Job Discussion Forums

[Rooster_2006]

[JZer]

[JZer]

[Rooster_2006]

Well, yesterday, I had another interview:
"Your demo was really good! I'm pretty sure I'll hire you!"
"I can see that you work really hard because of your game (that I prepared with a poster I drew at home) and your lesson plan!"
"You really taught the phonics very well, especially the 's' sound, like when the kindergarteners said 'horse,' you corrected them and got them to say it the right way, but without too much pressure!"
-The Principal, Queenie

And then today, my recruiter says "Queenie called me back -- she said they no longer need a teacher."

I'm sick of this bullsh--.

When I really think about it, in this job market, a school could truly meet its English teacher requirement simply by always interviewing and having all its foreign teacher contact time be with interviewing teachers who are doing teaching demos. Seriously, just schedule a couple of teachers per day with 40-minute demos each, and all the kids get their English lessons from natives for free -- no need to pay anything, there's always a never-ending stream of teachers willing to do demos! A simple ad placed in Kaohsiung Living claiming "Looking for an English Teacher" will ensure 15 free hours of English lessons, at a top quality level!

I think it's time to move to China. I just hope things are less competitive there...

[creztor]

Rooster, sorry to hear that. It sounds like you at least know the game in Taiwan (what bosses are looking for which usually isn't related to teaching) in addition to actually be dedicated to teaching. I assume if you've had enough you'll be possibly moving to China?

[JZer]

[Rooster_2006]

[yamahuh]

[JZer]

In some areas of China I think the government will not offer you a resident permit unless you have a four year degree. Maybe I am wrong. I believe certain areas are stricter than others.

[yamahuh]

Possible I suppose but it never happened to me or anybody I knew while there. I was offered jobs from Beijing to Shanghai to Guangzhou and I only have a 3 year plus TEFL. My wife has an Associate diploma/degree plus TEFL and she never had any issues either.

I pulled this off a relevant web site

If you do not have a degree, you must have:
Qualified Teacher Status (errrm how do you have one without the other??) and at least one years' recent classroom-based experience of teaching English or modern languages, or a TEFL qualification and one years' classroom-based experience of TEFL or teaching another subject.
However, some school will accept you without degree requested, and in some summer program, they may also accept. But some school will not accept you without a degree, so your options will be restricted.

And another:

A work visa is required for persons wanting to work in China for pay and their accompanying family members. This type of visa is also issued to aliens who come to China for commercial entertainment performance. The Z visa is only granted if you and the employer meet certain requirements. First, the organisation must be accredited to employ foreigners. You must meet the requirements as a 'foreign expert' and the employer must obtain a certificate stating that you comply. The most common employment is teaching English for which the minimum qualifications are stated as having English as a first language and having at least a Bachelors degree. However, there is some flexibility in these requirements so if you can find a willing employer they still have a chance of obtaining approvals for you.

So as you can see; while a B.A is highly valued it is by no means a 'requirement' to obtaining a work permit or Z visa. If your employer likes you and thinks you will be a good fit then he can apply for the permit regardless of whether you have a degree or not.

[creztor]

I am fairly sure that China like Taiwan accepts that certain countries don't have 4 year BA degrees and you will have no problem using a 3yr degree.

[JZer]

Well, I think you would have a hard time getting a legal job in Beijing without a four year degree. I may be wrong but that is what I have heard. Of course there are people working on a student visa in Beijing.

[yamahuh]

You are wrong - I'm not trying to be argumentative but I posted information from web sites specifically aimed at foreigners wanting to work in China. They both state quite clearly that the rules are 'flexible' and that a work permit can be applied for by any employer so long as they are willing to employ you.

Whether you have a 4 year degree or not...

[Rooster_2006]

[yamahuh]

I'm heading to work but please check your other thread and your PM