Job Discussion Forums

[shoo-fly-pie]

An article worth reading, and one that in today's more competitive employment market is probably more true in 2009.

http://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/29/business/fi-teach29

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Let's stick to discussing and debating the message and not the messenger. In other words, write to the topic and avoid barbs or attacks of a personal nature. If they continue, there will be sanctions.

[shoo-fly-pie]

[happigur1]

To OP: I am Asian American (also with a Chinese-Vietnamese background). PM me if you want a first hand experience of a foreigner with an Asian face working as an ESL instructor in China. I will tell you the ESL China I experienced through my eyes and what my students and parents and employers tell me. Unfortunately, I cannot help you with the issue of your husband.

And yes, I have read through the whole post but I don't memorize who wrote what.

[linda868]

Thanks everyone for the information! I still have a bit of time before the contract ends in Korea to decide where I want to work next.

To Happigur1, I cannot PM until I make 5 posts. Please PM me with your experiences, thanks!

[kzprivate]

[shoo-fly-pie]

[samhouston]

[nickpellatt]

Feel free to disregard my views as you see fit, but I feel that unless there is a pressing reason for wishing to teach in China, there may be better, or easier, options open to you.

There are exceptions for everything of course, but generally, professional development is less evident in China, wages are rarely sky high, and employment practices may discriminate against you. Sure, China may work out well, and perhaps you will find work ... but set against some of the difficulties in China, other countries may offer greater opportunities.

Whilst there are plenty of different races working in China, the few I have met did experience some difficulties.

The last place I worked in China had a volunteer program, which meant UK based volunteers would come and work at the school, take English Corners etc. One group had 3 British born Chinese girls, and I mention this, because not long after they arrived, the college cancelled the program and instead took volunteers from elsewhere. These new volunteers were normally from Poland or other Eastern Europe countries with heavily accented English, but were always white. It might have been unconnected, but reading this thread (and others) has made me think the ethnic origins of the original volunteers may have been an issue (other groups included Pakistani, Bangladeshi volunteers who did experience difficulties)

[sharpe88]

As I have said before, discrimination is not uncommon but it doesn't stop an Asian-Westerner like myself from being gainfully employed. And I am picky who I work for. Just takes a little persistance and thick skin. A so-called disadvantage can easily be framed as an advantage. Think about who the most well-known English teacher in China is: Li Yang.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[shoo-fly-pie]

Yeah, white man, right on!

[A'Moo]