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Derhama2534
Joined: 08 Jun 2015
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 8:46 pm Post subject: Teaching legally with a 2 year degree and tefl? |
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I'm so sorry, I have been reading so much information which is out of date I thought I would just ask the experts.
I would love to teach in Asia, I really feel at home when travelling and was wondering if there is anywhere I can legally work with a 2 year uni degree and a tefl certificate? There is nothing more I would like to do right now but as I said, out of date and misleading information has left me so confused!
I have not done the tefl course yet, mainly because I have been getting so much shady information from Chinese schools and recruiters I have just been trying to work out if it is worth me doing the course at all without a 4 year degree.
I'm from the UK.
Thanks very much in advance.
Anthony. |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 10:52 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching legally with a 2 year degree and tefl? |
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| Derhama2534 wrote: |
I'm so sorry, I have been reading so much information which is out of date I thought I would just ask the experts.
I would love to teach in Asia, I really feel at home when travelling and was wondering if there is anywhere I can legally work with a 2 year uni degree and a tefl certificate? There is nothing more I would like to do right now but as I said, out of date and misleading information has left me so confused!
I have not done the tefl course yet, mainly because I have been getting so much shady information from Chinese schools and recruiters I have just been trying to work out if it is worth me doing the course at all without a 4 year degree.
I'm from the UK.
Thanks very much in advance.
Anthony. |
If "legal" work being defined as having a proper visa and necessary permits then the quick answer is "NO" there is no place you can legally work in East Asia or SE Asia without having completed a full bachelors degree. The TEFL/TEFL/TESOL cert won't make a difference. The visa requirement is a bachelors degree.
That said, you can find work in most of East and SE Asia but it will often mean working on a tourist visa (a very common practice often requiring regular border runs to keep your visa) and does put you at risk from dodgy employers (if they will hire an illegal then why worry about labor standards or things like paying the staff?)
or
Blissfully being unaware that the recruiter has submitted fake documents on your behalf (common in China) to obtain your visa and permits.
These options do carry risk.
If you are caught (ie: working on a tourist visa) you can get fined and deported. This may entail a few days in a detention center while awaiting deportation. You may also be blocked from re-entry when doing your "visa run" (as happened in Thailand last fall).
This left more than a few teachers stranded outside the country with their worldly possession inside the country and no way to access them.
At worst you can be charged with using false/forged documents and visa fraud (even if it wasn't you who created or submitted them) and that can lead to a longer stay in a regular jail before your deportation.
There may be options in West Asia or Europe if you hold a UK passport and a CELTA but the competition will be tough - you will be competing with degree holders who also have a CELTA.
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HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: Ecuador
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 12:52 am Post subject: |
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| What do you mean by a 2 year degree from the UK? Do you have an HND? |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 2:14 am Post subject: |
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Sign up for the Korea discussion board and inquire there. I believe there is a government program that will accept teaching assistants with only two year degrees.
Otherwise, just finish the degree and you'll find that quite a lot of doors will open for you. |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 2:58 am Post subject: |
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| esl_prof wrote: |
Sign up for the Korea discussion board and inquire there. I believe there is a government program that will accept teaching assistants with only two year degrees.
Otherwise, just finish the degree and you'll find that quite a lot of doors will open for you. |
The TAlK program ( http://www.talk.go.kr/ )
Position
Educational Scholarship
Grade Level
Elementary School
Location
Rural Areas ONLY
Teaching Type (Hours)
After-School Classes (15 teaching hours per week)
Eligibility
Associate’s Degree or enrolled in a
B.A. Degree Program(3rd year or higher)
Must be a citizen of one of the following countries:
Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa,
U.K, U.S.A.
NOTE: after school and RURAL areas only AND the stipend is only 1.5million KRW (850 quid) /month.
For further discussion of that topic he will need to go to (and register on) the Korean Forum.
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 3:52 am Post subject: |
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| Derhama2534 wrote: |
If there is anywhere I can legally work with a 2 year uni degree and a tefl certificate? There is nothing more I would like to do right now.
I have not done the tefl course yet, mainly because I have been getting so much shady information from Chinese schools and recruiters I have just been trying to work out if it is worth me doing the course at all without a 4 year degree. |
If you're gung-ho to teach via legal employment, either 1) target only those countries where employers and/or visa regulations currently don't require a BA (e.g., South America, parts of Europe, Mongolia, etc.); or 2) complete the extra year or two needed for a BA. |
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Derhama2534
Joined: 08 Jun 2015
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 6:18 am Post subject: Thank you! |
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Thanks for all the information, there is no way I am willing to go back to uni, since I went it has doubled in price, and I didn't get any benefit from going, I can't even land a supermarket job here in the UK.
