Hello + advice

[Billysven]

Hello all....!

I am new to this forum but have been reading with interest over the past few months.

I am an English guy living in Australia and am hoping to start teaching English in Asia in around twelve months time.

I am well educated and have a good personality (so THEY say?!) but I do not have a degree or any university qualifications.

Apart from completing a TESL or TEFL are there any other forms of training I could undertake? I know I can't take a degree in this short time and to be honest I wouldn't (couldn't) do it.

I wish to teach for maybe a couple of years and do not require vast amounts of money, just a worthwhile experience and a chance to try teaching.

Would China be a good place to start? Or Japan?

I know these types of questions are posted all the time but any advice would be great.

Thankyou,

Bill

[gfell]

Hi Bill,

Best bet would be to try teaching in China. Less strict over there. Japan, like Korea and Taiwan, will require a degree or bare minimum a Diploma + TEFL/TESL Certificate. Some teachers have been lucky to get their work permit on a Diploma, and other's not so lucky.

If you like, you can still teach in Japan with a degree if you apply for a Working Holiday Visa. Do a search in these forums for "Working Holiday Visa" for more details.

[auperne]

If you want to work in Taiwan and sign a contract you'll need a TESOL + high school diploma, TEFL does not qualify. The other option in Taiwan is to come here to study, study and apply for a student ARC and that'll allow you to work legally teaching 14 hours a week regardless of any certificates you hold.

Schools request them because they are needed for processing a work ARC and resident VISA but they are not required for a student ARC and resident VISA. I know a few people that work this way. Not as good for saving money because you have to pay for school but its good to study anyways, I did it for 6 months and although Im still a beginner it makes life so much easier.

You have to study 4 months before they issue you an ARC. You can work as a sub teacher during this time or a private tutor, or both. I did a lot of sub work and had private classes while going to school, it was easy to handle and was able to make enough to have a good time out and still save money for trips to other countries. I have a university degree but chose that way regardless because I didnt want to sign a contract. I now have a contract but thats because I found a school I'd like to stay with long term.

Cheers.
-Rob