Job Discussion Forums

helloworld · Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 5

Right now I�m exploring the idea of teaching in China. I currently hold a University Business Diploma and have a year of experience in teaching. Now; I�m more about exploring the culture; so I�m not here to get rich.

My ideal place will be the beautiful Shanghai or any other cities that is close to it. But with the competitions and my lack of a degree I�m guessing I�ll have better lucks in the middle/small-size cities (ie.Shenzen, Dialan)???

To add to my concerns; I heard a lot of frightening stories and most of them happen to the people teaching illegally in China. This might be my case, since without a Bachelor degree I�m not eligible to teach in China. Base of my credentials/experiences can someone point me to the right direction as to where to start??? (I.e., contacts, agencies, website..Etc)

Also, what other subjects can I teach beside English??? (ie. Computer, business..etc)???

many thanks guys!

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

I would say there are plenty of jobs you'd qualify for. The degree thing mostly applies to university work, though Shanghai appears to be tightening up in other areas as well.
Just do what most people do when not in-country: explore the job sites, get an idea of what you'd be eligible for, do some geography to work out where you'd like to be etc. Allow time. Research, ask questions here about schools and cities before making commitments.
After 3 years in Shanghai, "beautiful" is not the word I'd choose. Interesting, vibrant, certainly. A small city might suit you, and in China "small" means up to about 2 million. You might find a satisfying job and lifestyle more easily in one of the inland provincial cities.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

I am afraid that I disagree with eslstudies that degrees are only required for legal work in Universities. To teach legally in China you need to qualify as a foreign expert and in order to qualify as a foreign expert to teach you need a degree. It does not matter what type of school you teach at, it matters whether you meet the requirements for the work certificate.

So how do so many people secure Z visas for what is apparently legal work? Well there are a few ways to do this but none of them give the visa holder 100% legal employment status as a foreign teacher.

One way is that schools apply for your Z visa based upon work other than as a teacher. In some cases your Z visa may be obtained by the school through an outside company who claims that they are employing you while in fact you don�t work for them but for the school.

Another, less common, but certainly possible method is false documentation. This is likely becoming less common fortunately as records become computerized.

Probably most foreign teachers working here without a degree are working on F or even L visas. Neither of these visas give the holder of the visa the legal right to work in China as a full time foreign teacher.

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

Eslstudies, despite the way that this may come across I am not trying to get into a war over this.

It seems to me from the OP�s post that he wants to try to avoid working illegally. That seems to me to be a sensible option. He doesn�t have a degree and therefore does not qualify for legal work as a foreign teacher of English in China and he seems to understand that.

You wrote:

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

The procurement of legal status will give little on no advantage to your situation if and when your employer decided to take you to the cleaners....there is no agency that will look after your well being and if there is a dispute, neither party has to accept mediation..the courts are the final judgement, and even more rare is a civil settlement that favors the foreigner......but don't let this worry you..plenty of folks work on the "F".. and many teach even though they have little in the way of required degrees ... depending on where you teach ..the definition of your job tittle ..the degree may not even be required..

helloworld · Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 5

Thanks for all the replies; they are all very informative, I�m a bit relief now=)

Do you guys have contacts, agencies, websites that I can use to continue with my research?

Free feel to PM me=)!

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

Sift through www.tefl.com to see what mean. Some jobs stipulate a degree, others degree/diploma [which you have] others still neither, but place emphasis on teaching experience [which you have].
The ones that promise full resident and work permits are the sort you're after. Again, the International Job Board at the top of this page provides more.
I'm simply being pragmatic here, and pointing out what the situation is: that there are many jobs in China that do not require degrees and that offer full legal status, which is a dodgy concept in China for any foriegner, as cj750 points out!

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

dialogger · Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 419 Location: China

Well I know of one university in Dalian that has and still does employ non-degreed foreign teachers. I know there are rules from the central authorities about the degree thing but hey it's China.
A university probably not interested in you until end August start.
OP - post here if you want to follow up and I'll PM you the contact detail.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

dialogger · Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 419 Location: China

Good to sound a note of caution Clark. This is China afterall but yep I had a contract in the form used by FE Administration, a red book and a green one when they were part of the set up. Totally kosher as far as I could see.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

dialogger · Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 419 Location: China

My experience in Dalian ended in December 2005 so 14 months ago now.