the crap salaries even certificated teachers pull.
She didn't count the 'below the line' private work because as she said: 'There's a limit to how much student contact time you can take'.
Back to the OP I wonder if there will be a corresponding benefit ($$) for gaining certification? Also, whether we can be assured of long term visas and tenure to justify the expense and effort of certification?

[Spatula City]

I'm not saying that China doesn't have its charms, but a lot of schools are still begging dodgy 50+ year old alcoholics and pedophiles to come work for them... now suddenly there's going to be a massive supply of motivated, qualified teachers who want to do this job?

They can get good teachers if they pay good money... but being unrealistic about the industry here isn't going to help anyone achieve their academic goals. Low hiring standards is why a lot of people pick China in the first place-- well, that and the fact that young Chinese girls with daddy issues are willing to sleep with disgusting old men.

[Non Sequitur]

I object to your use of the word 'old'.

[Aristede]

[Non Sequitur]

[jimpellow]

Some great replies from top to bottom.

I really agree with the gist that it will end up being a watered down waste of time joke. I am sure the expense will fall on the teacher, and I highly doubt that there will be any type of tangible benefit.

That seems to be the trend with the changes over the last few years.

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

Dodgy?!

I resemble that remark.

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

I've never been a fan of many of the courses for certification in the U.S.. There are some districts in the U.S. that don't want teachers who have education degrees or prior certification. In these districts, the teachers hold degrees in one field and earn their certificates while they teach.

My feeling is that either you have what it takes or you don't. I have known (and been taught by) many certified teachers who didn't know their ear from a hole in the ground. This is my personal opinion and I don't expect anyone to embrace it: Much of the content of certification courses teaches one to tell the administration what it wants to hear in gobbledygook educationese jargon. It indoctrinates applicants to the prevailing mindset so that everyone acts the same way when the administration is watching. That is my observation of U.S. certification (which is not necessary to teach in colleges and universities).

I can't believe that Chinese certification courses are much different unless there's a heavy dose of cultural norms lecture included. I'd be interested in knowing what this certification process would entail.

[Spatula City]

Errr I didn't mean to imply that all old dodgy men were disgusting, that dodgy, disgusting men were old, or that old disgusting men were dodgy... or that they're all preying on Chinese girls with daddy issues.