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Irish Blood English Heart

I posted this thread in the newbie section but since China is my preffered choice I thought I should post it here too to get a wider viewing from potential infomation sources. Apologies to anyone who has read it already!

Hi, im new to this forum and the wonderful world of TEFL, all night I looked through these threads hoovering up infomation that is all new to me!!! Its slightly overwhelming to say the least but I have never looked forward to or wanted to do something so much as teach in east Asia! And since English is something ive got than thats my easiest tool to use.

The question is, how possible is it for me to do this with my circumstances? Well here they are.

I'm 21 years old and will be 22 by the time I'd be ready to leave for Asia.

I'm born and bred English, white, with a BBC accent, and good qualifications up until University. However I dropped out of University half way through my 2nd year due to financial and personal problems and in hindsight plain stupidity. I was studying Sociology and Politics though. I am going to do a CELTA TEFL in Krakow in Poland in the next few months (I could do it here in Newcastle but i'd rather do it abroad and its cheaper too). Going back to University to do another degree isnt an option as i'm not eligiable for help with my fees or another student loan (meaning it would cost me 7000 pounds a year!). My only teaching experience was for 3 weeks before University as work experience in a primary school teaching 8 year olds.

In asia I am looking to fufil a vocation and to make a difference, Im not one of these people who just wants to travel and use teaching as an excuse. I intend to stay out there for a very long time and immerse myself in a different way of life from the British way.

I am looking for a job in a medium sized city perhaps somewhere off the main beaten track (HK, Shanghai, Beijing etc), but somewhere large and different. I am looking to earn enough to live comfortably and to have enough to meet new friends and going out occasionally etc. However I am not worried about savings to come back to the UK with. I am also looking for a job that would be able to arrange my VISA for me (even without a degree is this possible) and provide comfortable accomodation for me.

So am I dreaming or is this really possible? I know I probably dont have a high enough education having not finished my degree to teach in Japan so I guess that is out.

Which leaves places like Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia and (my prefferred option) China. What are my chances of landing a position like I said without the degree and at my age in one of those places?

Like I said China is my favourite but I heard you need a degree for the Visa there too. Is there a way around this?

I dont mind not earning top dollar as long as im confortable and its all legit and above board and I intend to proove myself and build up a career once im there.

Also is the accomodation you recieve free in these kinds of positions and seperate to the salary?

Anyway hope all this helps. Sorry for writing so much but ive seen in a few previous posts that people havent left enough infomation.

If anyone could help me or give me any advice that would be fantastic!!!

Thanks very much,

Danny

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

howdy!

I don't know about the rest of Asia but you won't be having issues inChina depending on how you play your cards. Not having a degree will keep you from getting those relaxed Uni jobs but there are plenty of opportunities that will be available to you.

spend a few days going through the posts here and you will find more info than you will be able to process...but it should answer any questions you have...

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Hello, Danny,
I would second nolefan in every respect though I would caution against over-enthusiasm - it might be a little more difficult now to land a decent job; don't know why, but of late the job market has been less liquid than before.
Anyway, you should not feel dejected over your education status - higher education wouldn't make any difference here.
If you have a B.A., you are fairlysafe; without it you can still reasonably hope to be employed within a month upon arriving here.

Try your luck in Guangdong or Guangxi - relatively congenial, high standards of living, close to Hong Kong, British consulate in Guangzhou - formerly Canton. Lots of towns with a well-to-do population.
Next hiring period will be in summer (for the September to February semester).

Irish Blood English Heart · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 3:19 pm Post subject:

Trouble is like I said I dont have a BA and have heard this could be a real problem getting a VISA or finding a job before entering China, is this true? Even with a TEFL Celta?

I dont think id really want to turn up just at the airport and try and find somewhere to live, work etc once im there as my chinese is notable only by its abscence at the moment!!!

Someone said Vietnam might be a better bet if I dont have a degree, is this true?

Anyway Im well spoken, enthusiastic and eager to experience a culture ive grown to love in visits to S.E.Asia and spending a lot of time in the china towns of New York and Manchester.

Irish Blood English Heart · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 5:49 pm Post subject:

Also ive been looking at some agencies (Yakup for instace) but have heard very bad things about them? As someone who has never been to China before though and who fears the sorting out of the work permit/Visa, would this not be a good idea for me? Though im slightly dubious as to whether they can deliver on what they promise! Is there any other agencies out there?

Or is my best bet to just e-mail my details to dozens of schools?

