Job Discussion Forums

[ianpants69]

I started teaching about five years ago in Indonesia and as I don't have a degree this is the only time I have ever taught English legally. I now work illegally in Thailand, I wanna go some place where I can get a work-permit without having to use a fake degree. I think it would be useful for a lot of people to compile a list of countries which employ non-degree holders. Can anyone give me some places?

[spiral78]

Countries in Central/Eastern Europe do not legally require degrees for work permits BUT you are competiing there against degree-holders, so even with experience, you are likely to get only entry-level positions. But you can be legally employed...

[spiral78]

Sorry about the extra post, but I wanted to add that, essentially, if you want to make a career of ESL/EFL, you really have to upgrade your qualifications, unless you are content with low-paid entry level positions and little to no job security forever.....

[ianpants69]

You are of course right and getting more qualified is on my agenda. That said, even if I decide to take a very quick online degree course I am still looking at upwards of two years studying and ultimately little to show for it. My immediate concern is getting out of a country which seems increasingly less welcoming to foreigners, especially those with poor qualifications or little money, and to somewhere which may not pay fantastically but at least gives me to opportunity to work legally.

[Calories]

china, south america, eastern europe

[JZer]

[ianpants69]

For some reason it didn't occur to me at the time that I do not have a low-paid or entry-level job. Security is an issue as I work here illegally, hence why I started this thread.

[Glenski]

[ianpants69]

OK fair point. I should perhaps clarify what I mean by 'little to show for it' - If I undertake a two year online degree it will be of little value in an academic sense and beyond allowing me to work legally in a country such as Thailand it is unlikely to open many doors. It would surely be better to do a degree with a reputable organisation which will cost more and take longer but provide greater benefits. This strikes me as my best option. My original question, about where it is possible to work legally without a degree, stems from the fact that I would like to live and work legally whilst improving my qualifications and not because I wish to avoid the fact that I need to improve my qualifications for the rest of my life.

[craftynick]

As i dont have a degree myself either (always been working so could never afford it financially or time wise) i am very limited to where i can get jobs. It has been mentioned to me in the past about "bought" degrees or those that are based on life experiences but look authentic. I dont have the bottle to use one of these myself but am wondering really how closely these things are actually checked out when applying for jobs. Does anyone know??

[TheLongWayHome]

[rusmeister]

[quote="TheLongWayHome"]

[TheLongWayHome]

[Frontline]

Ianpants69,

I don't have a degree, and have worked as a teacher in France and Italy. Mind you, they were crappy schools which have since gone bust.

I now have a good job in an EFL school in the UK which I have earned through working hard and gaining experience in the entire EFL arena, not just in the classroom.

If you want to be a teacher, professionally, I think you're going to have to get that degree. Things are a bit more meritocratic on the admin side though.

Re-reading, this post is a bit harsh... but I think that's the way it is!

[Scott Denham]

But what's the answer to the original question? Which countries to not require a degree? A poster above wrote Eastern Europe, South America, China. Others?