Job Discussion Forums

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

The Philippine Ministry of Labor and Employment (PMLE) has suggested that Philippinos able to teach English should be allowed to do so in Taiwan and other countries where there is a demand (Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, etc...) because of the shortage in many of those countries of qualified English teachers.

Although Taiwan has hired many English teachers on a contract basis (and ghost is one of them) from countries like Australia, Britain and Canada, the official said that Taiwan still desperately needs English teachers. The official also suggested that other countries with English teacher shortages should open the way for Philippino teachers to teach there.

In Taiwan, for example, starting salaries for English teachers from the Philippines would be around NT$25,000 (US$750) per month, about half that of monthly salaries offered to other English-speaking natives, he said. Ghost, makes NT$67,000 (US $2000 plus) per month.

There are currently at least 170,000 Philippinos working in Taiwan, mostly in low skill factory jobs - with average salaries for the Philippinos of around NT$15,800 per month ($478 U.S. dollars). Many of those Philippinos are highly educated and possess degrees from Philippine Universities. Ghost has met quite a few Philippine Nationals in Taiwan who possess Masters and Ph.D degrees working in menial jobs. It is a pity not to utilize these people as teachers when needed.

Philippinos could make very good English teachers. They are fluent in English, and although they have an 'accent' and quaint way of speaking English, that should not detract from the learning process for the students who study English under the tutelage of Philippine Nationals. Ghost has also noted that most Philippinos are somewhat charming and personable in their encounters with foreigners, and this would help in their pedagogy, as the students would be stimulated. They (Philippinos/Philippinas) are generally outgoing extravert individuals who work well in groups, ghost also noted.

In Turkey, the situation would be more difficult, ghost thinks, because many Turks would question whether Philippine Nationals are in fact 'Native Speakers'....it would be more difficult for them (Philippine qualified teachers) to break into that market (in Turkey). In Arabia Saudia (the adopted home of Scott47) - it might prove easier for the Philippinos to obtain teaching contracts because they (the Philippine Nationals) are already well established as contract workers in that country and officials are aware of their presence and potential.

When ghost travelled for an extended stay in the Philippines (January-March 1999) it was very impressed by the education system there, and marvelled at the way the vast majority of Philippinos mastered three languages....Tagalog (the national language), English (the language of Education, the Media, the Law) and their own native regional dialect (Ilocano, Cebuano, etc....).

In summation, ghost believes there is no real reason that Philippinos should be held back from teaching EFL, provided that they possess the requisite quals. Some will argue that they (Philippinos/Philippinas) possess a strong accent, but it is no worse than a teacher with a thick Scottish brogue, or Irish or other regional accents (geordie, liverpudlian, south west England) or Aussie/Kiwi/Sprigbok (South Africa) etc....

source: 'The China Post' (October, 2005)

Ghost in Taichung, Taiwan.

Mark Loyd · Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 517

You know how ignorant Turks are of the outside world. They do not even know where the Philippines is let alone whether they speak English and could you imagine the questions about eating dogs and cats. Forget it.

ardabay · Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 19 Location: Istanbul

Turks have a sense of geography better than other nations. Most Turkish people would know where the Philippines is. I feel pity for the poor citizens of one particular country ( and maybe others that I don�t know of ) who can�t even show their own capital on the map. I agree with you on that eating dogs and cats stuff, though. Turkish people have some barriers towards foreign cultures and ways of other people. They might face some strong resistance here in Turkey.

tekirdag · Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 505

I know some teachers from Albania who work here in Tekirdag, legally I might add. They are doing very well and have many private lessons in addition to their day work at private schools. The locals obviously don't have a problem with their non-native speaker status. The key to success in Turkey, I think, is how outgoing and friendly someone is- not their nationality or first language- and whether they have the right teaching credentials to get the work visa. No work visa = headache.

I have also met an English teacher from Nigeria who was doing well in Istanbul, so color isn't a big issue...is it?

Turkey has very good relations with S.Korea and Japan. I wonder if it is the same with the Philipines. ?

(Any Turks on this board:go to South Korea for a visit. They lovvvvvvve you guys over there! Turkish husband had a great time while we lived there.)

Mark Loyd · Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 517

Turks have a good sense of geography??????

Only if it is Turkish geography.

Same goes for history.

saloma · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 211

Phillipinos teahing English in Taiwan?? It wil never happen. Why? Because Asians have this crazy racist hierarchy.

It all depends on two things, the colour of your skin, and what your nationality is. Japanese are on the top of the list, Phillipinos, Thais and Indonesions are at the bottom.

Phillipinos and Indonesions are employed in those sweat inducing jobs that most Taiwanese woldn't be caught dead doing - construction, road building, nanny-ing, and a lot of prostitution. The MRT in Kaoshuing was being constructed almost exclusively by Thais, (before they rioted and got sent home).

Because these people are brought in to be the workhorses of Taiwan, the average Taiwanese person has little respect for them. I think many would not accept a Phillipino or Phillipina in a teacher position.

Also, the work permit and residence visa is available only to teachers who come from a country where the first official language is English, many feel that this law is in the books just to keep Phillipinos out of the ESL system.

But this is Taiwan. I'm Canadian, and I was once turned down, sight unseen, from a 1 on 1 student because I wasn't American.

whynotme · Joined: 07 Nov 2004 Posts: 728 Location: istanbul

ardabay · Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 19 Location: Istanbul

thats a good point whynotme Smile

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I once tried to employ a Nigerian teacher of English. He was qualified and spoke only English. It was his native language. I was told by the Ministry of Education I couldn't employ him because he wasn't a native speaker Confused

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

Maybe it's the people you meet. Most Turks I know and hang around with are exceptionally knowledgable, were as when I worked in England most people couldn't put there own socks on without a reference manual. Let alone know that the capital of Turkey is Antalya.

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

Mark Loyd · Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 517

saloma · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 211

Locals have told me that Bursa is the gay capital of Turkey.

And what's the difference between Alanya and Antalya?

Mark Loyd · Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 517

The joke is that Bursa men are renowned for being gay but in reality Bodrum in RECENT and I stress recent years has become the gay capital of Turkey. Hell, Bulent Ersoy itself lives there. You do not really think it could survive in Bursa do you?

Alanya is a relatively small seaside resort very popular with Germans and increasingly with Russians. Antalya is a huge resort and city. Hasn`t it just replaced Adana as Turkey`s fourth biggest city?