Job Discussion Forums

rocketboy · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 46 Location: China

I've noticed that most ESL Teachers are male. Can anyone give some reasons why? Rolling Eyes

Jon Taylor · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 238 Location: Tokyo

Because men are strong and like adventure wheras women are weak and like to cook and clean in their native homes.

Le Creature · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 40

I wish I'd been a girly, just like my dear papa.

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

Women have stronger social ties, and so are less likely to live abroad for long periods of time. However, the proportion of female EFL teachers in Europe is higher than in Asia. This is because of sex. Europeans tend to be relatively big, which is the ideal of male beauty. European males are therefore relatively attractive. Asians tend to be relatively small, which is the ideal of female beauty. Asian females are therefore relatively attractive. Hence men are drawn to Asia, females to Europe.

Note: the above consists of sweeping generalisations, but is still largely true. Smile

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

I don't know. From my experience I've found that there's only a few more guys than there are women. The big difference is that men tend to stay longer than women do. Women seem to be more eager to go back home and start their real careers and get involved in a serious relationship.
And to be perfectly honest, the likelihood of women getting involved in a serious relationship in Japan is fairly low.

chirp · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 148

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

rocketboy · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 46 Location: China

It seems that foreign males can pick Asian girls a lot easier than Foreign girls can pick up local Asian males.

MrCAPiTUL · Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Posts: 232 Location: Taipei, Taiwan

Hmmm. It appears as if most women I've met, here in the States, prefer stability over chance and risk. Moving overseas is a risky venture, I'd say.

chirp · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 148

Well, in that case, I can't wait to meet foreign women teaching in Japan... They must really be different! Wink

isanity,

I don't dispute the fact that people would prefer to be in a loving relationship and perhaps I am naive or completely off base, but I highly doubt that women choose where they want to teach based on their opportunity for sex. And let me clarify, I do mean sex, not a relationship as your original post referred to going where the ideal male physical type could be found. In my experience, women are attracted to much more than the physical attributes of men.

BTW, I am completely on board with your theory regarding women having stronger social ties.

As for the stability issue, that may be true as it is certainly difficult and more dangerous for women to be on their own overseas. However, I think that would be true whether we are discussing Germany or Japan. Or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

Our opinions though are based on the women we have known... I hope that wherever life takes Jon Taylor, that he has the opportunity to meet women with more diverse interests than cooking and cleaning (although there is nothing wrong with that - I just felt his sweeping generalization was an opinion better suited to the 1950s).

khmerhit · Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 7:00 pm Post subject:

abufletcher · Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 7:46 pm Post subject:

Fact: The majority of ESL teachers are NOT male. The majority of EFL teachers are!

Reasons vary with the region. There are more male EFL teachers in the Gulf because that's about the only way a guy can support a family in this field. Jobs back in the US tend to be part-time and/or pay few benefits. It's a great "additional income" job for a wife who can rely on her spouse's insurance but that's about it.

In Asia, you definitely have the dynamics fo sex to consider. Most long-time male EFL teachers in Asia seem to have an Asian spouse. And there's just no denying that many young males come to places like Japan, Korea, and China looking for sexual adventure.

I've thought about these things a lot since my daughter is considering going into the overseas EFL field. I ask myself if the life I've lead would be the same kind of experience for her that it was for me. I tend to think not.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Chirp--

Trust me, there are ladies out there who factor in the dating/man situation when deciding where to go...

We western gals (I hope I don't overgeneralize here!) really do get put off by the dating scene in Japan. Before we go and after we arrive in Japan, we hear about the stereotypical relationships, dating scenes, etc. Japanese guys apparently don't like us because we are too intimidating, and western guys... well, if they want to date western gals, they're better off staying home! I managed to last two years in Japan, but I was lucky in that I had opportunities with both Japanese and foreign guys. Without those opportunities, I might have left even sooner!

Regarding safety--for single women, Japan is really safe. It's the safest country that I've taught in.

d

D.O.S. · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:25 am Post subject:

With all due respect,

aren't the two most influential contributors here (paul-h and glen-ski) married to Japanese women?

One seems happy while the other seems to be, ummmmm, "a special guy" with "special issues".

Jazz1975 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 301 Location: Zama, Kanagawa

This gal is looking to come to Japan to teach English, to experience another culture and to do some travelling while she is able to do so financially. PERIOD. NO MORE, NO LESS. Being that I'm Asian and do not attract a lot of Asian men (nor am I attracted to them), the pool of men that are available is certainly NOT a factor for me to choose Japan over other countries. I'm not saying that I would not date if the chance came up though; of course I would. However, it is not a priority for me.