Foreigners who intend to work as teachers or language teachers in China may face higher thresholds as employers nationwide are expected to copy a Beijing regulation that requires teachers to have previous teaching experience.
Under new regulations just released all foreign teachers who work in the capital will require at least 5 years experience. Language teachers will be required to have teaching qualifications or other international language teaching qualifications certificates such as TEFL or TESOL, companies will want to see this before you are accepted for a position in their company.
Education experts are voicing concerns over 'inadequate supervision of foreign teachers of English.'
"Some foreigners teach English only because they can speak it and have no idea of classroom techniques or teaching methods," said an anonymous bureau official, "So it is necessary to raise the quality of teaching."
One company said they had witnessed many foreign language teachers coming to China without qualifications and experience and this dilutes the learning potential of the students he also added that because demand was so high for native English speakers that some companies were hiring non native speakers. He went onto say that his company EF (Education First) would only consider teachers with a bachelors degree TEFL/TESOL certificate 120 hrs or more and at least 2 years experience.
(story by Zheng Jinran and Zhang Yue)
Melanie:
In my experience the rules do need to be tighter. In my 2 years working in China I have seen many teachers come and go and some of them have not been good ones. Some of the comments, lack of understanding and disregard for students that foreigners have leave me speechless and disappointed. This job is the most rewarding job I have ever done and if you get it right you have such a sense of satisfaction and pride in your work. You get an in depth knowledge of another culture and a different life, in my opinion this makes you a better person. Open your mind and open your heart. Embrace and you will also learn, but be prepared! My TEFL has stood me in good stead for my journey as an English language instructor.
China can be a tough place and if you get on the wrong side of the law be prepared for trouble. The Chinese are very respectful law abiding citizens and do not take kindly to 'foreigners taking advantage of them.'