Job Discussion Forums

[Miyazaki]

Contrary to what you have read, there is no need to have a degree to teach English in Taiwan.

All that is needed is a diploma.

If you need any further information please PM me.

Please be cautious of a poster on this forum who tells people that they must have a university degree to receive an ARC/Work Permit to teach EFL on Taiwan.

This person is wrong and is misinformed.

However, this person still continutes to promote this 'myth' about teaching in Taiwan.

So, you DO NOT need a degree to teach EFL on Taiwan - a diploma is all you need to secure a work permit and ARC.

Furthermore, you DO NOT need a TEFL certificate to obtain an ARC or work permit.

[Ki]

Have you secured an ARC with only a 'diploma'? Has anyone else here secured an ARC with a diploma and not a TEFL? Has anyone been refused an ARC because they only had a diploma and not the TEFL? Will any TEFL work? There is always talk about which universities and colleges are accepted but is there a list for TEFL institutions?

[TaoyuanSteve]

Miya, your post is somewhat problematic.
First you should state clearly what a diploma is. It's a two-year post-secondary credential, equal to what is also known as an Associates' degree. Stating that all you need is a diploma is misleading and vague.

Secondly, to go this route to an ARC properly, you will need some form of tesl/tefl certificate. This is not required if you are a four year degree holder.This is a government regulation. Some years ago, before I had completed a 4 year degree, I was contemplating a move to Taiwan with a two year credential. I was told by those who knew that a tesl or tefl diploma of some sort was needed.

I think Clark (I'm sure that is who inspired you to start this thread) makes most of his posts based on his knowledge of regulations here. In that respect, he is usually correct. Of course Taiwan being Taiwan, the written regulations don't always reflect th realities on the ground. I don't doubt that you or someone you know of has obtained a work permit with a two year diploma only. I've known of people who have as well. I've also known of people using fake degrees. Those individuals and/ or their employers were working outside of the regulations though. Am I going to come onto a website like this one and assert that all can successfully obtain an ARC in this manner? No. Sticking within the rules is the only way to guarantee a prospective teacher will get their legal residence in Taiwan.

As for how easy it is to obtain work with the diploma/tesl combination, I stand somewhere between you and Clark. It's not as hard as Clark would assert. One of the largest chains here, Hess, advertises they are looking for people with degrees or diplomas with tesl. Given that, it should be relatively easy for someone with a diploma/tesl to get work through them. However, I will agree that many companies are not aware that there is another credential, aside from a BA, thta will qualify for a work permit. Certainly, where I work now, they are not aware of this possibility. Another problem relates to opportunities for advancement or moving into jobs other than teaching. After a while here, teachers with considerable experience may wish to try their hands at something more challenging or different. They may wish to try out teaching business English or a field like Editting or Technical writing. If you have no degree, these options aren't open to you. Further, if you are unhappy with an employer, moving on is harder as you don't have the most in demand credential, so your options will be more limited.

I understand you are trying to get out the facts as you know them Miya, but I think in this case it's best to advise in a manner that can guarantee people a smoother ride.

[dvasas]

It is much easier if you have a degree,

I used to recruit teachers and at the time a diploma and a tesol certificate were ok, things change here alot and it depends on the school. The government may have regulations but like anywhere schools can set their own minimum requirements, they usually want a degree with experience in Taipei city, but might be happy to get anyone outside Taipei........and may be less demanding

[Girl Scout]

Have you noticed the Miya is NOT even in TW.

[snowalker]

This is a post from a different thread but I figured it pertains to this so I pasted over here too...

Hey guys, since I last put up this post, I have gained a wealth of knowledge on the issue for a Canadian like myself legally obtaining work in Taiwan. I�ll explain it as was told to me from two separate Taiwan Embassies. I can only speak for a Canadian�s though, I�m sure things might be a little different for each country.

First off, there is NO education or experience necessary to work in Taiwan legally. It is absolutely possible to obtain a work permit with NO education; my understanding is that you do not even need a high school diploma. All requirements are set by the schools themselves. This being said while looking for a job you would be competing with those who have higher education and more experience�..so�.. You�ll end up working a lower paying job with terrible hours in schools that may not have a top notch reputation. I was told that most teachers, schools and officials are unaware of this information. I was also told to expect it to be nearly impossible to find any work in government run schools without a decent education�.. Don�t worry because there are plenty of private schools looking to hire.

So�.. Because a lot of schools and authorities don�t realize anyone can obtain a work permit, I was recommended to get my Diploma (In Canada that�s 2 years education) certified and registered as authentic (although technically I don�t need to take this step). This will make things go smoother when it comes time to get my work permit. To do this it�s quite easy, send in the original copy of the diploma and my TESL certificate with a pre-paid envelope, they will be more than happy to certify it for you, I�m told this will only take 2 or 3 business days plus shipping time. On top of this, at the same time, send in your original passport, a few passport photo�s, go to their embassy website and download the application for a visa and fill it out. They will give you a 60 day tourist visa!!!!!!!

Now�. Once you have done this your pretty much set�. But there are a few important details to watch for�. It is �Illegal� although randomly enforced to enter the country with only a one way ticket, you need to have proof of onward travel within the 60 days your visa is valid�.. Once again, what happens is not always what is supposed to happen. I would recommend getting a return ticket anyway� (Thailand is a good idea because you can just show up there without a visa in advance) because once you do find yourself a good job and your ready to sign the contract, the employer will put through all of the paper work to get your work permit, for this to take effect�� and listen closely because this is also a money saver!!!!! You need to leave the country then while out of the country activate your work permit giving you a �residential visa��.. How will this save you money?????? Well with this type of visa you are in the 12% tax bracket compared to the 20% that most people get nailed with� make sure your employer knows you know this!

Than wham!!!!! Your set and ready to legally work in Taiwan� which is great for getting money out of the country bye the way� banks have the right to confiscate funds in accounts that are held by foreigners who do not hold a valid work permit.

These are the facts�.. For a Canadian that is��

It took me FOREVER to pin down the info; everyone has something to say on the topic so I decided to find out for myself!!!!! Anyone who disputes this simply got lucky or is sporting info for a different country or maybe misinterpreting things! Fell free to pm me if you have questions or want some contact info for people to call.

I�m not there yet, the visa is in the mail so hopefully soon!!!!!!!!!!!!! So�.. Lets hope everything will work out like planned� hahahaha!!!!!!!!

I�ll tell everyone when I get there�..

Cheers