Job Discussion Forums

[slave_screams]

I have been reading lots of different posts on these forums on qualifications needed for teaching in certain areas and I'm aware that most places in Asia require a Degree to ensure there are no issues regarding your legal status to teach. I have two diplomas and a Celta Cert and have been teaching for about 18months now, having just returned from 9 months teaching in Peru. I have a 3 year Diploma in Graphic Arts and Media, and a 2 year Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies. Is the fact that neither of these are degrees automatically eliminate me from teaching in South Korea/China etc? I don't want to go illegally, as I plan to spend at least 1/2 years there if possible. I see plenty of positions advertised, looking for 4 years of study, would the fact that I was in college for 5 years make any difference or am i just wasting my time?

Thanks for your help in advance

[PO1]

I wondered the same thing before and I've noticed most listings actually specify a Bachelor degree or higher. I believe that's more of visa issue though. I'm sure there are plenty of people teaching in Asia without 4 year degrees, but they received visas by some alternate method.

Not sure how accurate my information is, but that seems to be what I've noticed.

[Glenski]

From the Ministry of Justice web site, here are the criteria for the two most common visas used for teachers. Bold, italic, and underlined emphases are mine.

Instructor
1. In cases where the applicant is to engage in instruction at a vocational school (kakushugakkou) or an educational institution equivalent to it in facilities and curriculum or in cases where the applicant is to engage in instruction at another school in a capacity other than that of a teacher, the following conditions are to be fulfilled. In cases where the applicant is to engage in instruction at a vocational school or an educational institution equivalent to it in facilities and curriculum which is established to provide primary or secondary education in a foreign language to the children of those with the status of residence "Diplomat" or "Official" given in Annexed Table I (1) of the Act or "Dependent" given in Annexed Table I (4) of the Act, only requirement a) need be fulfilled.

a. The applicant must have graduated from or completed a course at a college or acquired equivalent education, or must hold a license to teach the subject that he intends to teach in Japan.
b. When the applicant is to teach a foreign language, he must have acquired education in that language for at least 12 years. When the applicant is to teach other subjects, he must have at least 5 years' teaching experience in that subject.

Specialist in Humanities/
International Services
The following conditions are to be fulfilled, unless the applicant is to engage in business related to representation in association with the procedures for an international arbitration case, and falls under Article 58-2 of the Special Measures Law Concerning the Handling of Legal Business by Foreign Lawyers (Law No. 66 of 1986).

1. In cases where the applicant is to engage in a job requiring knowledge in the humanities, he must have graduated from or completed a course at a college or acquired equivalent education majoring in a subject relevant to the knowledge necessary for performing the job concerned, or have at least 10 years' experience (including the period of time spent obtaining the relevant knowledge at a college, college of technology (koutousenmongakkou), upper secondary school, the latter course of a secondary educational school (chutokyouikugakkou) or during a specialized course of study at an advanced vocational school (senshyugakkou)).

2. In cases where the applicant is to engage in a job requiring specific ways of thinking or sensitivity based on experience with a foreign culture, the following conditions are to be fulfilled.

a. The applicant must engage in translation, interpretation, instruction in languages, copywriting, public relations, overseas transactions, fashion or interior design, product development or other similar work.
b. The applicant must have at least 3 years' experience in the relevant job, except in cases where the applicant who has graduated from college is to engage in translation, interpretation or instruction in languages.
http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/information/mopca-01.html

Basically, a bachelor's degree itself is not specified, probably because of a variety of terminology used in various countries. Canadians call a 3-year college degree a "diploma", I believe. It's still acceptable. Not all countries offer the equivalent of a bachelor's degree with 4 years of study. Moreover, with extra effort, a "4-year degree" can actually be obtained in shorter time. (I often tell people when I proofread their resumes to stop listing the range of dates for their university work, and to list the end date only.)

Also, a combination of schooling and experience will be taken into account. slave_screams, in my opinion, qualifies on those grounds, too.

I often remind people that if you don't have a degree, you can get a work visa with a certain number of years of teaching experience. We all use the term "bachelor's degree" when we should actually be more specific, as you can see from the official regs here.

Apply.

[slave_screams]

Thank you Glenski, that is most helpful. I had hoped that with my qualifications and experience, I would be able to look for work in South Korea, I was just worried that only having Diplomas would automatically exclude me from getting employment. I am going to start looking at vacancies immediately, just have to read a lot more of where are the good places to go now! Thanks again

[Apsara]

The information that Glenski has given you only applies to Japan- the site quoted was from the Japanese Ministry of Justice, so is completely irrelevant to the situation in Korea.

If you are specifically interested in the situation in Korea, then better to ask on the Korea board.

[Glenski]

Thank you, Aspara. I guess I should have directly mentioned the info I provided was only for Japan, but I assumed readers would see my avatar address and would also read the link.

[Apsara]

Well, this is the Japan board, so there probably wasn't really any need to clarify that the info only applied to Japan- I'm kind of surprised that slave_ screams thought you were talking about Korea!

[G Cthulhu]

[slave_screams]

I put this post in all the Asian forums, as I am open to teaching in a number of areas. Obviously the legal requirements for teaching varies from country to country, maybe I should have made that clear in my response. Thank you again for your help.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[genesis315]

Gambate, think I need a degree to understand what you just posted.

[Glenski]

Thanks for the...uh...clarification.

I may make this a personal sticky! That is the only way I can remember it.

As for "AFAIK, a Canadian college diploma isn't acceptable in Japan in lieu of a degree", I think there are probably some people who got it past immigration. I couldn't tell you who, but I am willing to believe it has happened. That could mean people fudged on what they called it and how they explained the wording on the parchment, or had a lawyer help them.

Heck, I know of some people who on these forums have claimed (grain of salt time) to have used 2 associate degrees (2-years each in the US) to get a work visa in Japan, just because they sold the combination as equivalent to what immigration wanted.

[Pilot82]

How bout two year degree with 2 years teaching experience? Does that help?

[Glenski]

There are no promises or guarantees with immigration. You could try. That's the best I could say. Best odds are to finish the 3-4 year degree. It's a small price to pay for a career move.

[Pilot82]

Well I'll give it a try.... dont wanna be bothered with more schooling at this point since I've already gained enough verifiable teaching experience here in China.