Finished TEFL, Visa resubmitted

September 21, 2015
All essays are graded and I passed the course with a grade of A.  Of course I already knew all the information so it was easy.  I sent the proof to China and the visa is resubmitted.  China has informed me that if the government does not issue the visa this time, they `have a good relationship with the authorities`' in Zhongshan and I will teach there instead.  Unfortunately, I think they are talking about the Junior High teaching job.  Plus, it pays less.  Arin really wants Shanghai because it has a train system.  If you know anything about California, you know that we have to drive cars everywhere.  Arin was spoiled living in Chicago where they have a great train system.  Zhongshan has only a bus system. 

Still waiting for TEFL

September  15, 2015
My essay has been graded finally.  It appears that I was lost in the shuffle.

Waiting for TEFL

It has been 5 days since I submitted my TEFL for grading.  There are 4 essays so at this rate, it will take a month to complete this course.  I emailed the company and am waiting for a response.

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate is required by the Chinese government

September  11,2015
Earlier in this blog, I mentioned the TEFL certificate.  I do not know how this whole TEFL craze began, but somehow, some fantastic marketing people have convinced the governments of the world that it is the ultimate in English teaching verification.  So, even though I have an actual teaching credential earned through a state university, it pales in comparison to this online certification, which, as I said earlier, anyone with an 8th grade education could complete, not to mention, one could just pay someone to take it for you, or for that matter, you could probably just issue yourself one since there is no regulation or accreditation.  Anyway, the Chinese government will not issue me a foreign expert visa unless I get this paper.

I have signed up for the same TEFL course that Arin is taking through a Group-on coupon for $39. This particular course is 160 hours. I have completed the first one-fourth of the multiple choice questions in 20 minutes. The vendor has 4 lessons with multiple choice, then an essay.  The essay took 2 hours.  I have submitted it for grading and can not continue until I receive the results.  Now I wait....

I suggest you better just go ahead and get one of these certificates even if you are a credentialed teacher with 30 years of experience.

Visa rejected by Chinese governement

September 11, 2015
The Chinese rejected me as an expert because I do not have the TEFL so I sign up through the Groupon coupon and begin the course now.

Medical release!

August 23.2015

Believe me, it was no picnic redoing the thyroid surgery but I had a lot of support especially from my friends Leslie and Patty.  For both surgeries, Leslie fetched me from the hospital and stayed with me for as long as I needed.  Patty, for her part, researched the disease and discovered that there is a whole procedure associated with the surgery that requires a special diet. 
Yada, yada yada, I recovered from the second surgery and obtained a medical release.  I email China and let them know I am free to travel and work.  Surprise, the position is still open and I have again been offered the same job.  I am a bit suspicious that the position has not been filled but I still say yes!  Here is the email:

I am so happy to hear that. Are you positive that you can talk comfortably with the students for 45 minutes (one class is 45 minutes)? 

We are evaluating several candidates for school in Shanghai and Guangzhou and you are always my priority. I would love to recommend you to the school again if you are perfectly to teach now.

Cancer strikes again

Today, as expected, I received the rejection email from China.  They really had no choice.

The teachers in Shanghai were shocked about the news.

"We feel so sorry but have decided to employ another foreign teacher because it would be hard for you to be granted a visa under such a circumstances. We hope this year you could have enough time to recover from the surgery and return to good health. It is really really a pity! We will consider you as our first choice if next year we have suitable positions for you".  Thank you for what you have done! :) Best wishes

I gambled and lost

June 16, 2015
I have been going merrily along accumulating and sending documents to China but all has been in vain. I did not inform China of the thyroid surgery so have been stalling on sending the medical form until my doctor releases me, well, it was all in vain because today I received notice from my surgeon that the second half of my thyroid is cancerous and needs to be removed.  Needless to say, I was forced to email China and inform them that I could not receive the medical release. 

What documents are required?

June 5, 2015
Here is a copy of the email I received from China:

Please get these documents prepared and E-mail them back to me:

1. Copy of your passport.

2. Non Criminal Record (See attachement and scan it back)

3. Fill in the the Work Permit Application (See attachement and scan it back)

4. Diploma

5. Reference Letter from your current work position.

6. Physcial Check Form (Personal doctor or hospital prove you can work)

7. Contract (See attachement and sign) 

8. Are you coming to China alone? Or with your family? If so, please also send a copy of passport of your family member.

If you plan to apply overseas, have ready, copies of all these documents.  Because I am not prepared, I may not be able to procure the required documents on time.  Here are some problems I am having and some advice.

