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Rooster_2006
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 984
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 Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:22 am Post subject: Is this really true? |
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| I've read on a number of job postings by Hess that you can teach in Taiwan with an associate's degree and a TEFL certificate. Is this true? It seems to run counter to what I read the other day about needing a formal teaching qualification in your own country to teach in Taiwan... |
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773
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 213
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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To get an ARC and legally teach in Taiwan, you need an Associates plus a TEFL cert, or a Bachelors. So yes, it is true.
Taiwan has never required formal teaching qualifications, unless one were to teach at the American or European schools in Kaohsiung / Taipei. A degree in any subject and a pulse is about all that is required for buxibans and kindies in Taiwan.  |
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Rooster_2006
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 984
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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| 773 wrote: |
| To get an ARC and legally teach in Taiwan, you need an Associates plus a TEFL cert, or a Bachelors. So yes, it is true. |
Good news, since I will have my associate's this summer, but still be 1.5 years away from my bachelor's. I have my CELTA already.
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| Taiwan has never required formal teaching qualifications, unless one were to teach at the American or European schools in Kaohsiung / Taipei. A degree in any subject and a pulse is about all that is required for buxibans and kindies in Taiwan. |
Yeah, but the degree is usually the sticking point. I'm only 21, and I'm working on it, but I wish it were closer...
Thanks for the help. |
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773
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 213
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:04 am Post subject: |
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| If you come over with an Associates, you could always finish the Bachelors by distance...but if I were you at 1.5 years away from my Bachelors, I would stick it out and come once that is completed. It will look much better for you and may open more doors (like IELTS Examining). |
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stunnershades
Joined: 06 Mar 2007
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:28 am Post subject: |
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| You can always visit Taiwan or any of the ESL hubs you've read about in Asia if you are really itchy. |
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markholmes
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 661
Location: Wengehua
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:45 am Post subject: |
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| If you come over with an Associates, you could always finish the Bachelors by distance |
I would be careful of that. Taiwan won't accept distance degrees, so you might actually end up with a degree, but make yourself ineligible for a work permit in the process!! |
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LKJ
Joined: 06 May 2007
Posts: 57
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:22 am Post subject: |
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| 773 wrote: |
| To get an ARC and legally teach in Taiwan, you need an Associates plus a TEFL cert, or a Bachelors. So yes, it is true. |
And I would be careful about that. 733, you may know more about this, but as far as I am aware the government in Taiwan does not state that the combination of a TEFL and Associates degree is guaranteed to be accepted.
I know cases where it has worked, but where did you get your information from? You sound very sure.
LKJ |
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773
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 213
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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A teacher at the school I used to work for got an ARC with an Associates and a CELTA. The MOE stated that either the combination of these or else a Bachelors is what is needed.
A couple of years ago, I knew a South African couple who had 3-year bachelor degrees and the MOE was giving them a hard time, saying that they could not get an ARC because they did not have 4-year bachelor degrees and that a 3-year degree was considered the same as an Associates. They told them that they needed to go and do a TEFL cert to get the ARC.
It has been that way for years from my understanding. I remember hearing / reading about that rule about 6 years ago and as far as I know, it is still the case. But, knowing the way that things operate in Taiwan, it would be best to check it out from the source (i.e. directly from a bug chain school that is abreast of these rules, or he MOE itself). Things could have changed recently, who knows. |
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SanChong
Joined: 22 Nov 2005
Posts: 335
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I've read on a number of job postings by Hess that you can teach in Taiwan with an associate's degree and a TEFL certificate. Is this true? It seems to run counter to what I read the other day about needing a formal teaching qualification in your own country to teach in Taiwan... |
It's true and you should be fine. HOWEVER, the Taiwanese government doesn't accept all associates degrees, so it's not definite until you have your ARC in hand. It should be fine though. Just keep the worst case scenario in mind...
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| A couple of years ago, I knew a South African couple who had 3-year bachelor degrees and the MOE was giving them a hard time, saying that they could not get an ARC because they did not have 4-year bachelor degrees and that a 3-year degree was considered the same as an Associates. They told them that they needed to go and do a TEFL cert to get the ARC. |
The example of South Africans isn't necessarily relevant. The Taiwanese government is EXTREMELY selective in giving work permits to S. Africans (for a lot of political reasons.... and for mysterious reasons which probably don't make much sense). Anyway, it's much easier for citizens of all other native English speaking countries to get work permits.
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| But, knowing the way that things operate in Taiwan, it would be best to check it out from the source (i.e. directly from a bug chain school that is abreast of these rules, or he MOE itself |
Checking directly with the MOE is likely a bad idea, because one hand doesn't know what the other is doing! They won't be able to tell you 100% either way.... frustrating, but just the way things work. Even if they DO tell you 100% yes or no, you won't know for sure until you actually try.
