Qualifications of English Teachers in China

[Niko]

No Degree? Well, consider teaching in China...

I'm over 35 y/o, no degree but would love to teach English overseas? Where can I teach?

This question is often asked by aspiring English teachers. We get considerable enquiries each day from those who want to teach English, yet don't quite fit the ideal profile.

Our suggestion is to teach in China. Anyone who browses ESL job ads in China, you will soon notice that the typical Engish teacher requirements are somewhat more relaxed than other countries.

Certainly the pay may be much lower than teaching in Japan, Korea or Taiwan, however the cost of living is way cheaper. You should not look at the gross salary when comparing countries, but instead consider the savings after all expenses are paid.

In China, a typical teacher's package would consist of:

• free fully furnished accommodation
• approx. 6000 RMB per month
• approx. 20 hours teaching per week
• return airfares

The requirements to become an English teacher in China does not always demand a university degree or the applicant to be under the age of 35.

[robhood]

I was trying to find some schools in China which accepted native English speakers without university degrees as ESL teachers, and haven't had any luck.

I wonder if someone could reply me when they have time, if they are aware of any.

Thanks.
Robhood

[gfell]

Schools are not going to be so upfront in their job ads by saying they don't require a bachelor's degree. Obviously a school will be happier if they can get a teacher with a degree.

Checkout the job requirements, and if a university degree is not listed in the requirements, then it would be safe to apply.

I've come across many school job postings at the China Jobs Forum where you can apply even though you don't hold a Bachelor's degree.

[Raoul]

I hate to seem harsh, I really do, but I found it interesting that the picture for this conversation had a picture of someone pointing to the word "standards".

Yes, you sure can get a job teaching here in China if you don't have a degree, and I've known a few fine teachers who have fit that description.

However, I can't quite bring myself to go recommending it. You're going to have a bit tougher time of it, and you're going to be cut off from a lot of the better jobs.

And...well, it's a reasonable thing to expect from a teacher. I submit that on the whole, you're going to be a better classroom educator if you've had higher-order classroom education yourself. Please consider getting a 4-year degree...just about ANY 4-year degree...before taking this job on. (And with that, he points to the word "standards" on the chalkboard...)

Before the storm hits, I'll be the first to tell you that having a degree is NOT a guarantee that you're going to be a good teacher. I'm just saying that it doesn't hurt...

[Lin Ai Wei]

Hi There,

I have some options for those looking to teeach English out here. It is possible that they may accept teachers without a degree.

Let me know if you are interested.

jing_xin_yuan@yahoo.com

Peace,

Lin Ai Wei

[Raoul]

Yes, I'm sure you do.
There are still a lot of places out there who will take any warm (preferably Caucasian) body they can get.

There are especially a lot of recruiters who get paid to find those warm bodies, and they will say or do anything in order to get them. 99.99999% of recruiters are a plague upon us, and if you are smart you will avoid them and only deal directly with the schools. Jobs are NOT hard to find. You don't need a recruiter. Decent jobs don't need recruiters, either. It's the dodgy jobs with poor compensation in nasty and/or hopelessly boring cities that generally must turn to them. Do the math!

But plenty of time to rail about the numerous abuses committed by recruiters later. The topic is standards, and numerous exceptions aside, in the big picture I have a hard time reconciling the concepts of "teacher" and "without a degree".

I like what I do and I like many of the people who do it. English teachers in China get kicked around a lot. The absence of standards (and dodgy recruiters) are a big part of why this happens.

[Lin Ai Wei]

I know that foreigners get kicked around in schools. I am an American teaching in China for almost 3 years. All I am doing is offering a manner in which someone can teach out here.

That's all

Peace,
Erik