Job Discussion Forums

[jdon725]

Hello, hopefully someone will be able to help with this. I have been looking and applying to numerous job postings mainly in Shanghai. I have been noticing that some places state that they prefer and even require that teachers be citizens of either the US, UK, Australia, NZ, Ireland, or RSA. With one person going as far to tell me because they've never heard of my country, that they are not sure I would be granted a visa. I am a citizen of Grenada, a former British commonwealth in the Caribbean, so English is my native tongue. Also I have been living in New York since I was 8 years old, I am now 26, and I have a distinctive American accent. All of my schooling is US based, and I have both a BA and 120-hour TEFL certificate. Does anyone know if my nationality would be a cause for concern as far as my prospects go? Or does the person whom I spoke with just have no idea? I'm dying to know... Thanks in advanced.

[22Yossarian]

I don't know if this will help but...

I work in Beijing and know a number of English teachers who are not from those listed countries, and a few teachers who are not even native speakers. A friend of mine from my CELTA course is native Russian and teaches English just outside of Shanghai, and she is working on a proper Z-Visa.

The thing to remember about China is rules are rules except when they aren't. Apply and see what happens.

[mike w]

I could be wide of the mark here. If I am, I apologise in advance. But - native of Grenada? I guess that means you are non-white. This has been known to be an obstacle for native English speakers in the past. The perception of Grenada by the authorities here could also be a problem.

Several years ago, as a school director, I was refused an invitation letter to send to a prospective teacher. She was white, her passport photo proved she was white. English was her native tongue. But she came from Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwe is a black country. Sad story, but true.

[Bud Powell]

Wait. You've been living in the U.S. since you were 8 years old? Since Granada is (as you say) no longer a part of the Commonwealth, I ask how you managed to stay in the U.S. and not need to renew some sort of renewable visa. Do you have permanent residency status? It seems that after all this time you'd have applied for and gained U.S. citizenship.

[jdon725]

[Prof.Gringo]

[fat_chris]

[jdon725]

Well that's highly disappointing. I guess I will have to keep trying, something has got to give, maybe... Thanks you for the insight though.

[choudoufu]

all is not lost. some provinces/cities are more stricter about
nationality and paleness, in which case you'd have to work
illegally or at substandard (by chinese standard!) schools.

other areas not so strict. send out your resume to a couple
dozen schools. it's free to try.

our little vo-tec college may hire an additional teacher next
year. the dean tells me black and/or asian no problem, but
must be from the big-5.

[Prof.Gringo]

[WLamar]

It really flabbergasts me to this day why anyone goes around to find the details and then when they find out they don't meet the basic, clear requirements for something, such as a work visa, etc. that they still think that they are the unique individual in the world that has some god-given right to be the exception to the rule and get something that they don't deserve (based on the necessary qualifying point - e.g. requirements). What really makes someone think they have the must to be the exception? What makes someone leave their home COUNTRY and run off to a foreign land (COUNTRY) and try to skirt the law, requirements, credentialing, etc.? What is it being run-away-from? Law? Society? Financial requirements? What is it? I really, really want to know; because, I just don't get this mentality.

[mw182006]

[choudoufu]

[mw182006]

Yeah, you're probably right. Moooom! Meatloaf!

[Non Sequitur]