High School Job, no Certification

[steelersman]

I won't go into my own opinion on the matter, but yes, to legally teach at a public school one must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent and current teaching license from their home country. Why is that surprising to so many people?

Actually, the OP was talking about a private high school. And Taiwanese can teach at private high schools without a teacher's license. In the United States you can also teach at a private school without a teacher's license.

[housecat]

Even private schools are under the jurisdiction of the MOE here. Foreign teachers need licenses or JFRVs.

[gavmasterflash]

I was denied a job at a regular-private school because my teaching license, a substitute one, said "90 days teaching" which has more to do with contractual obligations and union mumbo-jumbo than being able to teach for a full year. I was completely denied the teaching position because those beuarocrats at the MOE weren't willing to take a few moments to understand this.

If you have any ways of switching this around, will the OP please let me know how you were able to get this taken care of. Thanks.

[achdizzy1099]

Allow me to sum this thread up into terms more of us can understand:

OP: Hey, I'm new here. I just graduated from jewelry school in Wisconsin. I've moved to New Jersey and met some Italian guys who want me to sell their surplus diamonds for them. I'm not sure the diamonds are registered considering they were handed to me in a paper bag in the back of a Towncar. Can someone help me find a way to tell the government so I can sell them to licensed dealers? I have a lot of student loans and bills to pay.

Replies: You know, what you're doing is illegal and you should just give the diamonds back. I don't care about your rent and student loans.

OP: Forget it. I just met some guys from Brooklyn, I got it figured out.

Replies: You know you're doing something illegal. You're going to get caught and deported. You will have no one to blame but yourself. please respond and talk to us.

OP: chirp; chirp; chirp

T

[gavmasterflash]

How serious is the government about stuff like this, though? If there were some way around it, why would he have to worry? It seems that doing things in this manner is common place here in Taiwan. I mean, look at the number of kindies that hire native speakers. It happens all the time. It is illegal. I doubt anyone would give someone here as much crap for working in a kindie.

I know some people who work for a kindie personally. The government comes to visit a few times a year, and when they do, they are herded to another part of the building where they "have a meeting." There are elementary classes that go on in the school too. They also have some creative book keeping techniques. If he can find a way around it, what is so wrong? This stuff seems to happen all around the country.

Unless, they are that strict with private schools and public schools. Is this then the case?

[dan2006]

And the downside is?

As he can't legally teach he would have to pack it up now and go home. If the school keeps him on and he gets caught later, he goes home as well.

End result is the same.

[dasmania]

I assumed the school (it's a private school, not public) would know...

I love how every response said he was going to a public school. Read people.

Yes, I know it probably doesn't matter for ARC requirements, but still annoying.

[gavmasterflash]

From what I've heard, this can be done if the school has a relationship with a local cram school. The teacher will work at the cram school on paper, but actually work at the public school. Don't know the reason for this, maybe there aren't enough qualified teachers to take all the public school positions? But I've also heard the goverment is cracking down on stuff like this.

Makes me wonder about the kindies though. Is the government going to start cracking down on them more too?

[janoodles]

Hi there, I'm new here and I am considering teaching English in Taiwan. I'm from New Zealand (Caucasion native English speaker) and have a B Ed Teaching degree which is a 3 year degree (we don't have 4 year teaching degrees here - unless it is a Master)... I was wondering if that qualifies me to work in a public school in Taiwan? Also I'm not sure what a 'teaching license' is - is that a Taiwan license?? We don't have teaching "licenses" in NZ. I am also considering doing a TEFL or CELTA course before I head over - is that necessary? I have had a little bit of teaching experience (and child care) and am about to start doing 1-2 days a week teaching here to gain some more current experience. Also, what is the teaching like in a public school as opposed to a private school? Do you have some freedom to create and develop lesson plans based on assessment observations of the students? Or are the lesson progressions largely dictated from textbooks in a regimented way?

Thanks,
Janelle

[ironlady]

It should not be surprising in the least. Those requirements are posted on these boards many, many times.

The thing is, everyone seems to think that they are "special" and shouldn't be subject to the requirements. Many Westerners, particularly newbies in Taiwan, seem to feel that they have a right to work in Taiwan. News flash: you have no rights in Taiwan. You are not a citizen. Get an APRC or marry someone and the situation gets a little better. But for a garden-variety unmarried foreigner with a degree and good intentions, you have no rights.