Job Discussion Forums

[badtyndale]

Order! Order!

I like this forum because it's just like being in class - people arguing in their native language whilst others are asleep, don't know what's going on, or just don't care...

My first school was only interested in having a copy of my undergraduate degree (postgraduate degrees they couldn't care less about). As for the teachers without - well, they merely arranged fakes for them. It's a sorry state of affairs, particularly so as that school ran (and still runs) it's business on the strength of its 'courses provided by UK universities' ('guaranteed' overseas education upon completion etc...). Double standards? Press your buttons now...

Those uncredentialed teachers would be hard pressed to get posts in the universities whose courses they are teaching in China but that does not mean that they are bad teachers. In fact, I'd say that they do a bloody good job under the circumstances. Nevertheless, I anticipate that the Chinese school (and their 'educational business partner') will have no compunction in denying those teachers further employment if it suits them (irrespective of any changes in the law).

I've said this before but I will reiterate that it is highly unlikely that anyone in China (or agencies hiring on behalf of Chinese concerns) will bother to check the validity of any claims regarding credentials that are presented by an English teacher.

This is a land where bureaucracy places 'faith' (or face) in bits of paper with signs and seals.

[shenyanggerry]

{b]Roger[/b], I addition to what Talkdoc said I just want to comment on one area. You said

[MyraG]

Being in a position where I have had to hire a foreign teacher I will take someone with a degree anytime. It adds polish, you know a person can write and read and produce written material. Having got my degree as a mature age student ($ year degree) and I worked dammed hard for it, I am not going to say it was worthless. It does help in your teaching, ie writing lesson plans, meeting deadlines,experience in speaking out nd delivering tutorials. But I agree it doesnt mean you will be a great teacher, but it sure gives you an edge.

[Indiana Jones]

I have a Diploma of Arts: Professional Writing & Editing, yet I'm ineligible for most english teaching jobs in China. It's frustrating that employers won't even look at what field of study my Diploma is in: instead, the first thing they see is my Diploma is one year short of a Bachelor's Degree, therefore I don't qualify. Despite studying grammar and punctuation with some of the best editors/writers in Australia, it still doesn't qualify me to teach english because it's not a B.D.

It's B.S. (I'll refrain from expressing my frustration through the use of swearing!)

It's frustrating. It breaks my heart to know that I can't go to Japan or China to teach oral and written english, despite having the perfect qualification for doing so, just because it only took two years to achieve my qualification rather than the three years for a B.D.

I also have a reference letter from an Australian children's fiction author who has had over 150 books published and has been teaching for almost forty years -- yet this isn't good enough compared to some muppet who has a Degree in Thumb Twiddling. It's a joke.

Employers should look at an applicant's specific field of study, and their references -- the important details -- rather than allowing someone to teach english just because they have a Degree.

P.S. (As opposed to B.S.): The Chinese Govt estimated how many english teachers it will need this year to prepare for the 2008 Beijing Olympics -- they came up with the figure of 100'000. Considering China's population, that's one teacher for every 10'000 Chinese. So jobs should be plentiful and I wonder if an employer would really be so fussy and choose an applicant with a Bachelor's in Farming Equipment over applicants with Diplomas in Grammar and Editing. Can officials really be so anally retentive? Don't answer that.

[bradlarsen]

[quote="Indiana Jones"]I have a Diploma of Arts: Professional Writing & Editing, yet I'm ineligible for most english teaching jobs in China. It's frustrating that employers won't even look at what field of study my Diploma is in: instead, the first thing they see is my Diploma is one year short of a Bachelor's Degree, therefore I don't qualify. Despite studying grammar and punctuation with some of the best editors/writers in Australia, it still doesn't qualify me to teach english because it's not a B.D.

Ahhh...Yes, Junior....I mean Indy, you should have spent more time working on your degree, than chasing the Holy Grail......but just to let you know, I have been there twice before, and have never had any trouble finding a teaching job. There is no such word as "Can't", in the Welsh language! Life is too short, .....Go For It Man! Just watch out for the snakes!

[Jolly]

[Indiana Jones]

Jolly,

A degree doesn't necessarily make you qualified.

I'm arguing that employers should be looking at what an applicant studied, and how well they studied it, rather than how big their degree is. If I were a parent, I'd rather my child be taught by someone who has studied english grammar and writing but only achieved a diploma in this field, rather than someone who studied a degree in nuclear physics. I know someone who has a degree and went to Japan to teach english only so he could support his rave parties and drug habits; he had no interest in learning Japanese or teaching english as a career. Yet here I am, sincerely wanting to teach english in Japan, but I'm not allowed to because I don't have a degree. China's still cool.

Bradlarsen,

Don't call me Junior!

I agree with you. I sure won't be teaching the word "can't" in China!

When's the Year of the Snake ..?

Cheers,

Rick

[bradlarsen]

When's the Year of the Snake ..?

Cheers,

Rick

The year of the snake isn't until 2013. So, you will have lots of years to teach in China, without encountering those slimy devils, unless you meet up with a few slippery snakes, disguised as FT recruiters! or worse yet, those that give their narrow minded views, in this forum...won't mention any names, but I think you know who they are.
Good luck in your teaching, and travels, and keep me posted, Junior...I mean Indy!

Brad... I mean Dad!