Job Discussion Forums

[Mixal]

My friend just applied for ESL teaching position at a university in Guangdong (Foshan). He has never taught at a university, but he has 2 years of classroom teaching experience, a TEFL & an unrelated BA.

The answer he got was: "As the local foreign expert bureau has more rigid restrictions on candidates' teaching experience and relevant qualifications this year，I have to inform you pitifully that we can not manage to apply for a work permit for you."

He initially thought this was BS, so he asked in what way he is not qualified.

"The local FEB requires that candidates must have a minimum of two years' EFL teaching experience and an education, linguistics or teaching related degree. TEFL certificates from Thailand are not accepted as there are too many diploma mills there."



The teacher pointed out general requirements and added that his TEFL certificate is authenticated.

"The GD FEB requirements are much higher this year than last year. We submitted 6 candidates' data to FEB in June, and only 2 got approved in late August. I am not sure whether FEBs in other provinces are as demanding as in Guangdong Province, but I was informed of a similar tendency in some northern provinces.

Ordinary TEFL certificates issued in Thailand are not recognised here unless you earned your CELTA certificate there."

This makes things even more hilarious as my CELTA was not recognized by a bunch of schools/places

Any thoughts, comments... ?

[nomad soul]

[rioux]

China is getting stricter in terms of requirements for foreign teachers. Things are not so strict and organized with many other things once you get here. Still quite disorganized and chaotic.

[RiverMystic]

Yes. I’d say the reason given is legit. Government offices are getting stricter everywhere. Sometimes the rationale is irrational, but not much you can do about it.

[sigmoid]

So, universities in China are filling all of their foreign teacher positions and the market for foreign teachers is saturated?

[doogsville]