Job Discussion Forums

[Dragonfly01]

Does anyone know about any recent changes in the government regulations concerning the admission of TESF/TEFL in China?

If you do, please let me know.

[Volodiya]

Dragonfly, could you be specific about what you've heard? I think then there'll be posters who are ready to respond to any concerns you may have.

[Spiderman Too]

SAFEA regulations can be checked out here:-

http://www.china-tesol.com/How_to_get_a_Job/SAFEA_Guide/_1_SAFEA_2002/_1_safea_2002.html

There are actually 2 categories for foreign teachers; Foreign Expert & Ordinary Foreign Teacher of Language.

As you can read on the website, a Foreign Expert is supposed to hold a master degree or higher, and have 3 - 5 years of experience.

An ordinary foreign teacher of language is supposed to hold a bachelor degree + "professional training on language teaching", and have 'some' experience.

Apparently this law has been in effect since 2002.

At my college there are 70+ foreign teachers. A few don't have bachelor degrees, some don't have TESL/TEFL/TESOL certificates but ALL have FRPs and Foreign Experts Certificates.

In China, it's not a case of what the law says but how the law is applied; conversion of an 'L' visa to a 'Z' visa? - yes in this province, no in that province, convert part of your salary to US$? - 30% in this province / 70% in that province (and, believe it or not, 100% where I am at present).

So, since 2002 the legal minimum requirement for foreign teachers has been degree + TESL. One day / some day the law will be uniformally enforced across the board in all provinces, but who knows when?

[Volodiya]

Very nice post, Spidey.

At a number of points in his post, Spiderman Too points out possible differences in the official treatment of FTs. This is commonplace in China, and does not automatically indicate inappropriate, unethical or illegal acts on the part of the local authorities. In every country, administrators are permitted, within the full range permitted by law, to exercise their discretion.

Thus, FTs who lack college degrees are, from time to time, documented to work in China- receiving Z visas, abroad, and FECs and RPFs, once they arrive; FTs who entered China on L visas are, from time to time, given the same, without having to leave the country to obtain a Z visa- all perfectly legally, and within the discretion of the local authorities; and, varying, as Spiderman Too points out, from place to place, province to province, from one case to another.

[tw]

[Spiderman Too]