Job Discussion Forums

[deshell32]

I am a black American who has been employed in Korea as an EFL instructor for almost 9 months. I have a little more than 3 months left, and I can't wait to leave. I have lost a lot of respect for Korea due to their very nationalistic attitudes, and what I find to be a general dislike for non-Koreans especially non-koreans who are also non-white. I am debating between Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong for my next stop as an EFL instructor. I have a Master of Science degree in International & Comparative Education (no type of teacher certification) and one year of experience (Korea). Which country do you think will be easier for me to obtain employment in? Which country do you think would be less likely to not let color negatively affect my odds of obtaining employment? Any mention of unbiased schools will also be beneficial. Thank you very much for your input.

[chi-chi]

Hong Kong will offer the best quality of life (for anyone-English is widely spoken), but will be the hardest to get into (even for the typical caucasian person.)
Right now there is ONE Hong Kong job on Dave's board.
Japan is the next best as far as quality of life, lower overt racism (from what I've heard) but is also "hard to get into" because MANY people are leaving Korea right now and going there to look for work. With the exception of Hong Kong, I've heard Japan referred to as "the promised land" for ESL.
Taiwan: offers the lowest standard of the three, but is quite easier to get into than the other two places. IT WILL BE BETTER THAN KOREA THOUGH. (At least that's what I hear-I have never worked outside of Korea but have been researching on this quite a bit.)
If you are trying to pay off student loans and such (in other words, you NEED to make some decent money) then don't bother looking anywhere besides these three places you mentioned. (Except for the Middle East countries, but you have to have a Master's degree to get into the Middle East.) Anyway as far as making money stick with what you're looking at, the other places will offer you a good life in THAT country with the pay but will not help you pay off student loans (Example China.)
For what it's worth, I am also leaving Korea, and Taiwan is the only place that seems to be interested in me-but I think that has to do with so many people leaving Korea right now also.)
Good luck. This may not answer all of your questions, but I hope it helps.
Chi-Chi

[Glenski]

chichi,
Could you please explain what you mean by the fact that you "heard Japan referred to as "the promised land" for ESL".

I ask, rather off this thread's topic, only because I have another thread going with questions on this very thought. Specifically, what have you heard, where did you hear it, and when did you hear it? Thank you in advance.

[chi-chi]

I heard it somewhere here on Dave's, I don't remember exactly which board this was stated on.
Those words were specifically used in response to someone who thought that getting work in Japan would be "easy" (don't recall if that person had a degree or not.)
They said something along the lines of less xenophobia, better pay (although the cost of living is indeed higher) better treatment of minorities, and better living conditions (ie housing) than here in Korea.
The person seemed to put out that Japan was a much more liveable country (overall) than many other places to teach ESL. But much harder to find work, hence the comment "the promised land."
I don't remember who it was or when that was stated...just that sentence and those other foggy details...

[johnslat]

Dear deshell32.
Can't help you out with those specific coutries, but here's an observation based on 60 years of living in a lot of different places:
There's racism everywhere - and to about the same degree, everywhere. Because there are approximately the same percentage of idiots everywhere.
Regards,
John

[scot47]

I agree with John S. about the universlity of Racism.

You could do worse than try Saudi Arabia. If you ahve American citizenship you will be treated reasonably. Don't know about those with Nigerian or Ghanaian passports though !

[deshell32]

Of course I realize racism is going to exist everywhere, but I am just simply searching for a country where it might affect me to a lesser degree. Thank you all for your comments. And I didn't quite understand the last comment pertaining to Saudi Arabia.