Job Discussion Forums

[dduck]

[Psy]

Hypothetically, if two candidates were equally qualified, had equal teaching experience and were both excellent teachers, but one was a native speaker and the other was not, who would you choose?

I may be in the minority here, but I believe native speaking is important to some degree, specifically listening/conversation. Have you ever noticed students repeating you, then start talking like you and picking up small phrases that otherwise they'd never have a chance to learn? I knew a student who went around saying, "Don't talk rubbish". Another going around exclaiming "Sweet!" (Not that this was bad)

Another fact is that being as close to the "typical" white, blond hair, blue eyes person will increase your chance of finding a job, especially in the Asian regions. Asking for a photograph on applications is not illegal, but it is if it's used as discrimination, as many institutions are doing. Qualifications do not matter. Asians are discriminated against in this way. Think being fluent in English and the native language is an advantage? Not if you're Asian. Parents of these students won't believe that you'll teach them, but rather talk to each other in the native language and not have "conversation".

IMO, physical appearance is almost always more important than skills (including native speaking) in this field of work.

No point here. Just rambling.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[dduck]

[Psy]

Ben, thank you for your response and I see the valid points that you bring up. I should not have generalized such a broad field over the whole world. There are always bound to be differences between teachers in Latin America and teachers in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

However, the quota system does not seem like a realistic solution. Many qualified candidates are likely to be rejected in place of underqualified ones to fill this "quota".

(We have 10 Mexican teachers but only 5 foreign teachers. We must turn away all Mexican applicants even if they are overqualified in order to fill these foreign positions. We must hire foreigners however underqualified they are.)

This seems similar to affirmative action in the United States. It may work, and it seems to eliminate much of the discrimination (I'll give you that much), but in the long term the question we must ask is "Is this best for the students?"

[Psy]

dduck point taken and I can understand your reasons for wanting to hire a local candidate as DoS. I would probably want to do so as well. However, understand that it is the parents of these students who want these "foreign native speakers". If they are unsatisfied with the teachers, they will just as easily take their children and place them in that institution across the street from yours. Therefore in order to be a successful DoS and run a successful institution, they must follow the whims of these parents as they usually have the first, last, and only say. The problem is many DoSs are only concerned about the money, money, money, and don't have the slightest clue about teaching.

I don't blame them, I just hate them.

[rogan]

There are big differences in hiring practices in State Schools and Private Language schools.

There are huge differences in hirin,g attitudes depending on where you are in the world.