Passport:  China, as well as many other countries, will not allow entrance to their country if your passport expires in 6 months or less.  Mine expires in October so I have to pay extra money to have a new passport rush delivered.

Diploma:  I cannot find mine.  I check on my college website and unimaginably cannot request a copy online???!!!  I must download a form, pay money, and mail in the request.  It takes up to 7 weeks to send me a diploma???!!!   Since I do not have a working printer at home, I have to find a place to print documents.  Also I am currently experimenting living in the suburbs without a car, so it takes me an hour and a half to reach the government run job center by bus instead 6 minutes by car.

Physical check form:  China did not send me a form so I went to my doctor and told her I needed a physical check form.  She said that her hospital does not have such a form.  I explained that I only needed a piece of paper which stated that I am able to travel and work outside of the country.  You may need to prepare your own form and have your doctor fill it out.  You could possibly obtain one from an urgent care facility.  She just flat out said there was nothing she could prepare and anyway, she can not give me a medical release until my surgeon releases me.  You may need to prepare your own form and have your doctor fill it out.  You could possibly obtain one from an urgent care facility.

China requested I send documents as I prepare them, so I have sent 1,2,3,5 and 7 so far.  I sent a copy of the old passport since I do not have the updated one.

Here is the procedure to legally obtain work in China

The procedures will be like this: 

Get Work Permit Certificate=> 

Official Invitation Letter=> 

Get Work Visa in embassy in U.S.A=>

Residency Visa.

I imagine the procedure will be about the same throughout the world in any country which requires a legal document in order to be allowed to work.  Keep in mind that there are also many companies which will allow you to work with only a tourist visa.  For instance, many companies in Mexico....

Job offer!

June 3, 2015

The subject line of my email reads:  Job offer in Shanghai.

Can you believe the timing!  I receive the job offer one day after my thyroid surgery.  My friend Leslie brings me home from the hospital and Arin is waiting for me with the news.  My first thought was that I wish I would have received the email a day earlier because instead of gambling and having only part of the thyroid removed, I would have taken my sisters advice to "¨Take the %·//·!= thing out!"  She has had thyroid cancer and related problems for 30 years and is an expert on the subject.

The job sounds like a good offer.  I get a free apartment, free flight, medical insurance and a salary.  Of course I say yes!  The next step is too submit all the documents and begin preparing my house for rental.  I ask my friend Judy to advise me as she has been in the property management business for decades.  She tells me I need to paint the entire inside of the house a neutral color among other things.  I have a ton of furniture, etc., to get rid of or put in storage.  This will be quite a project.  At least the yard looks good.  In Oaxaca I wore the same 12 pieces of clothing over and over.  In China I will need to dress professionally so will cull my wardrobe down to 10 or so suits, but what about the shoes!!!???!!!  I can not believe Arin has only one pair.  Girls just do not operate like that!

The job starts September 1, 2015.

China requests a phone interview

May 23, 2015
I received an email from China requesting a phone interview. It takes a few days but I interview with a fellow who sounds as if he is from England.  The interview goes well until he asks if I have experience teaching literature.  Aside from junior novels, I do not.  I tell him this then add that I have a good friend who is a high school English teacher.  This is true.

My thyroid operation is scheduled for this week.  I decide to gamble and have only half my thyroid removed.

An encouraging email from China

Friday, May 22, 2015

I received an email from China which lists 5 potential jobs for which they feel I would be qualified. I choose the job as high school English teacher and apply. 

