Job Discussion Forums

[ctorres626]

I have brown skin, my qualifications are no teaching experience, but lots of volunteering with children, military veteran, Bachelors in History, TEFL certificate, 26 years old. What are the chances in China to get a job. Also for the Criminal background check I have certificates from the state of Illinois stating no convictions found.

[zactherat]

Pretty much depends on your appearance, and a potential employee's willingness/ability to get you a visa.

[roadwalker]

US passport? If so, I think your main/only worry would be the lack of documented teaching experience. Some places may be easier than others. Skin color may matter in some places but not in others. (Of course blond-haired, blue eyed Nordics would be preferred, all things being equal.) Apply. Find out.

[johntpartee]

There is a Hispanic man here, Colombian national; he and his wife arrived as a package deal (she's Canadian). Keep looking.

[choudoufu]

teaching experience is not always required.
some provinces just want two years of any work experience post graduation.
some provinces don't bother with that requirement at all.
you just graduated, so have essentially NO work experience after
finishing your degree.
you still might be able to include your other jobs as work experience due
to your advanced age. try to fluff up the teaching aspect of any prior work.

training counts, too! even with a teaching experience requirement, it's not
limited to classroom instruction. as a SP4 or SGT you must have had some
additional training NCO duties.

**last year, we had an iranian with new zealand passport.
**at a prior school, jordanian with australian passport.

[ctorres626]

Yes I have a U.S passort, and yes as a NCO in the Marine Corps there was a lot of training duties and instructing as well. I just read a lot about certain schools preferring a white applicant. Like a person of a diffrent color can't perform the job as equal or better.

[muffintop]

[ctorres626]

@ muffintop, that's a great way to look at it thanks. Do you know if it's necessary to get a fbi check or is it okay to have a Illinois state certified check that states I have no convictions or no record.

[Harbin]

[ctorres626]

Thanks for the insight harbin. I have thought about it, I have worked hard to get to this point to be afraid of what people think of me because of my skin color.The only thing I am unsure of is if I will get replies back once I start applying which will be soon, I guess time will tell. Are asian countries usually like this ? My other interests are Brazil and Turkey. I speak fluent Spanish which is a plus in Latin America but would likr an opportunity to save a little.

[BadBeagleBad]

[Non Sequitur]

I'd go for the public sector unis and vocationals in 2nd tier cities.
I've taught alongside Filipinos.
I agree Chinese are racist.
At my first school I had a girl who was beautiful - really. In the West, if the school put on a nativity play she would be the one chosen to play Mary.
She was darker than the 'ideal' and her classmates called her 'Black Girl'.

[PBirm123]

Come to Dalian, the people are friendly and it's a fairly modern city with a lot of work. My school has a lot of black teachers and they're loved and treated as equals. I've never even seen a Hispanic person in China.. so let me know when you get here.

[Non Sequitur]

+1 for Dalian, but watch the dreaded Lushun commute.
2 hours + on the bus over and above your teaching day is not good.
When I was in Dalian I always had more private work than I could manage.

[wonderingjoesmith]