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Q: Should having a degree be necessary to teach here?
Wow! After a quick search, I noticed that this topic hasn't specifically been discussed! (at least, not as a thread...). Lots of related stuff, but whether it should or not.
Anyway, I think yes, it should be required (certainly for the higher-end stuff, not necessarily for kindy levels), AND that degree should be relevant to English or education.
I think, one of the biggest problems here is that just about anyone can teach here, and there is no quality control... which really hurts the students, the institutes, and our pockets (it keeps wages down :( )
12 years 17 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
it depends on the job offer you are getting
some jobs need highly qualified teachers for TOEFL/IELTS exams training, i guess someone who has a BA in English is fine enough,
for kindergarden and primary school, no big requirements, unless you are teaching at a private school where the rich kids go...
forget about quality control, "TIC", only when problem arises, then the concerned authority will have a quality control, but usually no problem arises, so the chinese stick to the laws, afraid to break any rules
I agree. A subject specific degree, or at the very least, one in general education, should be required in order to teach in government insitiutions. Private schools, or "language centers," are a different matter. I think the difference is in the mission statement of each school. The language centers are primarily to make money, and as some on this site have pointed out, learning becomes secondary to the primary reason the school exists.
I know that in the U.S., some private and parochial schools do not require their teachers to have a degree unless they are working towards state accredidation, in which case said teachers must, in addition, pass a qualification exam.
I teach at a local college, and I have to make my own lesson plans designed around my own cirriculum, as well as giving the students comprehensive testing during the sememster, culminating in finals at the end. I get absolutely no help or suggestions from the school (which is how I like it, I might add). If I had not learned how to do this in my various disciplines while at university, I would have been in a "world of hurt" when I arrived in China!
As many guys here already mentioned. Those English teaching schools are for quick money, not for quality, not for reputation, not for proud...They know all their tricks and dont want to make a change at all...
This is very good to ask for a degree in Education or English no matter for kids, students, adults, business persons, etc. This is called the responsiblities Human should have. Meanwhile, native speakers without a degree should feel ashamed in the Education.
"should" require a qualified english teacher with a degree in English or teaching, unfortunately due to the high demand it would be impossible to try and get this small minority of people.
While I do believe it should be a requirement to have a degree “YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR”.
I already replied this not too long ago.
To legally teach in China, you must comply with a few rules. Must have a work visa, get a residence permit and a work permit from PSB within 30 days of arrival, etc. One requirement is also that you (OR YOUR EMPLOYER) MUST GET FOR YOU a Foreign Expert Certificate. This is where a college degree, and a resume including your university courses plus work experience is required.
If you teach at high school or middle school levels, even grammar schools, a college degree is not much important if you manage the Foreign Expert Certificate without one (can be done if you know the right persons, or if you have a good sponsor and he needs you badly, but is is hard to do). To teach at College levels, having at least a BS, and sometimes even a Master does help a lot to land the job.
The field of your studies is not important unfortunately, you can major in music, or ball room dancing, and still get the certificate.
Sumarizing, a college degree is not needed really for the position, but it is needed for the paperwork required to fill the position. Be pacient and try hard to understand me, unfortunately, it is a fact even if we do not like it.
Shining_brow:
Happy, I'm not arguing or discussing the law in this country - I'm discussing the validity of that law... is it relevant? Does it make sense? Could or should it be changed? Is there any significant difference in teaching ability in having that degree??
HappyExPat:
It is my believe it is not a fair law, for them or for us. It is not really the validity, but the intent what you are challenging in a way. Since it is a law, it is valid, and we either accept it or move elsewhere as we are guests here. Now, as to the intent of the law, I feel it was to insure that those with higher education (than the students) are or become teachers.
To me, their failure was not to specify what type of degree was required. Maybe an Engineer could teach Math or Physics or Chemestry, he should have the tecnichal knowledge, but probably will not know enough in general to teach English to foreign students correctly. Maybe a degree in Pedadogy, and further a minor in English, would better prepare the person to become a good teacher.
To me, that what the current Law lacks. Besides the fact that if you know the right person, pay the right bribe to the correct individual, or a combination of both, still will get your FEC without a college degree.
All of the above is very a per pos but in the end, it ends up a provincial decision / a local decision / a very local decision. The rules exist that to obtain a FEC a university degree is required. That being said, I have seen numerous cases where that has simply not been the case. It has more to do with market forces I think and staffing needs. At this very moment, the ESL job market here in China is red hot and there are so many more jobs than there are applicants. The one rule that I do see being applied more uniformly is the Big 5 country rule, aka the native speaker rule, etc.
Just wondering, I've finished highschool and learnt Chinese for 3 years afterwards in a university, what would it take me if I wanted to become a teacher?
Shining_brow:
What sort of teacher, Mr Spoon? And where? In China? Any other country?? Only ESL teaching, or something else? And where did you get your degree, and what was it?
Mr_spoon:
I guess english/french second language teacher, China would be my first choice, or perhaps Thailand? So far I only got a highschool degree, but after next semester I should get... a Chinese-speaking certificate, or something? Iunno
A university graduate is not guaranteed to be any better at teaching English in China than the next guy. This may not be exactly what the question asked but I do feel a need to respond and make this statement. I have seen both graduates and non-graduates. Without actual experience, it's a saw-off. Flip a coin even.
Shining_brow:
This is true. But, in theory, universities should be looking over your writing, and not accepting it if it lacks the proper English writing skills. If you can't punctuate properly, you shouldn't be able to get your degree. So, if you want a quick way to get those with a good grasp of the language, a degree-holder is pretty across the board.
kchur:
Yeah, I had that attitude, as a degree holder with a background in linguistics, but as I've been told time and time again, "FOREIGNER NO TEACHA GRAMMAR PRONOUNCE. CHINESE TEACHER GRAMMAR PRONOUNCE SOOOO GUUUDA. FOREIGNER NO GOOD GRAMMAR ENGLISH!!! FOREIGNER TEACH CONVERSATION ENGLISH PICKA TOPICA HAVE A CHATA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" So who cares? They don't take their English-learning seriously, and trying to overcome Chinese arrogance is a sisyphean task.
I agree with your answer about a degree being necessary for the higher end levels such as teaching at a university or highschool. And I think you are right that teaching at lower levels such as kindergartens wouldn't really be that necessary, but it would be helpful. At least getting a certificate to teaching children would be better than nothing at all. Learning about the interactions of children and their cognitive processes are an important key when teaching them.