I am going to apply for 5 jobs each day, Thyroid surgery

May 2015
We continue our job search on DavesESLcafe.com.  On this website, one can find hundreds of teaching job postings.  Arin has decided to send out 5 requests a a time.  Only I will apply for jobs as Arin plans to start University in fall of 2016 and does not want to be in a contract.  He is actually more comfortable tutoring rather than teaching a whole class, so he will finish the TEFL and look for a tutoring opportunity paid or volunteer.
May 15, 2015
The first 5 are 1 in China, 3 in Korea and 1 in Thailand.  We wait five days and hear nothing.
May 21, 2015
Second 5 are 2 in Korea, 3 in China.  We wait one day and receive one response from China.  We stop sending out queries.
 May 23, 2015   I had my thyroid surgery today.  This procedure entails  months of special diets,



  

South Korea application

We have downloaded the ERIC application for the South Korean public schools and find that we are against a deadline.  Arin filled out most of the application and I had to write a lesson plan complete with handouts.   This alone took 3 hours.  I used one of my lesson plans from my 7 year olds class.  Most of my lessons use the language experience approach and this particular lesson involved making a book about a jack-o-lantern who did not want to brush his teeth.  I also have to make copies of my credential, etc.then scan and send them to ERIC.  Luckily, there are internet cafes all around Oaxaca that cost about 15 cents per hour. We finally get this whole application done and barely meet the deadline.

Bad news, the application was rejected because we downloaded the application for European applicants.  Deadline missed.......time to regroup.

Job search: Asia

I am traveling with my companion, Arin.  He was kind enough to go with me to Mexico, and now it is his turn to choose the country.  He has always been interested in Asia.  South Korea is chosen based on the suggestions of a fellow teacher, Daniel.  Daniel is from England and spent two years teaching in South Korea. He informs us that approximately 90% of Korea children attend English classes so there are plenty of jobs.  He has several fellow countrymen who were hired in the public school system through an organization called ERIC. There are also tons of private schools.  Daniel opted to work in a private school as he did not want to wait for the public school hiring season.  According to Daniel, the students in the public school are much better behaved because English is part of their curriculum whereas those in private school attend classes after the regular school day, sometimes until 9 p.m.  We decide to send an application through ERIC.  ERIC only accepts teachers with credentials, so only I will apply for this program and Arin can find work in a private school once we arrive.

We have downloaded the ERIC application and find that we are against a deadline.  Arin filled out most of the information and I had to write a lesson plan.  I used one of my lesson plans from my 7 year olds class.  Most of my lessons use the language experience approach and this particular lesson involved making a book about a jack-o-lantern who did not want to brush his teeth.  I also have tn make copies of my credential, etc.then scan and send them to ERIC.  Luckily, there are internet cafes all around Oaxaca that cost about 15 cents per hour. We finally get this whole application done and sent in by the deadline.

The DavesESLcafe.com.  On this website, one can find hundreds of job posting.  He has decided to send out 5 requests a a time.

Teaching English Overseas

Dear English speaking people, you do not have to settle for a minimum wage job in your home country.  By virtue of the fact that you speak English, you automatically have an invaluable job skill.  English instructors are in demand the world over.  You do not need to know math, you do not need a high school diploma or a college education, you do not need experience, all that is required is that you speak, read and write English at, oh, probably an 8th grade level, maybe even lower.  I guarantee that you can get a job.  My travel companion Arin was able to obtain a job with only these qualifications.  Well, he did graduate from high school and happens to have excellent writing skills, but sometimes he talks too fast and is difficult to understand....

I happen to have a teaching credential which makes it easier to find work.  Some countries, in order to qualify for a work visa, one must be considered a foreign expert.  If you want to work in one of these countries, you can become an 'expert' by obtaining a TEFL certification.  This acronym stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.  I do not know how this certification became so popular with governments, but they all seem to accept it even though it is an unregulated.  Virtually anybody can create a TEFL course and issue the certificate.  Arin is currently working on his TEFL because he wants to teach in China.  TEFL classes are offered everywhere.  If you do not feel confident about teaching, my suggestion is that you take an instructor lead class where you can gain actual teaching experience, however, there are also on line classes which require approximately an 8th grade education to pass.  These classes vary in price.  Arin found a deal on Groupon for $39. 

An easy place for Americans to find employment is Mexico.  Mexico is the country where Arin and I began our traveling teaching careers.  You can read my Oaxaca, Mexico blog to see the steps we took to find work, housing and a social life in that great city.

Finding a job:  The best place to find employer requests is a website called DavesESLcafe.com.  You can also look on craigslist.com. The employer requests vary.  Some employers will only accept teachers from England, some only from America.  Some employers only want young people, some only want those with experience.

After 6 months teaching in Mexico, we are ready for a new adventure.  You are welcome to join us..
FOOTNOTE:  Much of the following will be backdated as it has already happened.