Job Discussion Forums

[t-asia]

Hello

Advise- do Taiwanese immigration authorities require an undergraduate applicant to have majored in a subject before issuance of an ARC card? Bit of a grey area- my HND credit transfer and 18 months online studies total 300 credit points.

I chose a mix of OU courses rather than one major where I wait for my degree detail and result. I am limited in my options. Hopefully, there are undergraduates that have been issued an ARC card without a major in a specific area? Please clarify?

I concluded distance learning studies September 08 where I assume my transcript papers mid-Dec 08 (Matriculation May/Apr 09 ) in Arts and Humanities (assume this to be my major?) courses are sufficient to be issued an ARC card?

Open University- heard of it, more importantly, will Taiwanese consular services? For my part, this term ''majored in'' is foreign to me. Waiting on a reply from Taiwanese immigration. Can anyone advise on this issue in the meantime. Will help greatly?

Thank you,

t-asia English Native Speaker

[stillnosheep]

Just put 'Humanities' or whatever area you obtained most credits in.

You are correct: 'majored in' is an Americanism. We would simply say 'studied' or 'studied as my main subject'.

[markholmes]

I thought a three year degree is 360 credits. It is here in Canada.

[t-asia]

Thanks stillnosheep, however I remain unsure as to the value and status of my Open University Degree pending the official result in the bag- now being the time to plausibly consider coming to Taiwan on a sixty-day visitor visa.

I need specifics, I need the web address of the processing department or official government department that can answer my specific queries; as I panic to make sense of the comments to the query above.

Sure all can be appropriated, but where is it written as to the specific status of a degree studied to go teach in Taiwan, on paper and any allowances that can be made for, in what appears to me a gray/grey area.

It's probably me, but the ROC connected website is difficult to read as the font ruins my reading pleasure, thus makes no sense. Markholmes- openuniveristy.co.uk- 300 points without Honours, 360 to attain Honours status. Hope this helps? In Canada, how many points for a Degree with and without Honours.

Thank you

t-asia

[markholmes]

You know what, I am talking crap, sorry, it's a hectic time, I'm in the first semester for my B.Ed. elementary teacher program.

I have a degree from Middlesex University in London, which has 360 credits (and is an honours degree). I live in Vancouver now and here a full time semester gets you 15 credits (it's a totally different system, so says nothing about the work load, which I think is higher here).

Momentary confusion. I need a holiday. Apologies

[773]

If I understand you correctly, you have an HND and have taken extra courses, but have not yet obtained a Bachelors...is that correct?

If you do not have a Bachelors, the only way to get an ARC with an HND is with a TEFL certification (like the CELTA) along with it.

[t-asia]

773,

Interesting information what you write, but where is it lawfully written? It sounds plausible that a TEFL cert. has value, but again, where is it written, 773?

Sure, there are tons of org's that offer <120 hour TEFL courses, T-asia's TEFL obtained after only 40 hours study. Where is it written that a 40 hour Cert. holds value, or not, 773?

773-- ''where I wait for my degree detail and result'', the OP's original. Still-- even stranger; as to the credibility of the OU, has no one heard of the OU?

t-asia

[773]

t-asia, I have no idea where this is lawfully written, but I do know that in my 6.5 years spent in Taiwan, if one has an HND and not a Bachelors, they need to also have a TEFL cert.

I did not comment on the value of having this or not, I am plainly stating what I have known to be the law in Taiwan for getting an ARC.

Your post was confusing. I am unclear as to whether you will have accumulated enough credits to technically have a Bachelors or not...in other words, will you have a Bachelors degree in your hand when you are applying for jobs, or will your HND be your highest qualification at that time? Whether or not you will need a TEFL cert depends on that.

[773]

Also, Taiwan does not recognize distance degrees.

[t-asia]

Yes, at the time of posting the original query, I were fuddled as how to ask the right relevant question having no relevant background in the Taiwanese way of conducting official consular business. All becomes clear where there is input, however sloth and loll.

