Page 31 - ELG1911 Nov Issue 467

El•Gazette 467.qxp_El•Gazette 467 23/10/2019 13:10 Page 31

FEATURES & COMMENT

NORD ANGLIA GETTING A VISA

CHINA
Teachers working in China for the first time
will need a Z visa, which must be
completed in their home country. Within
30 days of arrival in China they need to
acquire a temporary residence permit,
with the employer’s assistance, so make
sure your employer is experienced in
obtaining this.
To qualify for a Z visa for international
school teaching, you need a degree in
Education or a first degree in the subject
you are teaching. Teachers with a degree
in English can also teach EFL. Other
English language teachers can teach in
international schools with either a 120
hour EFL certificate or two years’
lia School experience, but cannot legally teach a
subject in which they do not have a first
degree.
Vietnamese curriculum in the mornings and “For many teachers, one big advantage of Teachers must be under 60, and for
an English-language curriculum in the working in Vietnam is the opportunity to English medium schools must have a
afternoons. These schools are growing in travel in southeast Asia during holidays. The passport from an English-speaking
popularity, and often require EAL support, terms are broadly similar to the UK, and I country. Teachers also need a criminal
making them an option for EFL teachers teach the same curriculum as the UK as we record check and a reference.
looking to make the first move into are a British school.
international teaching. “All schools are different but teachers are VIETNAM
well respected here and treated with far more To work in Vietnam, you will need both a
dignity than in the UK. The pay reflects this business visa and a work permit. Apply for
For many at my school. the business visa in your home country,
“I can honestly say that I am very happy.
teachers, one big My daughter has made friends easily and and then a work permit once in Vietnam.
Your employer should help you with both.
advantage of we’ve all been welcomed by the staff with Some documents may also need to be
kindness. Perhaps it was less of a mid-life notarised to get the visas, and that can
working in Vietnam crisis and more of a positive family life cost a bit, but schools will often reimburse
is the opportunity choice.” for that.
To qualify for a work permit, you will

to travel in Teaching in Thailand generally need to be from a country where
English is an official or first language, have
There are now around 180 international
southeast Asia schools across the country, across all three a bachelors’ degree in any subject and
tiers. Tier 2 schools are sometimes easier to have completed a criminal background
during holidays. enter initially as an English support teacher, check. You will also need your original
given their larger population of English university certificate along with a certified
copy.
learners. Tier 3 schools, where most students
A Teacher’s Story and staff are local, offer the best way in for THAILAND
Vietnam is very popular with teachers so it EFL teachers. Before entering the country, you will need
may be difficult to find work if you are not Keep in mind that a number of a Non-immigrant B Visa. These only last 90
fully qualified or have little experience of international schools in Thailand were days and you will then need to apply for
teaching in your home country. David Waite founded by Christian missionaries and these an extension. Your employer should
recently took a job at ABC International values may influence what is taught. manage this for you, but you will evidence
School in Ho Chi Minh City, moving from a People generally retire at 60, so of your educational qualifications, a
job in a UK state primary school, with his wife inexperienced teachers in their 50s and 60s resume and a criminal record check.
and two young children. David says: may have difficulty finding work. You will then need a work permit, Again,
“International schools have high expectations The traffic in Bangkok is notorious, and your employers should help, but may
and hire qualified teachers. The smaller class the public transport system does not reach to require an original copy of your bachelor’s
sizes really allow the teachers to get to know, the suburbs, where many schools are located. degree and a valid medical certificate
assess and help each student. Many schools will offer housing nearby and issued by a Thai doctor.
“Everyone has been kind, helpful and transport to and from school (often on After receiving your work permit, you
cheerful. The air is a bit different to the UK. student buses), but it can take two hours will need to apply for a teaching license.
Some people wear masks in the city but most each way to get into central Bangkok from Unless you have a degree in Education,
don’t. Beaches and streets can be filled with the suburbs. you will need to apply for a temporary
license, valid for up to six years. Non-
food carts and you may need to walk in the Teachers’ views on terms and conditions native English speakers need a
road sometimes. on individual international schools may be TOEIC/TOEFL or IELTS proficiency test
“The school has provided free found at: certificate. The provisional teaching
accommodation and I have a maid who www.internationalschoolsreview.com. permit is valid for 2 years and is tied to the
washes up and does the washing and ironing. It educational institution, so if you move
is not something I am used to and I felt guilty Thanks to David Waite and ABC International schools, a new permit is required.
at first but it’s becoming readily acceptable. School, Vietnam, for assistance with this article.
editorial@elgazette.com 31