Job Discussion Forums

icollin · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 39

deleted

Gonzo · Joined: 08 Mar 2004 Posts: 80

By "work", I suppose you mean "teach". There are hundreds of thousands of non-teachers working here.
If this is the case, the official answer is "no", but the real answer is "yes". Ask Lanza Armonia to tell you how. Rhonda too, I think.
More importantly, are you white, and is English your native tongue?

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

yes. I work with a guy who has no TEFL cert or degree, but he's older and has life experience. I think it depends on the school and their connections.

batman · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 319 Location: china

you must show at least a bachelor's degree from a university in order to get a working visa. so yes, you require a degree to work here. seeing as how the govt types dont read english very well, the degree could be in kinesiology, midget wrestling, or cross-dressing, so a relevant degree may not be required, but you must have something. i gave myself one in photoshop manipulation, and beer drinking. they like it.

Gonzo · Joined: 08 Mar 2004 Posts: 80

Yes, sadly, a parchment bearing your name and the word "university" or "college" will land a job in many places. I've got a business card that promises me any qualification from anywhere, el cheapo. That's China.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

I have worked with people who got their z-visa without degree. But I am sure it will become more and more rare.

Guest · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2004 8:12 am Post subject: WORK WITH NO DEGREE

Yes, I have been "teaching" here for 7 months now and I certainly do not have any degrees- and if I did they would have been from the dark ages and of no consequence to me now.

I am 57 now, and I sometimes think that it is a BLESSING that I am not a qualified teacher, as most of you are, because I would go CRAZY!

Lets face it, we are treated as "entertainers" by the older and younger students alike and really as just a bit of a joke. It would be FRUSTRATING to try an actually teach them something relevant.

I do my best with what I know and what I have. We are not given any books etc. here so I prepare my own lessons from the Internet. I try and given them 20 minutes of a written exercise and then 20 minutes of speaking to me. I have now settled down into a fairly good routine I think and at least the children are not saying EGGA and ORANGER and more.

Being older has its advantages, but it is hard to think of just what they are sometimes!

I think the main thing to do is be honest with the School and tell them you do not have a Degree or qualifications or whatever. This school is happy to have me here for a second year and even longer if I wish, so I must be doing something right. I realise that I am not as effective as someone like Roger for instance, but I am getting paid accordingly and so is he so it all works out.

Good luck

laodeng · Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 481

I am blessed/cursed with several degrees through the doctorate, including one in education. But, as several of our writers do, I seriously question the value of any of them in the teaching-in-China context. Even (especially?) at the university level, good child-raising skills--consistency, patience, firmness, tolerance, etc.--seem to be more important.

laodeng · Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 481

Sorry, my last was a failed attempt at mind reading. Rather, I suspect that some doubt the necessity of formal training for doing what we are doing.

icollin · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 39

Yes, English is my language, and I am a white Canadian girl (well, I am 22). I just came back from Japan, where I was teaching kids for a year with a working holiday visa - no problem to get a job. I would love to go back to Japan, but they don't renew WHV...while I was there, I visited China, and I liked it, so I would like to teach there sometime soon. Do you suggest that I just show up and get a job? What kind of Visa would I need then? thanks for your help guys.

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

Louis · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 275 Location: Beautiful Taiyuan

Trying to line up a job over the internet with no degree will only get you the most undesirable offers, ie. recruiters and 24-hours a week for 3000 RMB schools. Your best bet might be to get an L or F visa, 80 copies of your resume and a plane ticket... You will need some kind of proof of attendance (not necessarily graduation) from a postsecondary institution to get your Z/residence permit. Forgeries may work. It's a lot harder without the degree, but by all means possible.

Guest · Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 10:50 pm Post subject: FREAKING DEGREE

Lous

Sorry but you are incorrect - I get 3,500 Y per month and I only teach for 10 hours per week.

This School is GREAT and I am signing up for a second year and hopefully more after that. I do not have a Degree, and in fact, I did not have anything to offer when I first came here seven months ago except determination to succeed and maturity.

I did come with a Recruiter, admittedly, as I was short of time and also needed a School to accept me without the Degree etc.

I am out in the sticks a bit, - 3 hours northwest of Shanghai but I can go to the "bik Smoke" for a couple of days every so often if I feel like it.

Louis · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 275 Location: Beautiful Taiyuan

I stand corrected. Please substitute "usually" for "only" in my previous post.

ilunga · Joined: 17 Oct 2003 Posts: 842 Location: China

I echo that Rhonda. I don't have a degree but have a great job. Maybe I was just lucky.
I'm teaching younger students but I get excellent assistance now, a light load and plenty of holidays Smile

I'm not a big fan of the school as a whole but I've no complaints whatsoever about the way they treat the foreign teachers. My one little gripe would be the fact I can't receive CCTV9 or 5 for the Italian footy on a sunday night, but that's no big deal.
Good luck Batman, hope you find something good.