Job Discussion Forums

[GZ]

TW:
哈哈... Of course I know the true meaning of 狗眼看人低, but in this case, it is perfectly understandable to me for the following reasons:

1) Many private English training centers are profit-driven. They treat it as a business not a non-profit organization. In order to survive in a certain market, one must be competitive and capable of adapting changes. I don't know how it emerged, but the current ESL teaching market in China considers that having 'white faces' at a school is a basic requirement for a business' continuity. I am not saying that they would not hire local English teachers, but they've got to have some foreigners (non-Asian-the common way of defining 'foreigners' in China).

2) The labor laws in China are quiet different from the rest of the world. It seems like it is ok to say' we need a female, Caucasian, good looking, age from 22 to 32...' on a Chinese job ad in China. I will not be surprised or angry if a Chinese employer tells me that they are not going to hire me b/c I am not 'white', which I could be totally offended if it is happening in the USA.

I am in education b/c I love teaching, and it will be my lifelong career. My students' academic performance and happiness are far more important than anything else to me. Thus, I am not going to waste my 20-year- education and hard work for a profit-driven entity that does not care about its students and staff. Hopefully, I could find my place at a public school in the near future in GuangZhou or ShenZhen.

TW: How many years have you studied Chinese? I've found that you know many Chinese idioms, and have used them correctly in this forum.

[GZ]

Babala:
Chinese American holds American passport. It makes me twice harder than native speakers-1)being non native speaker, 2) holding a foreign passport requires me to apply for visas to work and live in China ~_~

[GZ]

CHEERS, Alex_P!

[tw]

[Babala]

GZ,
In the city where I am, there are 3 teachers who are Chinese-American who are teaching university. I think you might have more job offers and better options looking in Northern or Western China. Maybe Roger could clarify but I think the job market in Guangdong is quite competitive.

[cimarch]

And in general the places that actually want a teacher (not just someone to entertain the kids for a while until the 'real' Chinese teacher takes over) don't care about your ethnicity, just your ability.

[tw]

[Alex_P]

[cimarch]

Well, in general Private schools (especially those of the chain variety) are more interested in marketing than in delivering a reasonable product. They need that white face to make the parents cough up double (or triple) the amount they would for Chinese teachers alone. Usually the FT then teaches at most half the classes (for a good school), other times one in 5 or 6 classes (for the rip-offs). These schools will have little interest in you, which is lucky actually because you probably have no interest in them. I know I don't and I've wasted plenty of time talking to schools that I find I will have no interest in working for (because they don't expect the FT to actually teach anything, a couple of schools actually said NOT to try teaching anything important as I would only confuse the kids, who would be taught the 'correct' way by their Chinese teacher).

Public schools and Universities tend to care about what you can and will do (with the notable exceptions of the 'Daddy's Wallet Guarantees Degree' ones...).

A long winded generalisation I know, just my experience. Private schools are businesses, Universities and Public schools are supposed to be centres of learning.

[tofuman]

Sorry Alex, but I really don't know what your issue is. The poster that I addressed described himself as a Chinese American-- a well qualified one. For that I commended him. You may or may not be aware that there are other Western Chinese, at least one, who was actually ushered out of China due to lack of proper educational credentials.

That particular individual is still looking for a way to reenter China, apparently to teach illegally.

That is so contrary to all that I know about Chinese people in the West that I find it quite appalling. I have never really met a Chinese intent on avoiding educational qualifications. The Chinese friends and acquaintances that I have in the West are all professional people. Physicians, dentists, accountants, attorneys. A wedding I attended last year included a corps of groomsmen comprised entirely of health care professionals, all Chinese Americans.

My reference to Chinese "ghettoheads" can be confirmed anytime you turn on a tv. Certain elements among the Chinese youth seem to think gangster rap music is "cool." A genre of music glorifying a culture of violence and death and drugs. They take their dress code from American convicts and, for the most part, have no idea who or what they are emulating.

I don't believe that Chinese from the West that are representative of that kind of individual should be allowed to teach in China. Perhaps the government assumes that people educated to a certain level will not be members of that group since, for the most part, felons, parolees, and gangbangers have little use for education.

Western Chinese who come to China to teach should meet the minimum stated qualifications of the SAFEA. If that is being racist or a redneck, then I suggest that you keep your hands off of my [cowboy] hat.

I'll leave it to others to comment about the idyllic land of harmony and compromise to which you referred. As for the racial equity, whatever of it exists is because of the extreme jingoism that pervades this place.

[cujobytes]

[tw]

[tofuman]

Tw,

You are assuming a lot of things about me. Note the word "assume." You were the one who told us that your contract was not renewed because a bachelor's degree is required, no exceptions. The regulations themselves say that a candidate should have a bachelor's degree. They don't say he must have a degree.

If that is being interpreted as must , then the best course is to get that degree. But you are not going to listen to me. Why should you? I'm not your parent. I don't know about your background.

I was visiting a couple in East Los Angeles one day. The lady introduced me to her nephew. He was covered with tatoos, baggy shorts, athletic tshirt, multiple piercings. I was quick to judge him as a gangbanging punk who would soon be in prison or YA. His aunt later told me that when he was younger, his mother was murdered right in front of him by a former boyfriend of hers. I thought about how quickly and harshly I had judged him, not knowing anything about his life. He was a gangbanging punk, but why? I had not thought about that.

Fortunately, I had not said anything to him. I've probably made the same mistake with you. I apologize. Whatever circumstances brought you to this place in your life, I'm sure that you did a better job than I would have done under the same circumstances.

Good luck in the future.

[tw]

[Alex_P]

Dear TW,

There are still windows of opportunity open in China for those who do not have a university degree. I actually know of one rather good (not a language mill by any means but a respectable, beautiful institution) school near Hangzhou that is looking for a qualified person right now. If you are interested, please send me your private e-mail and I will put you in contact with those involved. The owner of the school is a rather considerable person in the constellation over here.

Once again, I do apologize for Tofuman and his 1950's style of suburban racism. Let's just ignore him though. Or, we could send posters of Archie Bunker.

With kind regards


Alex P.