Job Discussion Forums

iain00 · Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 3

Hi all, I have recently completed a 130 hour TEFL course, and am now looking for my first teaching post in Asia.

The problem is all the schools require that you have a BA degree. Does anyone know if this rule is strictly enforced? Would I have more luck if I just flew out to the country and searched round for schools with my CV.?
The countries I�m looking at are Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Cambodia, China or Japan.

If anyone has any advice on getting a job without a degree, I would be most grateful.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

This has been asked about once a week here now. Have you read any of the related posts?

As for Japan...
A degree or 3 years of related teaching qualify you for a work visa. If you don't meet either of those requirements, then you cannot get a work visa. Yes, it is strictly enforced.

In such case, you will have to decide if you want to come on a student visa or cultural activities visa and be able to work only part-time. Same goes for working holiday visa (which has a shorter life span and is limited only to certain nationalities and ages).

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

Korea and Japan: Degree is needed, you can't get around it.

China: My co-workers were mostly working without degrees, and legally. This was about 5 yrs ago, so things may well have changed.

Thailand: I met lots of people working without degrees, although I'm not sure how many of them were legal. Thailand has tightened up its laws since then, I think.

Laos and Cambodia: Were even more lax than Thailand, when I was there.

I knew a lot of people working in Turkey without degrees, again this was illegal.

It all depends on whether you want legal status or not. I think the places in Asia where you can teach legally without a degree are rapidly disappearing...

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

tttompatz · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:47 am Post subject: Re: No Degree but keen to teach!

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

If you're really keen to teach, why not do yourself a favor and get a degree? There are online opportunities to get BAs with far less expense than at brick and mortar schools. Look up, for instance, Aspen University, or the like.
It'll take some time, but should prove to be worth it in the end, especially if you want to make this a career (or long-term gig).
Best of luck

iain00 · Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 3

Hi all, thanks very much for all your replys.

Madame J · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:03 pm Post subject:

Laos and Cambodia, as another poster has said, are options. Indonesia is a sticky one-they've apparently brought in laws recently requiring all teachers to have an English or teaching related degree. How rigorously this is being enforced, however, is another matter.

It isn't strictly true that urban China is out of bounds, although you may end up doing the sort of jobs nobody else wants (i.e., teaching kids only). I have a couple of friends working for EF in Shanghai without degrees, and I believe they're both teaching kids only despite one of their earlier claims that China are so desperate for teachers you can choose your own age group.