I will look into the other countries mentioned, and also the dodgy document thing sounds like a good way to go, but the whole idea of prison puts me off a bit!
Thanks once more
Anthony |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 6:21 am Post subject: |
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| HLJHLJ wrote: |
| What do you mean by a 2 year degree from the UK? Do you have an HND? |
Could be a DipHE. |
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HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: Ecuador
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 6:26 am Post subject: |
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| MuscatGary wrote: |
| HLJHLJ wrote: |
| What do you mean by a 2 year degree from the UK? Do you have an HND? |
Could be a DipHE. |
Yes it could be, or it could just be 2 years of degree level study, and no actual qualification. |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 6:38 am Post subject: |
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| HLJHLJ wrote: |
| MuscatGary wrote: |
| HLJHLJ wrote: |
| What do you mean by a 2 year degree from the UK? Do you have an HND? |
Could be a DipHE. |
Yes it could be, or it could just be 2 years of degree level study, and no actual qualification. |
True but didn't some unis start awarding a sub-degree certficate for people who dropped out after two years? I'm sure I remember reading something along those lines a few years back. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 6:47 am Post subject: |
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| Derhama2534 wrote: |
| I can't even land a supermarket job here in the UK. |
Keep in mind, you'll need to budget for your initial housing, meals, transportation, etc., to tide you over for the first 1-3 months. Plus, there's the cost of an airline ticket (roundtrip is best), visa processing, and very likely a valid TEFL course (not all employers will accept an online TEFL cert). So if you're not able to sock aside £2000-3000 while still in the UK, you're not ready to head overseas. |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 6:52 am Post subject: Re: Thank you! |
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| Derhama2534 wrote: |
| I will look into the other countries mentioned, and also the dodgy document thing sounds like a good way to go, but the whole idea of prison puts me off a bit! |
If you hold a tertiary level qualification (2 year degree?) then look at places where immigration and visas are not going to be an issue.
Teach 'n Travel is a pipe dream and no longer a reality.
Do NOT be fooled by TEFL training centers and their websites. A TEFL cert is NOT a "Passport to English Teaching" around the world.
Don't mess with immigration. Being an illegal migrant comes with its own problems (beyond the inconvenience of monthly border runs).
Depending on the country in question, especially in some places in Asia, visa fraud can land you a 5-year stint in the local jail.
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Derhama2534
Joined: 08 Jun 2015
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 10:09 am Post subject: degree |
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sorry I wasn't clear before, I have a 2 year university degree, which is a foundation degree. I left because I wasn't learning anything, and the cost of uni doubled, so I left and went into full time employment for 8 years. I have about £5000 in the bank and absolutely no outgoing expenses while I'm seeking employment.
Thanks for the interest and information!
Anthony. |
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Deats
Joined: 02 Jan 2015
Posts: 503
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 11:59 am Post subject: |
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There is a post on the China board at the moment about the Z visa requirements. The poster mentioned the wording of what is needed. It says you SHOULD not MUST have a degree. It's left to the discretion of the gvnt.
I knew countless people in China without degrees. I think the chance of being deported is one in a million.
Presuming that it is illegal to work without a degree in China, then how would someone from the gvnt all of a sudden discover this information and deport you? Really? It's not going to happen. If you got the visa in the first place, then why would they start looking into your documents AFTER they've granted a visa? It makes NO sense.
There are so many legitimate companies in China offering jobs for people without degrees. If this is illegal, then I think they would have been shut down by now. At the very worst they have a lot of 'guanxi' and are pretty much untouchable.
Some places even offer to help you get TEFL when working for them. |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: Thank you! |
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| Derhama2534 wrote: |
| Thanks for all the information, there is no way I am willing to go back to uni, since I went it has doubled in price, and I didn't get any benefit from going, I can't even land a supermarket job here in the UK. |
Except that, as many posters have already pointed out, having a degree would, in fact, significantly benefit you on the international TEFL job market. Further, you should really ask yourself how exactly you expect to be effective as an educator if you yourself haven't completed your own education and are unable to see the value in completing it.
| Derhama2534 wrote: |
| I left because I wasn't learning anything, and the cost of uni doubled, so I left and went into full time employment for 8 years. I have about £5000 in the bank and absolutely no outgoing expenses while I'm seeking employment. |
Frankly, if you're making that kind of money in your current position, you're already doing significantly better back home than you can possibly hope to do internationally without a degree. Are you willing to take a paycut, forgo future savings, and deplete your existing funds in pursuit of a TEFL career?
It's one thing to do the TALK program for a year or two, get some experience, and then come home and complete your education. But, otherwise, you really need to give some serious thought as to what kinds of sacrifices you're willing to make. |
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