Job Discussion Forums

[flutterbayou]

I recently checked out the new web page for a MOD EDIT school in Changchun, which is set up fairly nicely.

However, I see MOD EDIT, an old colleague of mine, being introduced online as holding an MA in TESOL, and as being a candidate for a PhD at American University, neither which is true.

Am I the only teacher in China who has a bad taste in her mouth at the fraud being so easily touted here? And another point - would you want your child attending a school where teachers' credentials are falsified?

You know, in Mexico (which also happens to be one of the most corrupt countries around) prospective teachers must at least validate their degrees with an official Apostille stamped by the Secretary of State, and notarized, per The Hague Convention - for more specifics see Mexico threads on this topic.

Let's run a poll on this topic

[Shan-Shan]

With thousands of Chinese getting their credentials from "办证" 138/135 cell numbers spray painted on walls and sidewalks, just saying that someone has an MA/PhD is hardly going overboard in China.

It is a shame, but China is not the place where one expects honesty (especially in education).

[william wallace]

13 plus years doin ESL in this country. I have seen both Chinese and foreign fraud, If I had to put a percentage to this it would be around....80-85%

[flutterbayou]

I agree.

The sad thing is that good teachers don't get any pats on the back for having earned their diplomas, not that we ask for one.

What's more, people who actually have MA's in English or are certified to teach know what they're doing in the classroom, and can facilitate curriculum that meets individualized needs.

Let's turn the page to read up on the phonies. Those who falsify their docs perform poorly in the classroom. The host country then loses faith in the quality of foreign teachers. Hence, we educators are faced with substandard wages in China.

Bit of a vicious circle, isn't it?

[englishgibson]

the building of "a harmonious society" with the honesty on its front page

[englishgibson]

[flutterbayou]

no-no-no-no-no....

The old colleague and I have discussed this issue before and the poor sinner promised never to do it again.

I am not attacking the individual, nor the hiring committee. The question being addressed is how such fraud should be dealt with - what might the consequences be.

[flutterbayou]

This topic really does deserve more thought, and on two accounts.

I believe that a number of non-American teachers are staffed at this school, which would mean that they are not certified to teach in the USA, and that - possibly - kids graduating from high school would not be able to enter a western university that is accredited.

Wonder what the quorum is on the percentage of certified teachers an American school must have in order to honor a certified program that would allow a student to continue at universities. Anybody know, offhand?

Now we know that home schooling requires no certification, but this school is not home schooling.

Second is the issue of teachers who don't realize they might be doing something wrong. If some innocent joins the operation and later finds her contradct is not valid due to mismanagement, then . . . who pays for airfare home?

This issue is not petty, so let's hold on the beers for all

[arioch36]

A college near me fired their English Dean (Chinese Teacher) when they discovered he lied about credentials. Everyone liked him, but the Chinese schools are scrutinized ,,, well their Chinese teachers are. A school needs such and such percentage of Phds and MAs to get a better standing

But when it comes to laowai, I know several you call themselves professor, when I know they aren't. But I have never heard of a Chinese school being criticized for having laowai who had false credentials. Can't think of a situation where a laowai was dismissed for lying, except for one Chinese born lived in U.S. and lied about having a PHd. He was terminated

[englishgibson]

[englishgibson]

[redpiston]

This school in Changchun that masquerades as an international school has had some problems with staff leaving due to deceptions perceived by the instructors. Qualifications are often misquoted for the sake of attracting students. Led by two foreigners, who have had experience in Thailand and China. There is no excuse for this kind of false advertising as it is a deliberate attempt to present false qualifications. Opening only a short time ago, I would encourage teachers to pay attention to who is procuring their "red books".

[SnoopBot]

I've sorted through a stack of resumes for my university in Beijing while here on extended vacation in the USA.

The Beijing market is so saturated that many of the fake degree holders are using any angle they possibly can find to get a job position in Beijing and a front row seat for the Olympics.

I've seen at least a dozen resumes that are repeat polished up ones from last year candidates looking for a position this next year.

Many claim they have some type of MA in TESOL. I remember last year these same candidates only had a 4-year degree at best.

Nobody Chinese checks these, in a few cases a good admin staff will have their FT's look over resumes to choose new teacher replacements.

Sometimes we cannot spot them either.

I've received a few cover letters stating they are willing to take a much lower wage to teach at the school. These letters are coming from the so-called higher qualified applicants too.

Offers to teach for 3000 RMB a month for someone with a (fake) MA Ed in TESOL does what to the wages for real MA TESOL holders?

What about those with real BA degree's? Will they now be lower than 3000 a month?

Folks, you are seeing one of the reasons salaries are dropping. The Chinese do not care, if they can advertise that their program has all MA and PhD holders , the better.

As long as they don't have to pay a higher wage for those fake degree holders you will not see any complaints or attempts to clean it up.

It boils down to US, those of us that get stuck bailing out the high-school drop out that claims to have a MA. Our wages keep dropping because of things like this and in the future, these people might be in a leadership role because their education is claimed to be higher. Some of us would find ourselves being subordinate to these types.

We must take over their classes when they do a runner or do not show up due to hangovers or other undependable activities.

I think someone that has some type of web-page should start a teacher list for the listing of those with fake credentials. Many of these pages exist for the fake WAR Hero types claiming fake medals from Iraq for special benefits and services.

Why not do the same in this case.

[Worldly]

[SnoopBot]