Job Discussion Forums

[wyyn]

After reading several posts, I am very disappointed to find out that it is very difficult for an Asian (living in a native English speaking country) to find a job in Taiwan. Nevertheless, I still want to teach there.

Does anyone know any schools that accepts Asian teachers?

I have yet to apply because I don't really know which schools to start with. I also don't want to send out hundreds of resumes just for them to be ignored.

Any help is greaty appreciated!

[clark.w.griswald]

It is certainly a sad fact that anyone who is not white or aged under 40 will likely face a deal of trouble getting teaching work within the buxiban scene in Taiwan. It all has to do with marketability. There is so much competition between buxibans that schools need to give the fee paying parents what they want as far as the 'perfect teacher' or the parents will go elsewhere. It is all based upon silliness, but there is a reason behind the fact that some minorities find it difficult to get work here.

There are however schools that recognize that people of Asian heritage can be native speakers. One problem that you will face is the question of whether you are truely a native speaker or a local who has spent a few years overseas and has now returned to Taiwan. Parents and schools pay a premium for foreign teachers, and they are both wary of asian applicants as they are unsure as to whether your English ability is that of a native speaker. To this end they will often err on the side of caution and go for a 'whitey' (forgetting of course the fact that not all white people are native English speakers - French Canadians for example).

If you are really committed to coming and working here then you are probably going to have to bite the bullet and just come here first. I really don't think that many schools will offer you advance placements from overseas as you are not what they would probably consider to be their chosen applicant. If you are here and happen to find a job that needs filling straight away then you can take it. Another advantage of being here is that the school can more easily see that you are a native speaker and also get a feel for you as a person. It won't be easy and you may get some knockbacks, but if you persevere you should get something.

[markholmes]

I worked for Kojen (www.kojenenglish.com). They had a fair few CBCs and ABCs working for them.

They had all sorts of races & colours working there with the common thread being native English speakers. This is in contrast to the second school I worked for where everybody was white, but 80% spoke Afrikaans as a first language, and some of them very poor English as a second.

I think chain schools are probably your best bet.

[Ki]

You will have to come here and respond to the ads by phone. Most schools will probably knock you back because of the color of your skin alone. I have a similar difficulty as I am not North American. Different schools have their preferences, no matter how illogical, and may refuse you no matter how good your CV may be.

There are however many schools who are open to having an Asian Foreign teacher and occasionally you may even be in preference.

I would probably suggest that when you call schools that you specify that you are an ABC, that way you won't have the hassle of getting accross town for an interview and/or demo only to be rejected no matter how good you are. You may also need to be prepared to accept a slightly lower wage.

[Aristotle]

Racism is a huge problem on Taiwan. It is the official policy of the occupational government of the ROC to encourage racism in both it's policies and more specifically their implementation as well as through public education.
The other side of the racism in Taiwan's education problem comes from many parents who don't speak or understand English. The only way for them to be sure that their child's English teacher is able to speak English is to use the race of the teacher as an indication. Of course the society that has been created by the occupational government of the ROC still finds ways to deceive and cheat parents but ignorance and corruption are the parents of racism.
You will have to come to Taiwan and see how dysfunctional this non county is before you can really understand why it is, the way it is.
Policies are set from the top down. That means that the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China on Taiwan sets the scales that all schools must follow or be punished by the notoriously corrupt Ministry of Education (MOE) .
The (MOE) of the occupational government of the Republic of China on Taiwan has been the main source of state sponsored racism and oppression on Taiwan since the occupational government was installed after WW2.
Initially it was done through a very oppressive system called sinofication or a policy of making Taiwan, Chinese.
That policy has been replaced with a new and equally as oppressive and racist method implemented by the current, corrupt occupational government (DPP) called localization.
The way is has been implemented so far is that if you are the wrong color or speak a different language, you are not welcome on Taiwan by the occupational government.
Until the Ministry of Education on Taiwan is abolished and the ROC ends it's occupation, these kinds of racist and oppressive policies will continue to be prevalent on Taiwan.
Naruwan!
A.

[four-eye]

try HESS.