Job Discussion Forums

comandante · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:08 am Post subject: Criminal Record

Just a quick question to ask all those currently teaching English if all schools insist on proof of a clear 'criminal record'?

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

I think it'll be less an issue with schools than with immigration services.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Yeah, it comes up when you're applying for legal residence/work permits.

Madame J · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:17 pm Post subject:

I really wish they would. However, I can appreciate how difficult an overseas police check could be.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Depends on the country. Sometimes if you work with kids you will also need one.

MO39 · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject:

Never had this come up in Mexico, whether applying for a job or a residence/work permit.

comandante · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:31 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the replies, keep them coming! I was interested in teaching in China (although I'm open to go anywhere) but it seems that all schools insist on a criminal record clearance cert. Obviously I fully understand and support the necessity to find out if an offence was committed against children, but was wondering if any offence, even a misdemeanour, on a record would make it impossible to find employment. I'm seriously thinking about doing a CELTA cert but don't want to waste all that money and time if I'm unemployable due to a possible criminal damage conviction.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:52 pm Post subject:

Pardon my directness; what did you do?

And, can you get a police record check and see what it says?

I don't want to pry, but heck, you're anonymous here. The more you can tell, the more you'll find out.

I can speak of Ecuador, where I was asked for a criminal background check, and Spain and Italy, where I wasn't.

Are you Irish? If so, the EU passport means that you'll go through hardly any red tape to teach adults in Europe.

In Ecuador, for virtually any of the multitude of visas used to teach English, you may be, but are not sure to be, asked for a criminal background check. However, it's discretionary in the consul where you apply for the visa exactly what it should say. Clean record would obviously be best, but I know of a fair number of foreign teachers who had drunk and disorderly, public intox, public nuisance kind of charges on their records which the consul just ignored.

In places where it's discretionary, two questions that come up are: What exactly did you do? How old were you?

Because most consular offices, or potential employers, for that matter, can imagine getting into minor trouble, say, drunk and disorderly, at 19 and not being any the worse for it. But somehow, doing the same thing at 35 doesn't sound the same, does it?

Best,
Justin

comandante · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks Justin. The charge is criminal damage and I'm 28. I was just wondering if there are any teachers currently teaching English that didn't need a criminal record check.

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

Comandante, I've taught for a private language school in the UK and the British Council and neither required a criminal record check, nor have I had to go through such a process anywhere in Asia, including a government programme in Korea. It's quite a hassle for a school to go through with such a procedure, which is why so few schools do it. Usually there is a question on the application form: Do you have a criminal record? How you answer is up to you, but of course if you answer yes, there's a fair chance you won't get the job.