Job Discussion Forums

trevor ingram · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

I want to teach ESL Business English and thought that my accounting designation (plus/minus honours equivilant) would be of help.

My probem is that accountants (like many other professionals) obtain their qualification through 'on the job training and study' not at a university, so technically we do not meet the visa requirement of "must have a univerity degree"

What do I do?

1. Study for my B.A. in Fine Arts?
2. Contact 'degreesforsale.com'?
3. Persuade the visa authorities to change their procedure?
4. Stamp my feet, repeat 100 times "it's not fair" and apply for a job in China?
5. Find a way by fair means (preferable) or foul (if necessary) to solve the problem?

If anyone exudes that ESL street cred; preferably wearing a "being there, done that, got the T shirt" T shirt, I will drink in their advice (probably not) but it will be most welcome

Thanks in advance

Trevor

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Accountants in Ontario Canada are required to have a degree (in any field) before they qualify for certification as a CGA (Certified General Accountant). I would have thought that would be a general standard required just about everywhere. You could do a degree in another aspect of business (which is what most people who become accountants in Ontario do and would probably be very useful for you because a lot of business English is in general areas such as marketing, communications, recuitment etc, and not so much accounting, unless you are teaching EFL to accountants in particular), or, here's an idea...since you want to teach English, why don't you do one in an area related to it, like linguistics, or English (not exactly related, but employers sure like to see it), or even a double major in economics or marketing (or finance or some other business related field that has some sort of connection, however tenuous, to accounting) and linguistics? That way, as well as having your accountant's certificate, you will have a degree thought of as being valuable towards what you want to do.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

Trevor,

I did a Business Degree . It has not prepared me in any way to teach Business . What is your accounting experience ? I worked in accounts for 7 years and this experience would help me a lot more when teaching Business . My CV has been of interest to Business teaching English companies in Italy . I think They like my experience in a big firm but I will be able to tell after the interview. They did also mention my degree but I will be exaggerrating its use in an interview .

Gambate - In the UK you don't need a degree to become a successful accountant . Many accountants I know think of their degrees as useless(except that they don't have to study initial modules in CIMA and ACCA) ,even those that studied Accountancy . The ACCA and CIMA qualifications are the ones that count .

Good luck

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Trever is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He posted as such in the general discussion board.

That's interesting about the UK. Maybe it's pretty rare to require degrees- Canada in general seems to tend to require degrees and formal qualifications more than other countries (at least going from what some friends from the UK, US and Australia have told me about their own countries).

trevor ingram · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

Thanks everbody out there for all your help and advice

What I was trying to find out is how do you get around the visa requirement that requires you to have a degree (of whatever flavour) when in fact you do have the necessary academic qualification (or even higher), it is just that you did not attend a university to obtain it

There must be ESL some street smart individual who has faced and circumvented this problem

I live in hope

Trevor

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 11:08 pm Post subject:

The thing is- you meet the requirements to be an accountant where you are. You don't have a university degree. Some countries require university degrees to get a visa as an English teacher. You don't meet that requirement. Sorry. I'm not saying it's a good requirement, or a bad one. But it's a requirement that they are in a position to make, and you don't meet it.

China is one option, although there seem to be varying opinions on how necessary a degree is there. There are many other countries, indonesia as mentioned, and lots in South America, where a degree isn't necessary. But I don't see a way you can bypass the degree requirement for countries that have it.

Unless of course, you have the spare time, money and interest to go do a BA somewhere. This might be fun, but I can see why it may not appeal.

I would beware of trying to shirk the law on this one. It may be possible, but I think the insecurity would rule it out for me...

Regards,
Justin

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

It wasn't directed at you.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Gambatte, No problem. Sorry for the misread.

Trevor......? Are you there?

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

What country you want to teach in is an issue. You could teach in Thailand if you wanted with your qualifications. Again, you need to highlight what you can do. Just find a few countries, then you can ask about the specific country.

uberinflight · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 15

I am another newbee thinking about teaching over seas. It would satify my curiosity as well as create more stimulus for one of my main drives: art.

I have worked, for a couple of years, as a course instructor (adjunct, Illustration Fundamentals) at a local Community College. I have a very positive recommendation from one of my supervisors.

Some of the concerns I would be seeking answers for would be that I have no degree. My ability to do the work as well as learn things such as html, browser issues, graphics programs, etc. allowed me to get into the field. After being in the field, for a set amount of time, the opportunity to teach courses was offered to me.

Without a degree, will getting the TEFL certificate be enough, when combined with my previous teaching experience?

Thanks (arigato, khorb kun, xie xie nin, shukran, etc)

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

trevor ingram · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

Thanks for all the info, although I feel that my query is still not completely answered.

To be more specific; Japan, Korea and Taiwan all require a degree (let us say, BA and up).

Are these three countries inflexible and adamant in this requirement, or if you can 'prove' to them that your academic qualification is at least the equivalent, or even higher than their requirements, will they accept it and issue the visa.

The Emoicon is giving mixed messages!

Trevor