Job Discussion Forums

[Madame J]

Okay, so the current plan is: Arrive, take CELTA, use CELTA to search for jobs. However, whilst I know plenty of people decide to take the CELTA in their teaching country of choice, I am unsure as to how long a waiting period they've tended to have between finishing the course and finding work. If any of you conducted your search this way round, how difficult did you generally find it to secure employment afterwards?

Oh, and 'fraid I'm also a scumbag non degree holder, which I am well aware will make the job search slightly more difficult. I've decided (provisionally) on China simply because I hear that the job market is easier to tackle than in most parts of the world, but all this talk about new visa requirements is a little unnerving.

[jeffinflorida]

[wulfrun]

i dont know too much about the current climate, but a friend who recruits for EF in shanghai told me nobody should go into china on a tourist visa at the moment. in the past it was easy to change it to a work visa, but apparently it's better to not take that route now. don't know how the CELTA route that you're taking works out - guess you're going in on some temporary visa sponsored by the CELTA training school?

jeffinflorida, rather than bringing down the tone of the board like that, no reply at all would be better.

[sheeba]

Yeah what's wrong with us Brits!

Madame J. Having no degree I think will mean you can't work legally in China.(I may be wrong there) Why not just come, do your CELTA and see if you like the place. You may hate the thought of working here. After your CELTA you'll have a better idea on current opportunities and China.

Who are you doing your CELTA with by the way? Remember that during the CELTA you won't have much time to look for jobs/play. It can be very intensive but rewarding.

Good luck.

[Russell123]

[sheeba]

[North China Laowei]

Dear Madame J.,

Your "story" has changed considerably on this board since you first posted. First I understood that you were a degreed, qualified teacher from your initial posts. Then I learned that you were not a qualified teacher from your subsequent posts. Now I read that you want to come to China to do a CELTA and then look for a job, all of this on a tourist visa.
Now I am not even sure that you have necessary two-years documented experience to secure a proper Z visa, FEC and resident permit.

Please correct me if I am wrong. What I understand now is that (a) no degree; (b) no two-years teaching expeience; (c) no prior teaching credentials; (d) tourist visa to China. Well, that probably places with you at least half of the posters on this Board who are working in China and who came here under similar circumstances.

All of that being said, this combination or lack of combination of skill sets could or might cause you to have walk through a lot more hurdles than you expected here in China. You haven't mentioned your age, forgive me, but that also might come into play as well as national background (i.e., race).

It's a throw of the dice so to speak but a difficult one at the moment.

NCL

[Anda]

The cities up near Harbin have a lot of trouble getting a foreign teacher and some will come up with fake degrees so they can employ a foreign teacher. If you want a job here I would start by applying there and state that you don't have a degree but want to work badly in China. If you chose this way you should realize that you have to be an entertainer to the kids but have to use a book to make the parents happy. If student numbers drop then you will be asked to leave. If the parents don't like your teaching method but the kids do then you will be asked to leave. If the parents are happy but the kids hate you then the kids will find a way to get rid of you. It's a balancing act.

If you like this game then do a degree by distance education or whatever as having no degree sucks you will find.

[Anda]

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/esl/articles/workinasia.shtml

The vast majority of EFL teachers in Thailand do not have a work visa, and this seems to cause no serious problems. At present, foreigners mostly teach on a tourist visa or (preferably) a non-immigrant visa. So far a crackdown, threatened by the authorities, has not happened. Universities and established language schools may be willing to apply for a work permit on behalf of teachers who have proved themselves successful in the classroom and who are willing to sign a 1-year contract. To be eligible for a work permit you must have a minimum of a BA and, in most cases, a relevant teaching certificate. However, most teachers simply cross the border into Malaysia every three months where a new visa can quickly and easily be obtained from the Thai consulate.

In a country where teaching jobs are so easy to come by, there has to be a catch�low wages. The basic hourly rate in Bangkok is only about 250-300 baht (less than $6), with a few schools paying less and some promising considerably more, especially if travel to outside locations is required. Rates outside Bangkok are lower.

[Madame J]

Well, if it clarifies things any further, then I'm 24, Caucasian, with eight months worth of teaching experience. I should really have mentioned that it is conversational, beginners English with children that I want to teach, and as such I have no issue with stepping into role as kiddies' entertainer. Though I plan to take any teaching job seriously, I do not see this as a long term career and so ending up with a low waged position also doesn't ruffle my feathers particularly.

Anda-Thailand? Really? I'd always heard that Thailand was one of the countries that absolutely demanded a degree as a prerequisite. If "unofficially" it is possible to teach there without, however, then I'll definitely look into it.

Sheeba-I'm currently thinking about doing my CELTA with Language Link, though I'm still in the investigative stage at present. I think if I were to shell out for a flight to Shanghai/Beijing and a month's worth of accommodation, I'd want to be sure of staying put in China after that, so I'm not sure if the whole "seeing if I like it" approach would pay off. Plus I've heard that it's better to take the CELTA in the country in which you intend to teach. I don't know. Is it in fact more worthwhile to do it at home and then finding work wherever in the world it's available?

[sheeba]

[Madame J]

Yeah, I have considered Europe, but if possible I'd really rather go further afield. Apparently Mexico and Latin America are good bets too? I shall have to spam those forums rather more, I feel.

International House ring a bell, at any rate-I'll wander over and look 'em up.

[North China Laowei]

[Anda]

Shanghai isn't the type of place I'd want to be getting a low end pay packet. There are many cities where one can rent an apartment from 500 to 1,000 RMB a month. The government pays a lot more to government workers in the big cities here as the costs are so much higher. Try for jobs now instead of collecting so much infomation. I wouldn't be spending any money on a course here without a Uni degree to back it up. Try now instead of waiting and having to do it latter anyway. At least it will give you a feel to what you are up against.

[jibbs]

I arrived in late July on a tourist L 30 day visa. On the 30th day I went to the office to process the work visa. No hassle really. I heard from some people you have to leave mainland China to process the work visa, like a trip to Hong Kong, and I heard a medical check was needed. I did neither. Maybe it has to do with the province and/or the clout of the people who hire you? I spent 5 weeks not working, and spent a lot of money. I believe I got a good job though, so no complaints so far.