thanks
No university degree - where in Asia can I teach?
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earthaingel
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No university degree - where in Asia can I teach?
I was wondering where I can legally teach in Asia without a degree. I have the CELTA only.
thanks
thanks
The reason noone has responded to your post so far is because, you could ask on google and receive a better series of responses/blog bytes that will help you. I'm worthy of the same crown so no more preaching said on that front however.
Overall South Korea, Japan, Taiwan are the big three in East Asia to make money. Singapore, UAE/Saudi, Brunai are also worth checking out. Just look at the eslcafe forums for more ideas on the broad swathe of ideas available or PM me if you want more help.
Korea offers good prospects in finding a job, guaranteed housing in many contracts and 2000 USD per month. They'll work you hard, expect office hours per week and a minimum signed contract of one year.
Taiwan seems in the middle between Japan and Korea. Whilst, it's good money (2000 USD per month) the competition for jobs here is high and only if you demonstrate exceptional commitment to the job will you secure the best positions.
Japan means again long contracts but some of the best treatment a foreign teacher can expect. Money is good, yet cost of living substantially higher than for the last two countries. Most teachers tell me the Government JET programme is the one to do if you want to live comfortably in Taiwan and earn/save good money at the same time.
Hope all that helps. There's a lot to learn in the big wide world of ESL teaching so good luck to ya!
ESLpotato
Overall South Korea, Japan, Taiwan are the big three in East Asia to make money. Singapore, UAE/Saudi, Brunai are also worth checking out. Just look at the eslcafe forums for more ideas on the broad swathe of ideas available or PM me if you want more help.
Korea offers good prospects in finding a job, guaranteed housing in many contracts and 2000 USD per month. They'll work you hard, expect office hours per week and a minimum signed contract of one year.
Taiwan seems in the middle between Japan and Korea. Whilst, it's good money (2000 USD per month) the competition for jobs here is high and only if you demonstrate exceptional commitment to the job will you secure the best positions.
Japan means again long contracts but some of the best treatment a foreign teacher can expect. Money is good, yet cost of living substantially higher than for the last two countries. Most teachers tell me the Government JET programme is the one to do if you want to live comfortably in Taiwan and earn/save good money at the same time.
Hope all that helps. There's a lot to learn in the big wide world of ESL teaching so good luck to ya!
ESLpotato
Last edited by eslpotato on Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
Teaching in Asia without a degree.
The last post didn't answer your question. Indeed, it would be very difficult indeed to get a good teaching job in Taiwan, Japan or Korea withou a degree. Probably impossible unless the last poster knows something we don't know.
Thailand used to be fine, and the weather a million times better than depressing Korea. Not now though. The Government have introduced stringent requirements for a teachers visa and have actually thrown out some teachers who lied about having a degree, and imprisoned two, if that can be believed. However, one blogger on another site said he doesn't have a degree and has been offered some great jobs, but he lives there so knows things we don't know.
I think for a guaranteed job without a degree look to China, who are grabbing whoever they can, and apparently most schools deal with the visa for you. The important point is, if the school really wants you they will probably accept you as a non-graduate. But some adds by recruitment agents specify a degree. Look at 'Serious Teachers.com. Many of their adds. don't require a degree. The Chinese are salivating for teachers.
Now get this. Cambodia is developing and you don't need a degree. AND it's a bloody site more interesting than polluted China or depressing Korea. It's real S. E. Asia and like Thailand was 60 years ago.
Thailand used to be fine, and the weather a million times better than depressing Korea. Not now though. The Government have introduced stringent requirements for a teachers visa and have actually thrown out some teachers who lied about having a degree, and imprisoned two, if that can be believed. However, one blogger on another site said he doesn't have a degree and has been offered some great jobs, but he lives there so knows things we don't know.
I think for a guaranteed job without a degree look to China, who are grabbing whoever they can, and apparently most schools deal with the visa for you. The important point is, if the school really wants you they will probably accept you as a non-graduate. But some adds by recruitment agents specify a degree. Look at 'Serious Teachers.com. Many of their adds. don't require a degree. The Chinese are salivating for teachers.
Now get this. Cambodia is developing and you don't need a degree. AND it's a bloody site more interesting than polluted China or depressing Korea. It's real S. E. Asia and like Thailand was 60 years ago.
Yeah, Martyboy has a point. I wasn't specific enough in the last post, but I did mean what I said.
I've spent many weeks recenlty in both Taiwan and China and can definitely affirm that whilst having a degree is necessary for most jobs, it certainly isn't for all. For the best jobs in the highest ranked private schools and high schools required qualifications are usually "batchelor/masters degree or teaching certificate" interchangeable which I've been surprised to see on many occasion. Usually most adverts state (especially by the chain schools like Shane, Hess et al), that they need a degree but even for them, it's my feeling that they'll take a CELTA which is a rock solid qualificiation for teaching that's definitely equivalent in their book to a degree - it's only to show you can think, teach and have an education after all.
There's certainly no need to slash your options in half and rely on the piss poor wages offered by the majority of jobs in China, Thailand or god forbid Cambodia. In China the best jobs seem to be in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Shenzhen at the moment.
