Job Discussion Forums

[justcolleen]

I'm not even sure if this post belongs on this board or not, but I have to put it somewhere so here goes.

Johnslat, bless his heart and soul, helped put together what must be a wonderful resume, because I've posted it online and the response has been very nice. Okay, so some of these responses are blanket, bulk e-mails, sent to a large group of job seekers - which in and of itself is fine.

So, the other day I received another "send your photo, resume, first page of your passport, etc., if you're interested" bulk mailing. Two people clicked on "reply all" instead of "reply," so their personal information was delivered right to my inbox. And what did I do? Not realizing what they were, I read them.

This my acknowledgements of receive your copiously mailings! Very please I am to your interesting of mine. Previous that I sending documents for the processing have to question what situations there in China are wanting best replacements?

Best wishings for your patients

And, from the other:

Bachelor of Arts
Uncertified [no certificate]

There's this part of me feels a huge sense of relief because it appears I may have a little more going for me than ... others. Then there's this other part of me which is simply aghast that these are my ... peers.

Colleen

[johnslat]

Dear justcolleen,

[Gordon]

Justcolleen,
You'd be surprised at the type of people try to be English teachers. I ran an ESL school in Canada and had the misfortune of having to sift through people's resumes. One was 21 pages long and included a few of her poems.

[guest of Japan]

Yesterday while walking with my colleague on our way to go get a some coffee at Starbucks, we bumped into an acquaintance of my colleague. This acqaintance was from Hong Kong, but had lived in Australia for a bit. He passed himself off as an Australian. He said he was an English teacher. The only problem was he was nearly impossible to understand. I truly pity his students.

[laodeng]

Yet, at least in China, these impediments (as we perceive them) are no obstacle to being hired!

[justcolleen]

In order to receive my degree, I (like everyone else here, with the exception of the one group of people most likely to encounter a non-English speaker - the business majors) must complete a foreign language curriculum through an intermediate level. Because of that, I've been studying Spanish. There is no way, even at a post-intermediate level, that I would consider myself capable of standing in front of a classroom and teaching it to anyone. It would be a severe injustice to the students. If I know better, and I'm not the brightest light ever lit, why wouldn't others?

Colleen

[johnslat]

Dear justcolleen,

[4nic8r]

[Danny]

There are a lot of people passing themselves off as ESL teachers who have terrible English but because they are white or come from "English speaking countries" it is assumed that their English is perfect. If I can't understand them how will their students?
What amuses me most though are the schools who refuse to hire anyone who isn't say American, Canadian or British. Just because they have a passport it is assumed that their English is better, not to mention they can actually teach it.
D.

[phis]

Sorry Danny, but you are not absolutely correct there. In many countries the Immigration Department will not issue a work visa to anyone who isn't from USA, Canada, Britain or Australia. And without the work visa you cannot be legally employed in that country.

A reputable school will not employ people illegally, so there is no choice but to reject applicants from other countries. Life would be much easier for us if we could employ 'excellent applicants' from other countries. But what do you want us to do - break the law?