Job Discussion Forums

gsbcn08080 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 73

I've been looking to some ads requesting teachers in China and when they mention nationalities they will say, Australian, Canadian, British and never Irish. Do they not know English is spoken in Ireland?. Would it be a disadvantage is you have that nationality.. like would they not believe English is spoken there?...
Cheers

baby predator · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 9:37 am Post subject:

The absence of "Irish" in recruitment literature might just be a space saving measure. They don't often specify New Zealanders either, but that doesn't mean they won't employ them.

It may also stem from the belief that Ireland is a part of Britain. I've met Brits who were unaware that Ireland is a republic, so you can imagine that plenty of Chinese are clueless. Scotland is considered a part of England by most Chinese.

I've known plenty of Irish teachers out here. Apply away.

Linda L. · Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Posts: 146

Baby Predator is probably dead on!

In jest, there may be another reason.

Chinese men have this macho thing about drinking beer and alcohol. Maybe the reputation of the Irish has preceeded them and the Chinese men are 1) afraid they will lose the drinking contest to a foreigner; or 2) they are afraid the Irish will consume all of their brew and create a shortage.

khmerhit · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 9:52 am Post subject: begorra

Ireland....where's that?
Hey Linda, did you ever read Breece D'J Pancake? I think he was fr West Virginia. Probably had more than a little irish in him , like yourself! Very Happy

Seth · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 575 Location: in exile

Many white Americans (who aren't strictly WASP or jewish) have a bit of Irish in them.

Being Irish might be an advantage in China, as the Chinese don't have a weird stereotype of the Irish. British are formal and 'gentlemen', Americans are loud and crass, Canadians are peaceful, French are romantic, etc. Your brighter students would be very interested to learn about your country, I'm sure.

khmerhit · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 9:34 pm Post subject: indeed!

Many white Americans have a bit of African in them (around thirty percent, if i recall correctly.) There aint no biological definition of race. Dont tell that to the powers that be in Beijing! Remember those riots several years back? Confused

NumberOneSon · Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Posts: 314

I've had Irish co-workers, so there shouldn't be a problem. The
only time there might be a problem is with a very strong accent
(more likely with Scottish).

A lot of my adult students were interested in going to Ireland to
study (I had 3 in one class of 12), so you might be surprised to
find that Ireland is on the radar here.

gsbcn08080 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 73

Thanks for all the replies. I didn't think it'd be a problem I was just curious when I looked at some of the schools and not even once I saw the Irish nationality mentioned. I just thought maybe in China they don't know that English is spoken there and they might wonder where the country is and would have to convince them that they do speak English there.