Saying all that, perhaps the OP is just set on working as an ESL teacher for experience, in which case Martyboy's suggestions are down pat. I actually began teaching abroad by working in Nepal, followed by India and Pakistan, volunteering all three times. If it's only experience the OP is after, there are plenty of countries that would fall over themselves to have someone with a CELTA. The best thing I'd advise is to actually write to several of the schools that regualarly post on the eslcafe job board. You could also try as Marty suggested at seriousteachers.com who will apply for a whole bunch of jobs on your behalf as well as tefl.com which also have a great job board section. Google isn't half bad either.
Persist and you'll find the job you want. Good luck!
I've spent many weeks recenlty in both Taiwan and China and can definitely affirm that whilst having a degree is necessary for most jobs, it certainly isn't for all. For the best jobs in the highest ranked private schools and high schools required qualifications are usually "batchelor/masters degree or teaching certificate" interchangeable which I've been surprised to see on many occasion. Usually most adverts state (especially by the chain schools like Shane, Hess et al), that they need a degree but even for them, it's my feeling that they'll take a CELTA which is a rock solid qualificiation for teaching that's definitely equivalent in their book to a degree - it's only to show you can think, teach and have an education after all.
There's certainly no need to slash your options in half and rely on the piss poor wages offered by the majority of jobs in China, Thailand or god forbid Cambodia. In China the best jobs seem to be in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Shenzhen at the moment.
Saying all that, perhaps the OP is just set on working as an ESL teacher for experience, in which case Martyboy's suggestions are down pat. I actually began teaching abroad by working in Nepal, followed by India and Pakistan, volunteering all three times. If it's only experience the OP is after, there are plenty of countries that would fall over themselves to have someone with a CELTA. The best thing I'd advise is to actually write to several of the schools that regualarly post on the eslcafe job board. You could also try as Marty suggested at seriousteachers.com who will apply for a whole bunch of jobs on your behalf as well as tefl.com which also have a great job board section. Google isn't half bad either.
Persist and you'll find the job you want. Good luck!
Hi again,
What you said ESLpotato about contacting the schools directly is dead right. I haven't taught for 17, years and that was just a summer school in Hong Kong so I am extremely rusty and need some hands on. Browsing through Serious Teachers.com I saw a Thai school who needs volunteers (an under funded rural school) so a bit of detective work on the internet revealed their address and email. I contacted them and hey presto! I am doing some voluntary teaching for a couple of months. The visa is 90 days so I shall spend the rest of the time on the beach somewhere. I also contacted a school in China, rural China in a beautiful part of the country (as revealed by Google Earth) not one of those horrific poisonous cities. They want me to join them in the summer. I just emailed them, sent a photo, had a light hearted chat and threw in a little humour and hey presto! If you apply through Serious Teachers or other agents you are just one of thousands of faceless applicants.
You may have gathered I am not a career oriented teacher. I am semi-retired and getting on a bit (I mean mature!) and looking for a useful pre-occupation and warmth in our winter time. The Chinese school said age is no problem. They had a 70 year old at one time. If they like you, you are in.
But, if you are a career teacher and the money is very important i.e. your means of subsistence, and you are in it for the long haul it's a different ball game and experience and a degree are important.
By the way, if you do not have a TEFL qualification at the moment go for a proper one like Trinity or Cambridge. Give those get rich quick, fly-by-night Californian on-line bods a miss. I saw one school add. which said they are not acceptable. I have a Trinity and it took some getting. Three months distance learning and a four weeks practicum.
Degree or no degree, that's the question. I have severely criticised the requirement especially those schools who require a degree but do not require experience or a TEFL. I can't imagine that. TEFL is not rocket science but there is a right and a wrong way to do it. On that basis you are acceptable if you are a spotty gap year sociology student with no TEFL experience. I reckon it's academic protectionism!
What you said ESLpotato about contacting the schools directly is dead right. I haven't taught for 17, years and that was just a summer school in Hong Kong so I am extremely rusty and need some hands on. Browsing through Serious Teachers.com I saw a Thai school who needs volunteers (an under funded rural school) so a bit of detective work on the internet revealed their address and email. I contacted them and hey presto! I am doing some voluntary teaching for a couple of months. The visa is 90 days so I shall spend the rest of the time on the beach somewhere. I also contacted a school in China, rural China in a beautiful part of the country (as revealed by Google Earth) not one of those horrific poisonous cities. They want me to join them in the summer. I just emailed them, sent a photo, had a light hearted chat and threw in a little humour and hey presto! If you apply through Serious Teachers or other agents you are just one of thousands of faceless applicants.
You may have gathered I am not a career oriented teacher. I am semi-retired and getting on a bit (I mean mature!) and looking for a useful pre-occupation and warmth in our winter time. The Chinese school said age is no problem. They had a 70 year old at one time. If they like you, you are in.
But, if you are a career teacher and the money is very important i.e. your means of subsistence, and you are in it for the long haul it's a different ball game and experience and a degree are important.
By the way, if you do not have a TEFL qualification at the moment go for a proper one like Trinity or Cambridge. Give those get rich quick, fly-by-night Californian on-line bods a miss. I saw one school add. which said they are not acceptable. I have a Trinity and it took some getting. Three months distance learning and a four weeks practicum.
Degree or no degree, that's the question. I have severely criticised the requirement especially those schools who require a degree but do not require experience or a TEFL. I can't imagine that. TEFL is not rocket science but there is a right and a wrong way to do it. On that basis you are acceptable if you are a spotty gap year sociology student with no TEFL experience. I reckon it's academic protectionism!