Job Discussion Forums

[Dove24]

Hi all. I have been reading message after message on the site... found them useful but still need help and hoping someone can guide me. Recently I signed up to teach with an agency but now I am reluctant to proceed b/c they would like me to arrive before they can arrange my living and teaching and my Visa. At first i thought it was not a big deal but now I'm thinking I will be with them for one year and if they are not consistent with this , I may have to fend for myself once I'm there?!
But I�m concern that if I don�t take this I may lose my chance , since I sent info to three other place and have not heard back except from one , but it appears that they are resistant since I don�t have a Teaching certificate, I do have a B.S and have teaching experience here in US. I think it may also be because I don�t look �American�. I came to this conclusion when someone emailed me and asked if I was aware the job was for �native speakers� I figured I did and I do speak it at that level. But I felt uneasy and thought it had to be from my name and my photo I sent.
I would like to find something where this is not a factor, but that I am qualified. I do believe that there has to be something out there for me.
Any comment is greatly appreciated!

[Craig!]

Dove, you see to be well-qualified, with your Bachelors degree and teaching experience, so i believe you can find many other opportunities.... What's your hurry with this agency?

if English is truly your native language ('sorry, it is is a common prerequisite), and you don't have a heavy accent, you should be able to find an assured placement, i.e., not get ''farmed out.''
i suggest you ask for a telephone interview - this should dispell any doubts on their part, and hopefully yours.

[clark.w.griswald]

I am going to assume from your post that you are of Asian appearance hence the comment that the school made.

There is a definite preference in China for caucasian teachers of English. One reason may be that students and parents are generally paying for a native speaker of English and have no way of knowing if the Asian looking teacher is in fact a foreigner or a local being passed off as a foreigner. So they go the safe way of insisting upon 'whitey'. They seem to be overlooking the obvious problem here in that not all 'whitey' are native speakers of English!

Don't let this get you down. There are schools that will employ you regardless of how you look. These are the schools that you should be looking for so don't hide anything.

What the agency is asking you to do is not all that unusual, but if you don't feel comfortable with their request then either tell them so or find another employer. You don't want to pressured into nor rush into a position that you may regret taking.

I would say keep looking for work elsewhere. The suggestion to opt for a phone interview is a good one, but in many cases the FAO's own English ability is not likely to be at the level where he or she could determine whether you are a native speaker or not.

Keep looking, you'll find something.

[HunanForeignGuy]

[NathanRahl]

HFG? Now were signing or name with all cap initials? Someone has a very high opinion of themselves, are you like KFC now or something?

[no_exit]

[HunanForeignGuy]

[Dove24]

Well I know it is not a good idea to rush into a contract for one year knowing only the name of the agency and no other. They are located at Shenzhen. I guess I feel like I need to rush to take this job because out of the others they are the only one that didn�t mind I was Asian-American. I did have a phone interview with them, so perhaps that helped.
I guess I will hold on before I receive more info from them. I know that I�m competent and have teaching experiences, and really would like to teach in china, b/c I am very intrigue by the culture and interested in the language.
Would you recommend that I post my resume on this site or other sites?
There are so many teaching options available out there, it can be very confusing to decipher which is reliable�
Thanks!

[Steppenwolf]

Hello Dove,

HFG said it succinctly; I would warn you gainst accepting a position offered by a Shenzhen outfit. I know no reputable Shenzhen agents and I lived in that bloody mess of a town long enough.

You must bear in mind that an agent will hand you over to the final taker - from Shenzhen (which is right on the border of Hong Kong) to a rural backwater in, say, Henan - 2000 kms away, beware!

You might end up working in Shenzhen - but the final choice should involve you, shouldn't it:? I am not sure you would be ready for life in such a monster city!

There are very few trustworthy go-betweens; I will mention one (often mentioned before in many threads that you can consult): Buckland in Yangshuo, Guangxi.
I could mention many unsavoury recruiters. That's why it is important for you to disclose the name of the agent and, if possible, the place they intend sending you to!

[roadwalker]

[NathanRahl]

Posting here may do you no good. When I had a bad incident my first time here, all the typical naysayers, who know who they are, did absolutely nothing but indeed insult me. Whatever knowledge many of them gained by being here a long time has been replaced by scorn for others who are going through what they went through, a form of self hate redirected outwards perhaps. Or a difficulty being reminded of their own bad experiences and weaknesses. Whatever the case, do your own research, you will be lucky to get any help here, just browse the ads to see the level of petty and vindictive behavior, and you'll see what I mean. Tootles

[Steppenwolf]

[Rooster]

I must type - I think Step is a good guy. He truly does try to help others. He helped me. War Gangi.

But, on the other hand, my intellect is lacking in regards to my mental capacity to comment.

Love & Peace

Lucky

[cj750]

[NathanRahl]

You were warned.