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MPG

Being a newbie searching for my first job, I was dismayed when I recieved a response stating that a Bachelor degree was a requirement to teach in Beijing. I only have an Ass Dip (Bus) & TESOL although I do volunteer work in ESL and adult literacy (for which I have certificates). Is this a recruiters attempt to steer me in the direction they want or is the need for a degree to teach in Beijing a requirement.

Songbird · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:34 am Post subject:

Yes you need a degree to teach anywhere in China, either that or TEFL/ TESOL and lots of experience. It's very rare to get a job in Beijing and you're chances are ziltch without a degree and experience.

saint57 · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:44 am Post subject:

I knew a 17 year old high school dropout who taught in China. Don't even bother saying you need a degree.

Gorm · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 87 Location: SoCal

A degree

Which China are we talking about here Question

Bayden · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 988

Gorm · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 87 Location: SoCal

bdawg · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 526 Location: Nanjing

Kind of depends on what kind of job you happen to be in the market for. With regards to the best jobs with the best compensation and benefits (visa) you would probably be at the bottom of the hiring list without somesort of credibility.

saint57 · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:37 am Post subject:

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

In Tianjin, there's an American who has not graduated from university who earns a minimum of 1000RMB per "lecture" he gives to university students on how to study English. Granted, this American has been in Tianjin for some time, but the absence of a degree does little to impinge upon his job prospects.
Mind you, Tianjin is not the first choice for many ESL job seekers (and it's obvious why) so a lot of institutions have to make do with what they can get, namely overseas students, peculiar globe-trotting doctors and Russians!

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

Indeed, Beijing is tough to crack without a degree or guanxi. That American in Tianjin has probabaly paid his dues many times over before he was able to get the right connections that bring such a handsome payoff.

saint57 · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:58 pm Post subject:

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

Exactly. The heavy dues included living in a substandard apartment for over a year, and working full time for two years with the occasional financial compensation. When most would leave -- because of self respect and sense of self worth -- he stuck to it because, and I quote, "a true love for the Chinese people".

That love kept him going, and led to many connections (which are everything here) that did not give a damn about his educational background or his lack of knowledge of the finer aspects of English linguistics.

If one wants to martyr one's self for Chinese English students, the rewards, in the long run, are sometimes there.

Perhaps there's a "Bethune Syndrome" existent among some foreign teachers that could be researched.

HunanForeignGuy · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 989 Location: Shanghai, PRC

MPG · Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:14 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your advice, as always there are conflicting views on the subject although you guys have enlightened me to the fact that it won't be as easy as I thought. I suppose persistence will be the key.

MPG · Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:55 pm Post subject:

Does anyone have any advice on how to crack the Beijing market. Schools that may except me even though I only have an Associate Diploma and TESOL, I do have a considerable amount of experience in Business as I was a managing director of a medium sized company.