Job Discussion Forums

[bradwelljackson]

I have heard that there is age discrimination towards ESL teachers in Japan. The over 40 crowd just won't make it there. What about China? If a person is 40-ish, will he find it hard to get a job there?

[jwbhomer]

ILME* it's not a problem. It starts to get difficult when one is 55+.

* In My Limited Experience

[eslstudies]

Universities prefer those who don't chase student skirt. The older age group is more likely to fulfill this preference, although they can't be ruled out.
Language schools and middle/elementary schools prefer younger, energetic [to do those KFC promos] "entertainer" types.
Mature, not yet elderly, women have no trouble finding uni work.

[Anda]

Um, I'm 57 look a hundred and have had no problems. In fact this holiday I'm wanted at too many places. I have a track record and maintain it and go out of my way to be friendly. I don't make trouble where I work and maintain my apartment in good condition. Government jobs seem to have a 60 cut out age but like everything I'd say it could be got around.

[Ahchoo]

You're a pup at 40 in China. All the jobs and skirt you want.

[Laoshi1950]

Yeah - in my experience, age is not a big issue here in China.

I am now 57 years old and it has never been a problem obtaining suitable jobs. I have worked in Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Hubei provinces, and have just received an appointment to a reputable public university in Beijing for the next academic year. I'll turn 58 in January.

Interestingly, at my current college in Wuhan when I first arrived we had a 70+ Chinese-American teacher from Hawaii who had been working here for many years.

[HunanForeignGuy]

Technically yes but in reality now.

I am quite above the 40+ limit and landing a job here has been no problem.

There is an age limit of 60 but it's more fictional than real. If a school wants you, they just apply for an exclusionary order, meaning, they want you so that the FEB should allow your Foreign Expert's Certificate. As for the PSB, they could care less. A savvy FAO knows how to handle that.

In the uni that I am leaving, there are two teachers, not even from one of the scheduled countries, in their early 70's; various other teachers in their late 50's, two teachers in their 30's, etc., etc. All of the older teachers were asked to return; none consented. Only one of the younger teachers was asked to return; the other had spent the entire year teaching Catholic religious poems from 17th Century England to Chinese students in a public uni and no matter how anyone tried to rein him in, he just continued.

In any case, excuse the digression but that is how the age thing is handled.

[tw]

I think most public schools are more concerned with the current health status of the job applicant than the age itself. I think they feel that hiring an older person could mean frequent health problems resulting in escalating hospital bills and missed classes.

And as far as age and sex goes, I have known of at least one man who was in his late 50's having a girlfriend who was younger than his own daughter.

[eslstudies]

[tw]

[latefordinner]

I was about to say "Look, I'm a geezer at 50 and I'm doing OK", but maybe I should edit that to "Look, I'm a pup at 50 and I'm doing OK"

As TW points out, health is a concern. At the school I'm leaving, my health has not been an issue, except for the fact that I like skating on the school pond in winter. (They were afraid that the ice would break and I would drown. In a pond no more than a metre deep) Another teacher much younger than I has had significant and recurring health problems. Go figure

[bradwelljackson]

Thank you all for your replies. It is very helpful and I do appreciate it : )

Just for the record, my question about age discrimination was more geared towards private schools that teach individuals who come of their own accord and decide to pay their own money. I presume there are more of these jobs available. When you talk about university jobs, that sounds like something that requires a specialized degree or some other specialized qualification. I could be wrong, of course.

[tw]

[brsmith15]

tw, Can you please get rid of that horrid avatar? It looks like the guys our US and Candian soldiers died at the hands of the paid Chinese and DPRK goons in the years 1950 - 1952. You're neither funny nor attractive, merely insulting.

[HunanForeignGuy]