Job Discussion Forums

gqsmoothie · Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 15 Location: Lafayette Indiana

I would really like to teach English to elementary aged children in China. How realistic is this with only an Associates degree, no TEFL certificate, and no experience? I am really good with kids and I live very cheaply here in the U.S. so the salary is not the critical issue. I also look very "American" and make good impressions on people. From some of the threads I've read on this site it seems that the way one looks can make all the difference in getting a job.

Any info would be great.

Thanks,

Gabe

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

Don't worry, just don't put you have an associate degree on your resume. When they ask to see your "degree" just show them the certificate you have and say nothing. Chances are they will have no clue to what certificate you really have.

lostinasia · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 466

So "essential fraud" is acceptable?

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

�So "essential fraud" is acceptable�? Um, if you come here you will soon find out that it is the norm here in China. Everyone cheats here from those who employ you to the markets, taxis and even the girl at the supermarket will give you a forged 50 RMB note if she can in the change.

To answer your question; you will have no problem getting a job here. It is just a matter of applying at enough places until someone offers you a job. I advise that you move fast and accept any good job offer that you get otherwise someone else will take it.

Look of course on Dave's for a job but also look on other sites as there are many.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

This place isn't paying much, so they would have to take those without teaching experiance.

Cheery English is the premiere ESL training organization in Shanghai, China, and we are currently hiring conversation English teachers to teach at the top international primary schools in the Shanghai region.

Qualification:

We prefer to recruit experienced and qualified teachers, but no teaching experience is required.

http://www.tesall.com/international/viewtopic.php?p=4559&sid=3d71532cbbd35c2c2d086055da5abae9

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

lost

flutterbayou · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 244

Why is it I find this question of teaching with an Associate degree in such bad taste? Perhaps it is because I still believe that teaching is a skill.

If you want to teach and find that working with kids is your dharma, then take an on-line TEFL course for a month and apply for positions that require only a certificate.

Here comes a warning, though. The better employers in China prefer to sponsor a foreign expert certificate for their teachers, and rarely accept anyone with less than a BA.

If you check similar threads, you'll find that a number of young people with degrees and a little teaching experience have run into trouble obtaining their z visas and/or foreign expert certificates in major cities, like Beijing and Shanghai.

As a matter of fact, if you apply for a position, legitimately, you will have to produce your BA diploma to the China Consulate in your country before entering the Mainland.

I really don't like it much that people are telling you that fraud is the name of the game here. Many of us who teach in China also teach in the USA... or Canada... or wherever we call home. Like I said, teaching's a skill.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

I went for a job here once:

Full-time English Instructor Position: Jeju Island, Korea Cheju National University is a leading national university located on Jeju Island. The university is looking for 1 native English-speaking qualified ...

www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=27532 - 7k -

I say this because unlike most places they checked all the job application they got for the job that I applied for and found that very few actually had what they claimed to have had.

The honesty thing here isn't very high and I get that from Chinese teachers that are always getting messed around with their wages. At a business level not many Western companies make it here but there are a lot worse places here in Asia then China to do business.

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

Leon Purvis · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:24 pm Post subject:

I agree with the poster who said to just send your degree to a prospective employer (or its agent) with a picture of yourself with a bunch of kids.

Though I do not condone the practice, lying DOES increase one's chances for employment. If your conscience allows you to take this route, go for broke. State that you have TWO PhDs. When asked to produce evidence, just send your AA degree with a note saying that PhD degrees are so valuable that yours are in safe keeping in the National Archives and can be be released ONLY after your death. Furthermore, state that since AA degrees are usually two-year degrees, your degree is just as good as a PhD because PhDs usually require less course work and can be completed in less than two years. You may want to emphasize the fact that most PhD candidates usually require 3-5 years to complete their studies.

Also point out that since the western method of ranking is often alphabetized, an AA is better than a PhD because The A's are the first letter in the alphabet. The P in PhD is actually a lower rank.

If you decide not to go that route, claim that people who have PhDs are not as smart as AA holders because PhDs must go to school for eight or more years to attain that degree. Anyone who has to go to school for that long to get a degree HAS to be pretty stupid. Your degree is superior because you're smarter. You had to go to school for only TWO years.

Failing that, tell the school's representative that you can tell really good jokes.

You might want to add that you are quite popular and well-liked in your country. Point out the fact that you can drive into most cities and draw minimal gunfire.

I agree though, that attaining a teaching position without proper credentials WILL put you in frequent contact with the underbelly of the Foreign Teacher trade.

That's putting it nicely. There are other nether regions of the FT trade that are much worse than the underbelly.

gqsmoothie · Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 15 Location: Lafayette Indiana

Thanks Leon for the intelligent response, I really appreciate that.

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

I've seen desks in school offices piled with dubious on-line degrees as well as parchments from universities which only exist in some one's hard drive. As long as their is "something" for the school to use to fulfill the "degree requirement", it's unlikely problems related to one's educational background will arise.

Don't take Leo's hilarious wisecrack too seriously. Teaching English in China with a Masters/ PhD is a bigger joke.

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

Leon Purvis · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:46 pm Post subject:

flutterbayou · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 244

Nonsense to all.

MA's earn a good 16,000 to 20,000 RMB with reputable joint ventures. Some with teaching certificates earn more (with pension). You have to network to find these jobs and once you do, stop floating and settle down and teach.

The issue here is whether one's credentials are real. People with real diplomas and a solid vitae can and do find well-paying jobs in China, and with excellent employers who provide good resources.

And that's all she wrote.