Job Discussion Forums

[linda868]

1. Is it going to be extremely difficult to find a teaching position as an Asian Canadian (Chinese-Vietnamnese background)? I am working in Korea right now and I found that I had a bit of trouble finding a position (I only received a few job offers back in Feb when I was looking). Is it going to worse in China or the same?
2. If I do find a position will being Asian affect the quality of my job, the pay and the location?
3. Does it matter if I have TEFL or TESOL certification?
4. My husband (white Canadian) does not have a degree and we heard that it is easier for him to find work in China. Is this true that he can work without risks in China?
5. What is the average salary for an ESL teacher?

Thanks in advance for any replies I get.

[happigur1]

[shoo-fly-pie]

OK, for what it's worth, here's what I observed after five years in China, and one year in Korea.

Chinese students/parents/employers DO NOT accept foreign teachers with Asian faces/features. I think this is ridiculous, and self-discriminatory, and I spent lots of time talking to my students about this mentality (I am caucasian American).

In Korea, around 40% or my foreign teacher colleagues were Gyopo (Korean descent, living abroad). That was encouraging to me, but I did not have any colleagues who were from other Asian nations (one of Vietnamese descent, but grew up in Australia and spoke very native English) -- and she was very unhappy in Korea.

I much preferred China to Korea, but I think for both you and your husband, prospects are still better in Korea. You will find it basically impossible to obtain work in China. So sorry to tell you that, as China has many wonderful things to offer.

With the terrible unemployment/economic condition in our home countries, the situation is driving more and more Canadians and Americans overseas for work. Therefore competition is higer, requirements are tougher, and job openings are fewer.

Best wishes to both of you!

[happigur1]

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[shoo-fly-pie]

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[shoo-fly-pie]

Yeah, linda868, and as you will also observe, The Ever-Changing Cleric likes to spend his time debating the opinions of others by offering generic, vague and useless rebuttals. He now wrings his hands and claims the info I demanded from him is "six years on," but then he claims that he knows an Asian teacher who is still there today, "six years later." As usual, he seems to want things two ways. Perhaps, if she is still indeed at the school six years later, oit's because she can't get another and better job due to her Asian face.

By all means, listen to The Ever-Changing Cleric, and come to China!

All I am trying to do is keep you from wasting your time, facing lots of discrimination from employers and recruiters. I remind you that I worked in both China and Korea; and as you already pointed out, you had a very difficult time obtaining work there. All I'm saying is that from my own observations, after five years in China, you will face a much harder -- if not impossble time -- securing decent work for you and your husband in China.

Why do you think employers and recruiters ask for the main page of your passport? To look at your photo.

Why do you (your husband) often get silence from China recruiters and employers? because they are looking for a B.A. degree and when they don't find it, they don't respond.

I'm not just a "naysayer" as the very annoyng "cleric" would like to label me and others, I speak from experience.

PLEASE let us know which one was correct and ultimately more helpful, me or The Ever-Empty-Debating Cleric?

[alter ego]

Yes OP, there are also many variables involved when considering a move to China. It's a big country and education is booming, yet while many schools are thriving others are dying; many teachers (both white and Asian native English speakers) are making good money, enjoying nice lifestyles, others are falling on hard times.

Also, your teaching styles and abilities will probably play a role in your success (and how you measure it) as teachers in China. If you and your husband are skilled teachers, i.e., you know the basics of communicative language approaches and know how to plan and teach lessons, etc., you should both be able to find teaching jobs.

China still dosen't require official transcripts, so teaching here is easily done without an 'official' B.A. or college degree. I once worked at a language school with two young Americans; one was attending a local university, the other was taking some time off. Neither had degrees.

I'm currently teaching at a polytechnic where a young woman from the Philippines is on staff. She's not a native speaker, but a band 9 IELTS and about as close as they come, and she also teaches part-time at a local language mill. China is wide open with possibilities regardless of your skin color or education. That's my opinion, BTW.

Nothing really needs to be proven here. Most of what is written in these forums is personal opinion, based on the preceptions, speculations, and experiences of faceless cyberspace authors who log in to share, vent, and connect with others in the name of Dave Sperling.

[A'Moo]

In my personal experiences, Asian teachers have a really tough time here...The ones who seem to stick it out are from the Phillipines (who can expect a wage in the area of a third of their caucasian counterparts, if lucky)..The Asians from western countries, in general, hate it here...The hygiene is first, but then comes the Chinese here who just belittle them no end for either not speaking Chinese or not speaking it well.....And, there is a credibility issue (why should I listen to you when you/your family left at the first opportunity)....

[Jayray]

[quote="shoo-fly-pie
ECC, instead of nitpicking my statements, why don't you actually back up some of yours? For example, why not actually NAME the two schools where you worked that did hire people with asian features (especially the one where "one of them is still teaching six years later)?
quote]

I can back him up.

HuaiAn Institute of Technology in 2008 is one that I know of.

Don't ask me for details regarding his nationality. He is an ethnic Chinese whose nationality is western.

The school also hired a citizen of a former Soviet bloc country who had pronounced Asian features.

There are few absolutes in China.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

linda, check your PM. first hand info on a place that has been known to hire CBCs and singaporean chinese.

You might also do a search on this forum for anything posted by "TW," a canadian born taiwanese who spent a few years teaching english in China (returned to canada a year or two ago). He managed to find three or four jobs during his stay, and his posts might give you more insight as to what to expect.

[shoo-fly-pie]

[happigur1]