So I wait on my OU degree result mid-December. Should I pass, then I feel confident to take the necessary steps, pre-dated with answers from TECO in hand, to apply for a 60 day visitor visa. Thereafter, continue in vein, with the normal application for an ARC card and Teaching permit.

I do not believe [T] do not or would not recognise, or even place no value on distance learning courses? But it is as you say, their ultimate decision. However, will contact the TECO for official valid confirmation. 773 having been most diligent and helpful. Again, to those, with the purpose of remaining aloof with no forthcoming answer; leaves me in dread, to travel to Taiwan and teach.

Thank you,

t-asia

[steve_c]

t-asia,

Perhaps this is what you're looking for:

Council of Labor Affairs Executive Yuan Taiwan R.O.C. (http://laws.cla.gov.tw/)

Click on the above link and follow these steps:

1. Click English or Chinese, as you prefer
2. Scroll down and click on "96.05.23 Employment Services Act." This is the full Act. [The more recent link, "97.08.06 Employment Services Act," has just three minor updates]
3. Scroll down to Article 46. Cram school teachers fall under Article 46.1.4 which states: "Full-time teacher teaching course(s) on foreign language(s) at a short-term class registered for supplementary schooling in accordance with the Supplementary Education Act"

Now...

4. Page back to the list of laws, scroll down and click "94.05.24 Qualifications and Criteria Standards for foreigners undertaking the jobs specified under Article 46.1.1 to 46.1.6 of the Employment Service Act "
5. Scroll down to Article 42. The requirement for foreign cram school teachers includes the following information: "The foreign employees specified in the previous Paragraph, need to obtain qualification certificate for language teaching if the employees do not own bachelor degrees."

I'm not a lawyer, but I believe the italicized part allows a 2-3 year degree + TESOL certification.

However, like others have mentioned, I've heard that distance education degrees are not accepted. I don't know if or where this would be in writing.

Hope this helps.

[t-asia]

96.05.23 Employment Services Act (Article 46.1.4)
0r (97.08.06 Employment Services Act: recent link)
http://laws.cla.gov.tw/Eng/EngContent.asp?MsgID=103

94.05.24 Employment Services Act (Article 46.1.1 - 46.1.6)
http://laws.cla.gov.tw/Eng/EngContent.asp?MsgID=42

For a foreign teacher, I note ''foreign teacher'' status
should be broken down into two areas termed below:

[1] Full-time teacher teaching course(s) on
foreign language(s) at a short-term class

[2] Foreign school teacher [however, do note
2nd status of foreign teacher differs on other
government site]

Broken down into laymen terms: I noted the term
formal degree. All said and done. Of course
in the United Kingdom, this is not the case. The OU
workload is as academic, if not more than, regards
the high workload. Again, all said and done, differs.

T-asia

[t-asia]

The foreign employees specified in the previous Paragraph, need to obtain qualification certificate for language teaching if the employees do not own bachelor degrees.

As far as specifics are concerned, once again, and in the event that I do obtain the OU degree, there is little breakdown of requirements. It seems here if you do not own a degree that only then, is the information fortcoming, which in its lackingness shall have to suffice. Who wishes to teach in Taiwan if its civil servants are unable to prioritise the value of English grammar on their site, I believe.

All appears a grey/gray area.

Thank you steve_c

Will keep all DEC's updated.

T-asia

[t-asia]

When I am awarded my OU degree result mid-December, then, I will have what is termed a, ''Diploma Supplement (transcript) as confirmation of an Award'', not having the actual degree certificate until May 2009.

This further complicates matters in regard of hopes to teach where I do not know, should the distance learning degree be of value, if the transcript version will suffice while waiting for the proper OU certificate. Teachers* has anyone applied for a teaching position with a transcript of a degree, the only qualifcation, the only evidence of qualification?

Please exclude all earlier references to my HND, this was done to detail the credit transfer to my OU studies, now complete. Again, now complete.

T-asia.

[therock]

My understanding is a OU is just like a normal degree. Will the degree be from OU or from a uni in the UK? I always thought OU were the middle man and that the degree is actually from a uni in the UK. From the sounds of it you will graduate with a Bachelor in Humanities....you should have specialised in one subject.........that will be your major.