Job Discussion Forums

Writer · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 31

I'm Japanese American. While looking for a job while in Thailand, I found I was offered anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 less than Caucasians with the same qualifications (bachelor's degree, CELTA certificate, some experience). Teachers in the area told me that I was likely to encounter the same situation in all of Asia, that the schools want English teachers who "look" Western. Does anyone know if that's true for all the Asian countries (Japan, China, etc.)?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

In Japan you can expect employers and students to be surprised that perfect English comes out of your Asian mouth, until they realize you are actually American. Get used to it. Your outward appearance will be deceiving, lending you some anonymity on the streets, but sometimes making life embarrassing for you if you don't speak perfect Japanese.

Will employers offer you less? As far as I know, no.

Will it be up to you to prove you can teach as well as any other foreigner? Yes, perhaps more so.

Should you stop using the expression "Japanese-American" when you deal with a Japanese employer? Absolutely! You are American through and through. Don't cloud the issue and confuse the employers.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

There are jobs out there in most Asian countries but it just takes a bit more time to come up with a job. Some of us are old, young, wrong sex, fat etc for many jobs. Join the club.

Chancellor · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject:

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

Sadebugo · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 524

In Korea, it is definitely a problem but can be overcome once you're on site and they realize you're a native speaker. Getting hired would be the difficult part though.

Sadebugo
Djibouti, Horn of Africa
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/

mlscion · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 7 Location: United States

This is quite common in Asia, and I do feel for you, as I have been turned down by quite a few employers because of my dark skin. It's a phenomenon I have never so blatantly encountered, even here in the U.S. (here, they go around the issue or pretend it's not one when it's clear that it is the case with some employers). It's amazing: those employers were empressed by my experience, enjoyed talking to me during the phone interviews and were willing to offer me a position...until I sent the photos. Then they got all rude and what have you! I'm a fairly attrractive woman, so I knew it couldn't be about the looks or me being fugly LOL. I didn't know it was like this until I asked my husband's mother (who is Chinese-American) what the deal was and she explained it to me.

My advice? Show confidence and know within your heart that you have what it takes. It may be required that you show to your employers that you are even more qualified than your white co-workers and friends. It takes time, but you will find the job that is right for you.

Chancellor · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject:

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

That's just ASia. I'm not Asian, European in fact, but I also had trouble because people thought that I looked Singaporean, go figure.

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

Chancellor · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:38 am Post subject:

MO39 · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:51 pm Post subject:

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

Tammi · Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

I am an African-American and also have worries about discrimination. I will be graduating with a MFA in Creative Writing in May, and I would like to spend the next few years teaching abroad. Yet, the requirement of sending a photograph has really upset me. I think I will try to apply for positions in metropolitan areas rather than rural ones. Even in the United States, I have run into internationals who were surprised I could be so "articulate". My biggest worry is employers accepting me as a native English speaker. My best friend is from Hong Kong, and she always refers to Caucasian people as Westerners but me as Black. One day, I asked her why. Her reply was "Oh, I just keep thinking you're from Africa." I am of African heritage and proud, but I am American through & through.

About the hyphen, it is important to ethnic groups who have been denied their right of citizenship to assert both a cultural and national identity. We were denied citizenship on the grounds that you could not be of African heritage and be American. Now we want to assert a claim that we can be both.

Writer · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 31

Tammi, it's no use being upset about photo requests from schools, that seems to be standard practice overseas.

What we consider to be discrimination is just taken as a fact of life in many countries, even developed countries. While teaching in Tobago, my German students were surprised that it's illegal for US employers to ask age or marital status.

I should have searched on Dave's ESL Cafe about this before I went to Thailand, but the thought didn't occur to me that this could be a problem. If anything, being a Japanese-American has worked in my favor here in the US.

Maybe someone could suggest a country where acceptance would be easier for you?