Just a guy · Joined: 06 Oct 2003 Posts: 267 Location: Guangxi

Sounds like you really want the real cultural experience & without a degree�

I�ll recommend going away from the known larger city areas, find a city with only a couple or few 100,000 people, those places are more in need of teachers so getting legal might be easier & will also offer a better taste of China.

I liked the small city in northwest Hunan I was in, beautiful country & nice people, they didn�t see a lot of white people so stares will be part of daily life but if ya keep in mind that You Are different than the millions of people they have ever seen, it shouldn�t bother you too much. All smaller city�s will provide the stare factor.

Post a resume at the sites listed in the link above on one of these pages & sort through the offers, make a new email address for this as you�ll get a lot of offers for months to come, most will be from recruiters but if you write a good simple resume, some schools will contact you too. Look at job offerings too, write up a simple letter you can paste in email to the schools that interest you, send it to many. Sort out the offers you get back that sound interesting & research the location & school.
You Don�t need to use a recruiter.

The school Should help arrange your travel inside China getting to their city, you�ll have to get your tourist visa (get a 90 day) & get to China on your own. Look at government schools, middle, primary or high, even some colleges, they are most hungry for foreign pets & most often go by the rules of getting you legal & giving you a living place.

As said, read through the archives for answers to most of your questions, they Are there.

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

Hi
Finding the right job might be some headaches without a degree, but the rest should be OK. If you are not overly concerned about salary/location (ie. you don't have much of a say), recruiters may be an option. I am currently teaching without a degree or TESOL cert, and am perfectly legal (all I needed was a copy of my transcript for 2 years of uni.) Heck, just pm me and I can put you in touch with my school, they treat all the teachers here like royalty and will certainly be looking come September.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

If you don't mind enlisting the help of a recruiter, then by all means, go for it, but AVOID YAKUP!
I would suggest BUCKLAND in Yangshuo.
They might place you in Guangxi. They might place you anywhere else, but please, don't go for Yakup!

Irish Blood English Heart · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2004 2:48 pm Post subject:

lol ok i'll definitely avoid Yakup. What about www.china-tesol.org i had a pm reccommending them, and had a lot of fun reading through http://www.freewebs.com/briggs_updates who apparently used that agency!?

Irish Blood English Heart · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2004 9:33 pm Post subject:

I heard the guy who runs the china-tesol.org site (or CTTR) is a Mr.Geoffrey Weymouth, done a search on here for all those terms but came up with nothing? anyone know if theyre worth a go? im not too bothered where i'm posted as long as its a city of some size. Obviously Nanjing or Dalian or somewhere would be really nice but I guess youre very unlikely to land somewhere you want and if somewhere else comes up and the living and teaching conditions are pleasent enough and theres a sizeable town to find friends in than great!!!

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

Danny, even though there's a high chance you might be a Newcastle fan I'll give you a bit of information Razz

I'm from a place about 30 miles down the road, i'm sure you know it well!
I came here last august in a similar position to you. You'll have no problem finding a job. Start looking around on the internet in a month or so. I didn't start applying until about 6 weeks before I came and got one good offer fairly quickly. Maybe I was lucky but it's worked out really well, I've no complaints whatsoever.
PM me if you want to ask any questions.

PS Krakow is a great place to take a CELTA. I wish I'd thought of that. How much does it cost if you don't mind me asking?

Irish Blood English Heart · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 1:49 am Post subject:

Hi ilunga,

Cheers for that, and don't worry i'm a Manchester City fan anyway Smile

Take it your a smogmonster then? Guess you feel pretty at home in China Wink

only kidding. Congratulations on the Carling Cup win by the way! Watched it in Manchester, a great game!! (btw if you're a mackem with poor geography than my humblest apologies and congrats on the cup semi!

As for the Celta in Krakow I believe its around �600 or �400 less than here in Newcastle. Havent got the exact figures to hand but its something like that.

Anyway everything I've heard has been very possitive so far (bar some alarming posts in the job journals section, but I believe and trip and job is what you make of it, and obviously the research you do).

Newt question is then obviously how much should I expect to command since i'm avoiding Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzen etc, have no degree but do have (or will have) a celta and am 21.

I was thinking RMB 4000 is the minimum I should take, or this being optimistic?

Also if they promise Internet access, comfortable flats, bikes etc what are the chances of actually getting them?

Cheers guys!

Dragon Lover · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 64

Irish Blood English Heart · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 4:07 pm Post subject:

No not Yakup ive been wanred off of them!!

im looking at china-tesol.org or just individual schools now!

hesterprynne · Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 386

I have no degree or certificate and started with 3800 RMB. You can buy your own new bike for 150 RMB. Many schools offer you net access at the school. The school should also reimburse you for the visa.