Job Discussion Forums

PETERKM · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 20 Location: LONDON

Hello All,
I am not a native speaker but have no noticeable accent. I have SELTA and one-year teaching experience in London. I have no degree yet.
What�s your opinion? Any chances?
Will I have problems with my passport looking for a job in China and do you know any schools that employ not natives. Is February a good time to try?
Cheers
Peter

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I got some undeserved flak for berating a Dutch would-be backpacker-teacher; to you I give my thumbs-up!
If you are willing to stay put even under slightly disheartening circumstances, please, do come to China. Your passport is of some importance, but you can probably override resistance.

Personally, I don't see much benefit for Chinese in the fact that someone is a native English speaker - their English inevitably is far, far from high enough to even tell you from a Nigerian.

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

It is definitely possible for non-natives to get teaching jobs in China. One of the other unis in my town just hired a bloke from Belgium out of all places.

Ludwig · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:54 pm Post subject:

What is a "SELTA"?

Galum82 · Joined: 11 Sep 2004 Posts: 22 Location: NY, USA

seriously, dont mean to sound cynical...but the chinese schools only want a foreign looking face...so im sure the fact that your not a native speaker is not goin to be a big concern as long as you are light skinned...China's educational system has not reached the point of maturity yet in where they actually hire real qualified teachers...

Spiderman Too · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 10:27 pm Post subject:

How about; Systematically Educated for Language Teaching to Adults?

NateM · Joined: 19 Apr 2004 Posts: 358

It's definately doable, it just isn't going to be as easy as it would be were you native-born.

Guest · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:40 am Post subject:

Peter I came to China 13 months ago with No Degree, No experience and no Qualifications. If you come with the right attitude, I think it is definitely possible.

I am very happy here and have no intention of leaving China.

All the best.

JimmyJam · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 3:08 am Post subject: very possible

of course, it is very possible... i guess, only money-making institutes and recruitment agencies focus more on the NATIVE SPEAKER thing. There are many Universities which consider qualifications more than whether you are native or otherwise.

just don't carry the baggage of your own home culture and compare it with chinese culture.. someone already said "right attitude"

PETERKM · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 20 Location: LONDON

Thanks everyone.
This was very encouraging.
I guess I do have the right attitude. Wink

Cheers

laodeng · Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 481

What problem? At my 2nd-tier university in Shanghai, there are currently two Argentinians, a French Canadian, and a Singaporean(?), all with thick to impenetrable accents. And non-Caucasians have been repeatedly hired.

laodeng · Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 481

All teaching "oral English," I might add.

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

Nothing to say.

dajiang · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 663 Location: Guilin!

no problem, i'm also dutch, and ive worked in beijing and guilin.
it's more important that you look like a laowai, and sometimes that you've got a degree (no problem with private schools).

the only thing i find is that you can't get any jobs via the internet, because of the native speaker thing. once youre there in person though it's alright.

Good luck and have fun

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

How did you find your job? And how long did it take you? I'd like to go to China next year and have a teaching qualification but became a bit determined to go to Bejing. Did you just fly over and job-hunt over there? Also, did you earn enough to support yourself?
As you are a non-native, I'd really appreciate you input!!