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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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 Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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Hi there-
Just my quick two cents worth:
I run a TESOL certificate program in Quito, and some time ago, I was talking to a TESOL participant about being African-American within Ecuador. She had recently arrived, and was worried about discrimination she might face.
I explained that while racist attitudes are common, and too often expressed, there are still a lot of opportunities here- just that, as a black woman, she may encounter more resistance in the beginning, but as she does well and proves herself, the resistance will drop.
"So it's a lot like back home, but people aren't so scared to say what they're thinking." was her response.
Funnily enough, she's in one of Quito's best schools, making a great impression and a lot of friends, when last I knew.
Best,
Justin |
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workingnomad
Joined: 26 Sep 2005
Posts: 106
Location: SE Asia
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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| When people of dark skin, Asian looking etc state they were turned down based on race are they actually sure this was the case. Did the employer actually say 'sorry you are black/Asian' etc? |
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WannaTeach
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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| workingnomad wrote: |
| When people of dark skin, Asian looking etc state they were turned down based on race are they actually sure this was the case. Did the employer actually say 'sorry you are black/Asian' etc? |
I have Caucasian friends in Asia and a few have said that their schools actively practice a "whites only policy". They only want Caucasians "Native" speakers.
It's not that minorities are crying racism arbitrarily, its just that experience and research have indicated that non-Caucasians will have a much more difficult time gaining good employment because of the socialized normative ideology of what a constitute as a good and acceptable native English speakers, what they look like and what their capacity to impart knowledge is.
I've been researching this for months...and in all honesty, it's not looking good for me. |
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Writer
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| My own experience was that I asked the head of the English Department (Caucasian) at the Thai school why the salary was so much lower for me. He replied that was all that the owner (Thai) was willing to pay me. Keep in mind that I had turned in the required photo with my application. I politely declined the job. His last comment was that although the salary offered was lower than to other teachers, it was still much higher than they offered the Filipinos. |
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MO39
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Posts: 1970
Location: El ombligo de la Rep�blica Mexicana
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Writer wrote: |
| My own experience was that I asked the head of the English Department (Caucasian) at the Thai school why the salary was so much lower for me. He replied that was all that the owner (Thai) was willing to pay me.... I politely declined the job. His last comment was that although the salary offered was lower than to other teachers, it was still much higher than they offered the Filipinos. |
You could have responded that you are a native speaker and the Filipinos are not, making his argument for offering you a lower salary rather weak.
Though I am Caucasian by today's standards, I am also Jewish, and there was a time not so long ago in the United States when Jews were also discriminated against in education and the job market. When I hear of situations like the ones that Writer and Wanna Teach have to contend with, it makes me realize the problems that members of my parents' generation had to confront. |
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Writer
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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I did make a comment of that sort and his reply was that the owner's position would not change. I believe he sympathized with my situation, but there wasn't anything he could do.
I didn't lose any sleep over it. I should have checked this out before we went to Thailand. I did a ton of research before we went; it just never occured to me that this situation would come up. Guess I'm spoiled from being born and raised in the California, where "minorities" almost equal the number of Caucasians.
I did have a choice; I could have accepted the offer. However, the cost of living in Chaing Mai was so low, I decided to make it a long vacation with my husband instead of working. We had a wonderful vacation! |
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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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Tammi, it's no use being upset about photo requests from schools, that seems to be standard practice overseas.
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Overseas is a big place- there are many places where this isn't the case.
Best,
Justin |
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