Checking directly with a good recruiter or school is a good idea. This is because, if your school is relatively well known, they may have a current or past teacher who went to your school. If that person was able to get a work permit then you will almost definitely be fine as well! |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Checking directly with a good recruiter or school is a good idea. This is because, if your school is relatively well known, they may have a current or past teacher who went to your school. If that person was able to get a work permit then you will almost definitely be fine as well! |
Or if the owner of your school has good connections it may not matter what degree you have to get a work permit. The person with the right connections could probably get a work permit for a monkey. |
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773
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 213
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| Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 4:28 am Post subject: |
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| SanChong wrote: |
| Quote: |
| A couple of years ago, I knew a South African couple who had 3-year bachelor degrees and the MOE was giving them a hard time, saying that they could not get an ARC because they did not have 4-year bachelor degrees and that a 3-year degree was considered the same as an Associates. They told them that they needed to go and do a TEFL cert to get the ARC. |
The example of South Africans isn't necessarily relevant. The Taiwanese government is EXTREMELY selective in giving work permits to S. Africans (for a lot of political reasons.... and for mysterious reasons which probably don't make much sense). Anyway, it's much easier for citizens of all other native English speaking countries to get work permits. |
No, the issue was the fact that they had a Bachelors that was completed in 3 years instead of 4 years like most N. American institutions that the Taiwanese MOE is accustomed to processing. Their degrees actually indicated that they were completed in three years, which caused a fuss because the MOE simply could not accept that they were "real" Bachelors and stated that they would consider them to be the equivalent of an Associates. Hence, they would need to also get a TEFL, and their ARCs would be processed as normal.
I agree about the futility about asking the MOE for answers, as in Taiwan no one ever seems to know the real "rules" about anything! But it would be worth a shot to ask a big employer and the MOE. Just make sure you take names (and talk to the MOE in Taipei, and nowhere else...Taipei will be the most informed). |
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SanChong
Joined: 22 Nov 2005
Posts: 335
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| Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:09 am Post subject: |
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| No, the issue was the fact that they had a Bachelors that was completed in 3 years instead of 4 years like most N. American institutions that the Taiwanese MOE is accustomed to processing. Their degrees actually indicated that they were completed in three years, which caused a fuss because the MOE simply could not accept that they were "real" Bachelors and stated that they would consider them to be the equivalent of an Associates. Hence, they would need to also get a TEFL, and their ARCs would be processed as normal. |
3 year degrees are the norm in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, not just South Africa. The Taiwanese government is very familiar with the differences between North American schools and most of the rest of the native English speaking countries. I doubt that was the problem your South African friends had. It's more likely it's because the Taiwanese government was questioning the University itself, because it was a lesser known University in South Africa. The Taiwanese government is just very hard on South Africans.
It's an important point to make, because otherwise Brits, Australians and Kiwis reading this thread would worry about their degrees (which are all 3 year degrees). They have nothing to worry about. The Taiwanese government recognizes pretty much all Universities in those countries, to my knowledge. |
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Rooster_2006
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 984
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:13 am Post subject: |
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| markholmes wrote: |
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| If you come over with an Associates, you could always finish the Bachelors by distance |
I would be careful of that. Taiwan won't accept distance degrees, so you might actually end up with a degree, but make yourself ineligible for a work permit in the process!! |
Well, actually, yes, that's what I was planning on doing. I'm not too worried about a distance bachelor's ruining my chances to teach in Taiwan again, because 1) I don't need to show my bachelor's to them if an associate's and my CELTA is sufficient, and 2) I don't plan on teaching there more than one year anyway, which only means getting the visa once, and 3) even if they don't accept degrees from diploma mills like Belford, the college I'm working with is legitimate. Excelsior College, is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Association of Middle States Colleges and Schools. Anyone who doesn't believe it can look it up. Prestigious, heck no, but a four-year bachelor's degree, all right.
Basically, long story short, I moved back to Asia when I was 19 (I had previously spent five years here as a kid), have found a way to make money and stay afloat, and taken care of 39 credit hours while overseas. While going to a brick-and-mortar school would definitely get me a nicer degree, I'm willing to put up with a lesser degree program (which can be salvaged later with a better degree) in exchange for living where I want to live, and not in Fairfax, VA! |
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Rooster_2006
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 984
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:17 am Post subject: |
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| Anyways, thanks for the info, people that helped out. I'm not too worried just because they refused a three-year degree. A two-year degree with CELTA, Chinese courses, and teaching experience is going to be way better for teaching English (especially to young kids who don't know much English) than a three-year degree that's unrelated to English teaching and no other qualifications. |
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773
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 213
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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| SanChong wrote: |
| Quote: |
| No, the issue was the fact that they had a Bachelors that was completed in 3 years instead of 4 years like most N. American institutions that the Taiwanese MOE is accustomed to processing. Their degrees actually indicated that they were completed in three years, which caused a fuss because the MOE simply could not accept that they were "real" Bachelors and stated that they would consider them to be the equivalent of an Associates. Hence, they would need to also get a TEFL, and their ARCs would be processed as normal. |
3 year degrees are the norm in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, not just South Africa. The Taiwanese government is very familiar with the differences between North American schools and most of the rest of the native English speaking countries. I doubt that was the problem your South African friends had. It's more likely it's because the Taiwanese government was questioning the University itself, because it was a lesser known University in South Africa. The Taiwanese government is just very hard on South Africans.
It's an important point to make, because otherwise Brits, Australians and Kiwis reading this thread would worry about their degrees (which are all 3 year degrees). They have nothing to worry about. The Taiwanese government recognizes pretty much all Universities in those countries, to my knowledge. |
Yes, that is true, but degrees from NZ, UK, and Aus don't state "3 years" on them like my S. African friends had on their degrees. That seems to be what set off the issue.
It didn't happen with other S. Africans I knew whose degrees didn't state the time period on them. The MOE seemed to be thrown off by the 3 year thing stated on their degree certificates. I doubt very highly it had anything to do with the perception of S. African universities being "lesser" institutions. It had everything to do with uneducated staff at the Pingtung Education Office who didn't know their head from their a**. |
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