Job Discussion Forums

upsilon · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 14 Location: earth

10 years ago this month, via email I contacted various language centres in China inquiring about being an English teacher. In total, I contacted 16 places which advertised on eslcafe. They were chosen to represent wide geographic coverage.

My email stated that I am a Canadian of Chinese descent who grew up in Canada. My education is all Canadian, from elementary school to university, and I have a 4 year Bachelor of Science degree.

It was my understanding that at the time, due to common sentiment among the populace, a Caucasian face is a de facto requirement to be a foreign English teacher. Accordingly, I specifically asked if the school will accept an application from a Chinese-Canadian.

Of the 16 places I contacted, 5 replied. 4 were from Americans (Caucasians judging from their family name). 2 of the Americans were language centre managers. Both said they have hired Chinese-Americans in the past but no longer do so because the owners of the language centre forbid the practice.

1 American was himself the actual owner of a language centre. In the past he has hired Chiese-Americans but experienced strong opposition from the students' parents. He cited instances where parents actually showed up at the office and threatened to withdraw their child from classes.

The 4th American was the manager of a centre and said she does not discriminate on the basis of skin colour.

The 5th reply, from a Chinese proprietor of a language, also stated that skin colour is not an issue.

In Nov of the same year, I decided to take a vacation in China. Before I left, I contacted the 4th and 5th persons mentioned above requesting a face-to-face. No reply from either.

I am curious as to the current situation regarding job prospects specifically for native English speakers of Chinese descent from English speaking countries ?

Is skin colour still an issue today ? Does any one has 1st hand experience or aware of actual instances of this issue ?

max71081 · Joined: 05 Aug 2015 Posts: 125

you forgot something....

discuss Laughing

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

upsilon · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 14 Location: earth

[Do you have any TESOL experience? A TESOL certificate?]

No to both. Note this matter never came up at all with the individuals mentioned.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Your related quals and experience (rather, lack thereof) may also play a role in how employers view you.

Actually having related quals (even for China) has become more important over the past decade as the EFL industry has matured.

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

I know one Asian American dude [I think he was Vietnamese] who had a good job in Shanghai BUT he had a Masters in English Language or something and taught higher end high school students.

The whole thing from 10 years has become worse. Pollution worse, hygiene as bad, more corruption, more xenophobia. It can be tough for some foreign born Chinese because they aren't considered 'proper' lao wai because they're not white or black and are not considered 'proper Chinese' because they weren't born in China.

I'd give it as a skip because you won't even be able to cherish the occasionally small time when being a foreigner is good [free stuff, paid just to be white, etc.]

OhBudPowellWhereArtThou · Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Posts: 1168 Location: Since 2003

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

Sorry I didn't classify, the 'paid to be white' thing is, for instance, a new housing project who paid my friend to wear a suit and lean over fake drawings on a desk to look like a western expat architect had come up with the design. $100 for 2 hours of 'being white'. I don't mean that in terms of being a white teacher.

upsilon · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 14 Location: earth

[quote="spiral78"]Your related quals and experience (rather, lack thereof) may also play a role in how employers view you.

This presumes a merit system. Is this true for China ?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

upsilon · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 14 Location: earth

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

It's not about a merit system, but your ability to compete on the job market.

More and more candidates have related quals these days. Obviously, reputable employers will prefer to hire them over someone without any whenever possible.

Uh, similarly to jobs in any field in Canada Laughing

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Ditto the above about competing for positions. You've been a registered Café member since 2006, yet you've never moved forward in terms of gaining the qualifications/experience employers expect to see. Instead, you've only emphasized your ethnicity. Confused

max71081 · Joined: 05 Aug 2015 Posts: 125

What was mentioned above...Instead of whining and complaining about skin colour, you should look into getting a well respected TEFL certificate....

mandu · Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 794 Location: china

skin colour is an issue here,my friend is black and he has a degree and a TEFL certificate and he cant get a new job because of his skin colour.

although he does have a job in a kindergarten (the kindergarten is not very good) he cannot get a new job,what colour is your skin? its black oh sorry we only hire white people.