Job Discussion Forums

jentai · Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Taipei

Hi

I've been teaching EFL in Taipei for the last two years, and while the convenience of Asian cities makes for a relatively easy life, I'm set on living in Latin America, preferably Buenos Aires.

I've seen posts by Brits, Kiwis and Aussies on the Lat American forums so it seems that language schools/ private students/ universities are open to hiring native-speakers that don't have a North American accent.

Do any of you know what the attitude towards hiring South Africans is? My accent is very 'mild', but recognizable to anyone who has spent any time with a S. African.

Is it possible that teaching experience, a Bach. degree and TEFL certification will count for more than my accent when it comes to finding a teaching job?

Any insights much appreciated.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Experience is always more important than accent, though some employers might bring it up. I wouldn't worry.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 5:20 pm Post subject:

RyanS · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 356

do south africans sound like brits? I don't think I've heard a south african.

jentai · Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Taipei

Hi

Thanks for responding - that's good news!

RyanS - re your question: hard to answer because that depends on what your first language was, English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa etc etc. For those with English as a first language, imagine a 'proper' English which has been strangely flattened e.g. not 'milk', but 'muhlk' (the Afrikaans influence).

Tried to think of a movie that would serve as an example, but actors' imitations of the South African accent are usually so bad that they end up sounding like a parody. You'll have to visit the place Smile

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

I thought Kevin Kline and Denzel Washington did a pretty good job in 'Cry Freedom' but then I love that movie so am totally blind to it's faults! Razz

PT

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

How about the evil South Africaners in "Lethal Weapon 2"?

If you have a degree, a TEFL certificate, and teaching experience, you'll have no problems finding work.

Cdaniels · Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2005 5:32 pm Post subject:

I was under the impression that the actors (Afrikaaners?) in LW II were actually from South Africa. Boston accents are notariously hard to duplicate, so much so that even actors from Boston can end up sounding fake! Clooney made an excellent choice when he didn't try for a North Shore accent in "A Perfect Storm."
I was under the impression that Buenos Aires is very cosmopolitan. I think so many people speak heavily accented Spanish that they would be unconcerned with English accents.

jessicah632 · Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Texas, USA

How much, really, do employers care about accents? I've got a North American accent -- would that count against me?

To me South African accents sound slightly more stuffy than British accents, but then again I've only heard a few South Africans speak, and two of them were professors so....*shrug*

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Hey jentai, I sent you a PM with some job info

Cdaniels · Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2005 11:39 pm Post subject: Accents

MELEE · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 3:45 pm Post subject:

We've had 9 different nationalities here, but no South Africans yet! If we had applicants with the right qualifications then the nationality doesn't matter. We like to have a broad representation of the English language.

jentai · Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Taipei

Hi

Naturegirl, I got your PM. Thank you!

Yes, the South African accents in Lethal Weapon were particularly painful, as was the one in Mission Impossible II, which I unfortunately saw a rerun of last night.

PT - I can't remember the accents in Cry Freedom. I'll watch it again.

In Asia, especially in Korea and Japan, there is definitely a preference for North American accents. Taiwan has until now been open to all English accents, but the newspapers increasingly carry ads for teachers with a North American accent.

As for the Boston accent, not sure I would recognize it if I heard it.

Some of the NA accents are really beautiful though and I'd love to be able to imitate one of them in my phonics classes... for better or worse, most of my students say 'tom-ah-to' and not 'tom-ay-to'. Dang!

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

Well you can take comfort from the fact that outside of North America that is how nearly all the other English speaking countries say it!

Can't say I'm a huge fan of NA accents myself. If I had to pick one 'English' accent over all the others I think I would go with Irish or Welsh... or maybe something more exotic like some of the island accents out there. For the most part I don't like many of them, whenever I go home now the first few announcements in the airport always make me cringe until I get used to the nasal Aussie accent again.

As for Cry Freedom, do watch it again, awesome movie.

PT

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia