Job Discussion Forums

sammyseal · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 2

Hi all! I'm new to the ESL world so forgive if this question has already been asked. I tried to look it up but my situation is pretty specific! People that know both about Korea and Taiwan law would be best suited to answer.

I'm a native speaker (American passport) but grew up in France until I was 17. I am now finishing my undergrad at McGill University in Montreal.

After trying to apply for a job through a recruiter for Korea, I was told that I would not be able to get a visa because the Korean government was extremely picky and absolutely required that the last 10 years of my schooling had been done in a country where English is the native language. The recruiter (footprints), also told me that this technicality prevented me from pretty much getting a visa to work anywhere in Asia and my only option was Georgia which was less stringent. Though I have heard the Korean government can be picky, I have a hard time believing the situation is similar everywhere and in particular, Taiwan.

Anyone that speaks with me will tell you I sound native. Footprints even told me that they would hire me, but it's not up to them!

So what's the juice on this stuff?

Thanks guys,

Sam

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

You have an US passport and your undergrad is from Canada. I'm not really understanding the issue. How would they even know you lived in France? I think the only qualifications you need to show are your degree certificates and perhaps a TEFL. Nobody has ever asked me for high school diplomas (not since i got my first degree, anyway).

sammyseal · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 2

That's good to hear.

To any other of you teaching in Taiwan, you were never asked where you went to high school or if you lived for x amount of years in a natively english country?

If anyone teaching in Korea happens to read this, could you confirm that that information was necessary?

EG in Taipei · Joined: 10 Jan 2011 Posts: 12 Location: Taipei , Taiwan

Most employers in Taiwan just need to know that you can authenticate your University degree. I agree with the previous poster who didn't understand the big deal. There are many "native" English speakers who have very thick accents that teach here. The government requires the degree for sponsorship purposes. They don't care about your accent. I'm not sure why Footprints made such a big deal about where you went to high school. What if you were a State department brat and lived in 10 different countries before college?

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

I do believe that you need a university degree from an university in English. Attending a French university in Canada will not qualify you to get a work permit to teach English in Taiwan.

Anyone is welcome to correct me if I am wrong.

EG in Taipei · Joined: 10 Jan 2011 Posts: 12 Location: Taipei , Taiwan

I didn't think that McGill was only a French speaking University. I thought-apparently mistakenly-- all universities in Canada used English. If McGill is a French speaking university, and your diploma is in French, that would explain a lot.
Then my next suggestion would be: Why not get a job teaching French? You can always highlight how well you speak English.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Benben · Joined: 04 Sep 2010 Posts: 10

I'm from eastern Canada and I've always studied in french. We got offers to work in Korea but we couldn't get a visa because of the 10 year rule, but in Taiwan, we didn't have any problems. My degree is in french and the only thing they asked was to get it stamped by the consulate in Canada. As long as your university is recognized, then you shouldn't have any trouble.