Job Discussion Forums

mrTainan · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

Hello,
I read somewhere on this website that if you have a college diploma AND TESOL certification you can teach legally in Taiwan.

Is this still true?? I did 4 years of animation study at a vocational college and have dimplomas recognized by the provincial goverment and ministry of education here in Canada. So if I get my TESOL am I good to go in TAIWAN?

I sure hope so because I don't want to have to go back to school for 3 years to get a BA degree!

(fake BA's is not something I'm interested in doing)
regards,

Daniel

forest1979 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: SE Asia

Where are you diplomas from? A tertiary college? If they are akin to an Associate's degree, then if you get a TEFL badge you should be ok. However, let others better qualified than me clarify this one up for you.

chrissacat · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

Hi Daniel,

I too have heard (and am hoping) that this is true. I've also heard from a few people living in Taiwan that it is NOT legal and you must have a four year bachelor's degree.

mrTainan · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

Well I have basic and advanced diplomas from a private career college. I studied there 4 years full-time. My diplomas say they are given under authority of the Government of Ontario (my province) and Ministry of Education. I studied animation there 3 years and did an addiotional 4th year post-graduate study there.. giving me my Advanced diploma.

I have a friend in TW who is using his college woodworking diploma and TESL. . . And he is a good teacher.. he's been teaching in China and TW many years now and even will marry at taiwanese lady.

I think maybe some organizations like HESS will only accept a BA but others can legally accept diploma +TESL combo.

Daniel

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

Yes it is true but logistically very difficult to get legal work on a diploma plus TESOL.

1. Nobody seems very clear about which diplomas are acceptable nor which TESOL certifications are acceptable. Not even the government is clear on this it seems. At least with a university qualification there are clear lists to refer to.

2. Most schools either don't know or chose to ignore the fact that they can legally employ teachers with less than a full bachelors degree in some circumstances.

3. Even if you can find all of the above out you are going to be competing with teachers with full degrees that are most likely going to be favored over you.

Of course if you don't have a degree then you have no choice but to try, but I would advise that you contact the CLA directly to check that your diploma and your TESOL certification are recognized by them. This really becomes a case by case thing.

mrTainan · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

You said i should contact the CRA??? what is that? I don't know those acronyms. From what I hear there are lots of jobs in Taiwan. . so i don't think competition is going to be too bad. I'll go there and try my luck. . if nothing happens.. I'll grab a visa and fly to mainland china.

Daniel

forest1979 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: SE Asia

In a way you're right in that there are jobs available in Taiwan to teach English but whether the competition is tough or not if you don't have a BA/Bsc then the cards will be stacked against you. Consequently you won't have too much bother finding a job. You might though have more bother finding a good job.

LKJ · Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 57

As far as I know, Clark is 100% correct on this one.

It seems there are NO guarantees when it comes to applying with a 2 year college diploma and a TEFL qualification. Some people get through, and others don't.

As far as I am aware, the CLA does NOT technically accept this combination, does not publish a list of accepted TEFL courses or accepted diplomas - yet it seems to work for some people, which suggests they DO technically accept this combination - when they feel like it. Welcome to Taiwan!

The key point here, as Clark says, is that it is done on a case by case basis. Maybe they have a monthly quota? I don't know.

I have heard informed rumors that there is a a new person at the CLA that knows the difference between the various TEFL courses - e.g, knows that on-line courses are not as recognized as face to face courses, and knows that 120 hour courses that include 6+ hours of observed teaching practice are pretty good (CELTA, Trinity TESOL), etc, etc. This should now benefit people with the best qualifications.

For the record, the employer does not make the final decision - the government does. Sure, it is up to the employer to try or not - but the final outcome is beyond their control.

I hope this helps.