Job Discussion Forums

mgafunnell · Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 89

BSK Shanhai has teachers from Estonia, The Netherlands, The Phillipines and Germany. They only require you to speak fluent English.

A'Moo · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:43 pm Post subject:

The unfortunate truth is that, the Filipinos and Pakistanis etc. that you see working here are here for one reason only....
They come cheap.
Thats not to say that there arent exceptions to this rule, but they would be few and far between...
Its not just a "look like a native speaker" situation...
The white man represents power, prestige etal.
Check out any posters that you see at your local mall for affirmation.
I'm 6'3", light brown hair, blue eyed...And I am the only one that fits this description for miles around. Hence, I make 5 to 10 times as much as any of the Indian or Filipino teachers here, of whom there are many...

meenakshidc · Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 2 Location: India

Thanks a lot, folks!
Never expected such an outpouring of helpful advice, especially over the Christmas holidays. Will take time to digest all of it and act on it, but thank you all very much!

Silent Shadow · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:00 am Post subject:

[quote][quote="A'Moo"]The unfortunate truth is that, the Filipinos and Pakistanis etc. that you see working here are here for one reason only....
They come cheap. [quote]

Also the unfortunate truth is that, generally (at least in private language schools), the white tecahers are also here for one reason only (There are of course exceptions). THEIR LOOKS!

At the start of every semester at the training centre down the road from my school, it looks like a scene from the movie "Spartacus". Just outside the school gates all the white teachers are lined up like a line of soldiers facing the front (The non-white teachers have already been chosen on merit). Then the school owner walks up to each white teacher and examines his hair, teeth, eyes, hands, and sometimes feet (meaning he has to take his shoes off). Each teacher has to open their mouth while the school owner peeks inside. Different parts of the white teachers' anatomy are poked and prodded. They are then each measured, and told to perform a song and dance routine. After the inspection is over the school owner points to the one who is chosen and he's promptly thrown to the beasts.

Your looks may increase your earning power at private language schools and training centres, but if you were employed at a college or university like the one where I teach you would need to show that you can teach a bit too. Show ponies wouldn't last very long here.

A'Moo · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:21 pm Post subject:

In all honesty, the Filipino and Pakistani etal teachers in my area wouldnt be regarded as "qualified"...Culturally, lets just say that they are cut from a different cloth than I. They spend their days teaching, apparently, what they consider "modern english"...However, they always are off just a tad. eg"learning the rope" "left for death" "water under that bridge"...You get the idea. Also, they seem fascinated with deriving lesson plans from Source magazine. Just so they know, I dont appreciate having students coming into my classes screaming "booty call". Its just cheap.