Job Discussion Forums

[jmelville]

Hello all!

I have been searching through all of the posts and information online and cannot find a clear answer.

Background: I have an AA in Biological Sciences and will be completing a CELTA certification in the fall. I have read that it IS possible to teach in China without a bachelor's degree, although one is preferred. So, my first question is:
**If this is possible, then where or in what regions? I am searching through job ads as well to help answer this question.**

Regarding CELTA. I keep reading conflicting answers on this topic. Many say that CELTA is regarded as the most internationally recognized certificate to get and, therefore, the best. Others say that in Asian countries, the CELTA is not useful because the teaching methods don't apply well. If I get a CELTA certification, will it be useless in China?

I have chosen the CELTA because so many have suggested it, but also because it is at least monitored by a credible institution. I don't want to pay for a course just to get a piece of paper. I would really like to be able to go into a classroom with confidence and be able to teach the students well.

Thank you to all who are reading and for any responses in advance!!

[esl_prof]

[roadwalker]

Chinese employers usually demand a bachelor's degree and two years of teaching experience. Having said that, there are probably numerous examples of teachers with less who are teaching with work visas. Your pickings are a lot slimmer than someone with the required minimum though. In general, if you want to work for a good school in an area that is popular with foreigners, you are probably out of luck. I'd guess you'd find an unstable/unestablished school in a popular area or a school in an unpopular area. Maybe a diamond in the rough.

Especially if you don't have sterling credentials/experience, you would be taking a lot of risk to arrive in China under a tourist or business visa after being promised by the school that "we'll take care of the work visa after you arrive." If money for traveling into China and taking a look around and returning home for a proper visa is no object, then do that. Otherwise, don't fall for lures to come to China and then have your legal situation handled. Or fall for it and write a scathing school review about your victimization afterwards.

...

I took an off-brand version of a TEFL course patterned after the CELTA. (120 hours including 6 hours of observed teaching, intensive grammar analysis, foreign language teaching/learning demonstration, survey of methodology, etc.) While I agree that the typical university teaching experience in China is a bit different from the training, I don't agree that it is useless. In my opinion it's valuable training that will give you confidence because you will have some understanding of the learning process and you will be able to plan a lesson. You will have some experience standing in front of students and trying to pare down your input to what's useful, and responding to confusing and confused students.

I can't speak for the bazillion English after-school, business-focused, or other schools in China. The CELTA/TEFL course may be more directly relevant. I've not taught at anything but a university in China.

[nomad soul]

If you were to complete additional coursework toward a full bachelor's degree, you'd have way more options, particularly in terms of legal employment.

Anyway, if you're also contemplating other countries in Asia, take a look at "CELTA qualified but no degree" (http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=109005).

[esl_prof]

[Lack]

Legally, you have few to no options. Realistically, you have a lot of options.

A CELTA will be useful in China IF you work for a good outfit. If you get your typical language mill job, you won't need it. Those places just require you to be handsome, smiling, and constantly energetic (jumping around like an idiot with kindergarteners, for example.) I've seen "teachers" with no degree, no experience, no certs, and non-natives who didn't have a strong enough grasp of English to be teaching it.

[tlkdmc]

Bachelor degree is the written law.

I hate people claiming that have an Associates degree especially in a more advanced field liek the science. There is no such thing. It means you went to college for two years, that's it. You don't have the education per your 'degree' so let's just use the proper vocabulary. What you mean is went to college for 2 years and never graduated.

And now you want to teach in China. Why did you study sciences if you intend to teach English in China?

You simply don't meet the requirements and you already know that based on your research, but still feel you deserve exceptions to the laws for some reason.

[Markness]

You can definitely find a job and quite easily. I met people in HK doing Z visa runs who weren't even from native English-speaking countries. They are somehow working here "legally". There is a 20 year old dude I know working at a training school just fine. There are a gazillian people from the eastern block who work for many English schools just fine as well some how. If you got a company who has the "guanxi" then you can get employment easily. There are so many "English schools" in China that don't have enough money to even higher Westerners legally, so what kind of people work there? :p

Short answer: Not legal to work here, but, if you're white and/or from one of the "big 6" nations, then you can get work super easily. Heck, working on a business or family visa is a hell of a lot of a smoother process, some crooked employers can't hold you hostage with their bologna terms (which also happens quite often), but, if you're on a Z, they can make your life difficult, even though it is the recommended visa to use.

[talentedcrayon]

[nomad soul]

[Non Sequitur]