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Q: Certification and experience
Hello,
I have been told that new Visa restrictions prevent anyone with less than 2 years teaching experience from working in China. Is this true?
I am also looking at getting a a TEFL/TESOL certificate. Who here has done one online? Do the employers accept them?
I already have a bachelors degree and have just returned from a 3 month stint in Yantai (volunteering).
Thanks 
8 years 44 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
You're better off working in small cities for awhile because they might over look the 2 year gig. But yes this law is very real and used in some big cities.. I've done some FEC's for Wall Street because I've been there 7 years and helped out some new teacher when the new HR didn't know anything..And during that time in the FEC office in Shenzhen they did ask to see the 2 years of teaching background and translated into Chinese copy too. I think you should work in Korea first, they don't require much, just a difficult E2 visa process and work there 2 years and than you are ready for China. Korea is great, good food, nice girls and wonderful massage joints.
dom87:
so why go to china after korea anyways?
China has nothing of that (maybe some girls)
Japan & Korea >>> China
YantaiJay:
I was in Seoul two weeks ago and it did seem like a more comfortable lifestyle. But no one can deny the charm of China!
ironman510:
I save ten times more in China and this a better place to start a family and there are ways to buy things like a house even if its only yours for 70 years, doubt you'll live long enough to care. But everything in Korea that I couldn't do for a marriage life and family I can do in China. Japan? Hey if you are rich than Japan is your place or heaven in Asia or until it sinks from too many earthquakes.
You're better off working in small cities for awhile because they might over look the 2 year gig. But yes this law is very real and used in some big cities.. I've done some FEC's for Wall Street because I've been there 7 years and helped out some new teacher when the new HR didn't know anything..And during that time in the FEC office in Shenzhen they did ask to see the 2 years of teaching background and translated into Chinese copy too. I think you should work in Korea first, they don't require much, just a difficult E2 visa process and work there 2 years and than you are ready for China. Korea is great, good food, nice girls and wonderful massage joints.
dom87:
so why go to china after korea anyways?
China has nothing of that (maybe some girls)
Japan & Korea >>> China
YantaiJay:
I was in Seoul two weeks ago and it did seem like a more comfortable lifestyle. But no one can deny the charm of China!
ironman510:
I save ten times more in China and this a better place to start a family and there are ways to buy things like a house even if its only yours for 70 years, doubt you'll live long enough to care. But everything in Korea that I couldn't do for a marriage life and family I can do in China. Japan? Hey if you are rich than Japan is your place or heaven in Asia or until it sinks from too many earthquakes.
http://tefl.chinajob.com/training/schedule.html
This is a TEFL certification course designed by SAFEA. Taking it fulfills the 2 year experience Z visa requirement. This is what I did. It costs 3000 RMB, and lasts a week.
Shining_brow:
Here is the law... but give us money, and you won't have to worry about it!
ScotsAlan:
Not even that shiningbrow.
"That is their law, we interpret it differently.
China is not really a united country. It's almost like a loose collection of affilated states where everyone ignores the feds. The rules are bent on a local level to suit the local market.
The Emperor has no clothes, and all that 
Spiderboenz:
Seemed ok to me, but then again, I had no real ESL experience prior to taking the course.. Lots of focus on lesson planning and the different types of learning styles.
It is split into two different levels, young students and old students.
The Culm-ex was pretty good, did an evaluated class for actual students.
The resources that they used are pretty good.
xunliang:
Cool. Thanks. Have a friend who was asking me and I have no idea.
I am happy to work in the smaller towns. But how will I get past the Visa centre here in Australia!?
A TEFL certificate is worth the paper its written on. Its NOT ACCREDITED. No way to determine if its real or fake. Heck, anyone can just get one printed up and Voila! you are certified. OP, if you graduated HS and college, did some volunteer work, are a native english speaker then you are WELL Qualified to teach. its that simple.
A TEFL certificate isn't worth the paper its written on. Its NOT ACCREDITED. No way to determine if its real or fake. Heck, anyone can just get one printed up and Voila! you are certified. OP, if you graduated HS and college, did some volunteer work, are a native english speaker then you are WELL Qualified to teach in China and many other parts of Asia as well.... its that simple.
YantaiJay:
Agreed, I am finding hard to justify spending the big bucks they want here in Australia considering I fulfill the criteria you have stated
