Job Discussion Forums

bradwelljackson · Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 75 Location: Shakhty, Russia

Is it true that China is the best place to find a job teaching English? Are they so hungry for English teachers that they don�t require a TEFL certificate? Can you just show up in China and get a job just like that? For more specifics, I am a United States citizen with a B.A. degree and 7 months of English teaching experience.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

A TEFL qualification is not important through out most of Asia. Having a degree in any discipline is the key to being employable, and teaching experience will be a big plus.

Being young and white will be an even bigger bonus, and having a pleasant personality and nice appearance will be the icing on the cake.

No Moss · Joined: 15 Apr 2003 Posts: 1995 Location: Thailand

Yeah, pretty much what Clark said. It's a little bit easier to predict your experience in Asia in places like Japan, Taiwan, and Korea, where the TEFL business is mature. It's a little bit more of an adventure in China, where you can be teaching for peanuts in a smokestack city or teaching privates for US$30 in a more pleasing city, depending on your luck, cunning, and (gasp!) your ability to teach.

You have to do your homework before you come to China, but it certainly has a s**tload of jobs to offer.

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

...but only 7 months "teaching experience" is not enough any more; two years is now almost universally required, and with good reason! You might burn out more quickly if you come totally unprepared for a classroom!

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

"(O)nly 7 months teaching experience is not enough any more; two years is now almost universally required..." --Stephen Roger Wolf

This is the first I've heard of the two-year rule, and that straight out of the mouth of Roger. I've seen some universities' ads that request either a TEFL certificate or at least one year's teaching experience. Since TEFL certificates are still not all that common here, the year in a language institute or a less discriminating university is probably how some schools try to weed out the really bad teachers. How they would define "bad" is difficult to say, since training and curriculum are not something these positions typically come with. Which brings us to the part of Roger's post that I do sort of agree with: lacking a TEFL certificate or teaching experience, you may find yourself hard-pressed to fill up your teaching hours with meaningful lesson plans. I think it would depend on how much you've learned in the last seven months whether that is enough experience or not.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

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

jeffinflorida · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:33 am Post subject:

I've met many FTs in China who :

1- have no experience.

2- have only a high school degree

3- never went to college.

4- use forged degrees

I have met directors from several schools who know about all the above mentioned and don't really care as long as the person is white and can speak English.

Lobster · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:58 am Post subject:

The issuance of FECs in Shanghai has recently been passed to another agency. This agency is going to be much stricter in terms of qualifications and provision of background information. They will require a degree and at least 2 years of working experience before they'll grant the FEC. They will want you to list all your qualifications and experience on a standard application form. I hope it tightens up the market a bit and keeps the under-qualified elsewhere.

RED

Bayden · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 988

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

bradwelljackson · Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 75 Location: Shakhty, Russia

Thank you all for your replies; it is very nice of you. So tell me, is China, in fact, the easiest country to get a TEFL job in? Can it be beat by South Korea or any other country?

jammish · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 1704

No, China is easier. I mean in theory, China is supposed to only accept people with Degrees; my present school, for instance, do insist on this. But most schools do not, and hence a real mish mash; my old school had everything from High School kids to people with B.Eds and 10 years teaching experience at western schools, and everything in between.

South Korea and Japan do stipulate firmly a Degree.

Having said that, a colleague from my old school taught in Korea, and he said that when it comes to teaching, what is expected of you is more or less the same there as here.