Job Discussion Forums

carolinagirl · Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 6

Hello all- I have been doing research on different schools/countries in Asia and I'm wondering if there are any minorities out there who can give me a heads up on the chances of being hired if you're not white. I have sent off quite a few cvs, gotten really positive responses, and when I send my picture, either the job is suddenly filled or I get no reply at all. I know this not a pleasant topic but it is a reality I'd really appreciate some feedback or advice. Are there certain countries where my chances are better? I am still very determined to live and teach in Asia, but it's frustrating to have my time wasted. Thanks in advance !!!

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

Yes, this situation exists. In Asian countries, you are very often judged on facial appearances. This certainly holds true in Korea, where I was bluntly told that the previous candidate was rejected "because he was black". I wouldn't consider Korea again for other reasons though. This is true to some extent in Japan too, although the more serious teaching institutions do tend to look more towards ability than appearances. I don't know about other countries in Asia.

As someone who takes teaching seriously, I look on my skin colour as a means of weeding out bad employers. I want my employer to take the teaching aspect at least as seriously as I do. An employer who wants a certain ethnic group of employee probably doesn't have teaching ability too high on the list of criteria for selecting employees.

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

It definitely exists,especially in two countries which are among the two most popular venues for TESOL teachers.If you have your heart set on Asia(and not somewhere else),you might try China(not much money) or possibly Vietnam.There are jobs in the others for minorities,but as you have discovered,it might not be so easy finding them.Best of luck. Smile

khmerhit · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 10:43 pm Post subject:

I think I can say with some confidence that you would not be discriminated against in Cambodia. I had a Sudanese friend who taught there, and a colleague at my school before I joined was from Nigeria. If you are a qualified American you should have no trouble getting work at the top schools. Best of luck, whatever you do. Smile

carolinagirl · Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 6

Thanks so much for your replies-keep em' coming!!!

stil · Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 259 Location: Hunan

Just keep putting your resume out there. I have applied to many places in China and not every communication stopped after the picture phase. I ended up receiving many offers. The bright side is that when you do get offers, you'll know they don't just want you for your skin colour.

tjpnz2000 · Joined: 22 May 2003 Posts: 118 Location: Japan

It may exist in Japan but Nova, a reasonable place to start, has many people who are not white teaching.

Me and the other Maori working for them in Nagoya used to joke that we were the only true `native` speakers of English Laughing

It may be different in Tokyo but in Nagoya it seems that it is not important.

T

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

It does exist in Japan. It exists more often in the form of nationality - "Only North Americans need apply" "looking for British teacher," only USians need apply." Also saw "only women need apply."

But you can get jobs - if you have a degree, maybe a cert, and some experience I'd daresay you could get jobs easily (esp if you are living there and can go in person to interviews.)

I don't know about Korea. From reading the Korean forum on this site it seems to be a bigger issue - but hey what do I know. People of Asain (esp Korean) decent seem to have a particularily hard time. Somewhere along the line it has become believed amoung some that langauge is a function of skin pigment rather than enviornmental upbringing, and so any Asian looking person cannot be an English speaker. Rolling Eyes

In China there are some places that are happy to take anyone who is willing to come. But I know a lot of people who are prejudiced against - say - black people. China is a big dragon. The conversation schools in big cities might care. I personally have not worked in any, but I've been told point blank that age + weight are huge hiring factors by my would be recruiter. So there you have it - appearance based discrimination.

The government institutions in the "hinterland" are a bit less choosy about truly crap stuff like that - if only because they need to fill their positions and they don't have a big crowd of teachers banging their door down.

If you're a qualified teacher I'd daresay that you could get work, but you would lose out on some individual jobs in the PRC.

You should be able to find a job. Look at it this way - if they don't take you because of who you are, you wouldn't really want to work for them anyway.

NK2001 · Joined: 22 Jun 2003 Posts: 8

I've run into that problem before because the institution didn't just want a native speaker but one that looks like one, appearances were very important to them. I'm currently teaching in Thailand, most schools here aren't like that. I think some of my students are actually encouraged by the fact that someone that looks like them can speak this fluently. Wish I could give you advice on how to overcome this obstacle but I myself haven't figured how to do it yet.