Job Discussion Forums

[Greenearth]

I am about to take my CELTA. I have a degree and 2 years experience teaching ESL in Korea .

1. I am wondering if any ESL teachers bring there families to China?

2. Any Expats homeschooling their children in China?

3. Does race really matter if you are qualified?


Thanks for your input!

[Zero]

There was recently (this week) a big article in China Daily about home schooling. They said there are lots of people doing it, and the trend is growing.

The thing about ESL in China is that it is so low-paying, supporting a family would not be easy. You might need some other sort of income stream.

Could your spouse work in China? Having two incomes could be a big help.

I know some African Americans working in China. As far as daily life, they don't report much in the way of problems. How race factors into getting ESL jobs, I don't know. I do know that one of them works in ESL, so it certainly can be done.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[sharpe88]

I've found that schools like wall street usually care about ethnicity, and schools like EF don't

I'd give the same advice as to Asian-looking foreigners - be persistent and be thick-skinned

[TexasHighway]

I worked with a couple African-American guys and they appeared to be excellent teachers and very popular among their students. Of course, you will encounter some stereotyping; for example, your students will expect you to be an expert on the NBA. You may encounter more overt racism from some fellow FTs who seem to think their skin color entitles them to a better job and better pay. But with your experience in Korea, I am sure you will be able to overcome any obstacles. Do you have any city in mind? In the larger cities, you should be able to network with other parents of home-schooled children. Check some of the expat websites. Good luck to you and I hope you have a positive, rewarding experience in China!

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

1. I am wondering if any ESL teachers bring there families to China?

Yes, there are some. Not many, but there are some. It is not ideal nor will it be easy for you. But I have seen it.

2. Any Expats homeschooling their children in China?

There are some. Most put their kids in International schools or even local schools if they are young enough to pick up the language. But yes, there are some.

3. Does race really matter if you are qualified?

Here is your first qualified answer: Yes, race matters. I can't tell you how many times I have seen non-white English teachers given their walking papers because the school managed to come across a white teacher---native English speaker or not.

I have seen a Russian-born lady with no university education and a heavy Russian accent given a job over a university-educated black guy from Nova Scotia, Canada.

So does race matter? Absolutely, yes it does. If a Chinese boss has two resumes or C.V.'s in front of him or her and both are equally qualified, and one is white and one is black.... can anyone qualitively say that they will choose the black person over the white person?

[A'Moo]

This question comes up on this forum almost as much as the classic:
"What are the bars and clubs like there?"...
But not quite as much....
There are those that like to portray China as a 21st Century Sesame street, you know, an everyday "Da Shan"disciple talking about the rich heritage, many types of tea, great friends to be made and refusing to beleive the Boxer rebellion or their last trip to the WC ever took place....
Dont beleive THEM...
You CAN get a job here as a black FT....Nobody would dispute that, you see them on an everyday basis...Its just that, you are put in a category with Filipinos/East-Indians, even if English is your mother tongue, and will be comenseurated and treated along the same lines...From my experience, pride is a quality which black people rarely lack, and it would be very difficult for them to accept much lower pay and more substanard living conditions, all the while knowing that as soon as a Czech or Swede becomes available, theyd be out the door....

[alter ego]

I worked at Wall Street for one year and there was a little diversity there, but not much. One of my co-teachers was a young woman of Sri Lankan heritage who was a naturalized citizen of Australia, and another was a young black man from the United States who took the training class with me. By young I mean in their mid-20s.

Based on what they told me they had mostly positive experiences in China, but also encountered various forms of discrimination based on gender and color. I don't think it really matters what color your skin is as long as you've got the energy and resources to set up your life here in a job and environment that makes you and your kids happy.

Hey, has anyone seen Big Bird?

[Hansen]

Black American Woman,

You didn't describe your family as including a husband. Will you have a husband with you? That is a dynamic you should consider. The race issue may very, depending on where you are in China.

If you do have a husband, a black one, and he is the type of black man that likes to be treated with respect and equality, there may be some issues you want to explore with individuals such as a past poster named Travel Zen. Do a search and read carefully his take on race relations in China. He was a sensible and articulate Black man.

[Halapo]

I think it should be noted that racism in China is a little different then in most Western countries.

Simply put, in the West, there is more emphasis on the hatred and intolerance.
In China it is about the perceived inferiority. They can be nice to everybody, they just think they are better. No heat, no hatred.

Not that it is an excuse, or better, just the way it is here.
So yes there is a lot of racial preconceptions ( hell I got hired because I am blond, blue eyes. What is odd is that my boss told me this...).

[China.Pete]

Given the very modest levels of compensation usually offered to FTs in China, OP, I'd say the biggest cause for concern with bringing a family to China would be economic. Your plans to homeschool your children will go part way toward addressing that fact; but healthcare costs involving anything major (although simple doctor's visits will be very cheap) could quickly become unaffordable without insurance. As far as finding a job goes, the relatively low pay will work in your favor, even with the complications of family and the potential for racism. But it is just as easy for low-wage workers to get in over their heads in China as it is at home, with no safety net to boot (for FTs), so you should make adequate provision for financial emergencies or to get your family out in the event a job is not quite what was promised.

[Zero]

Racism works in odd ways in China. Whether it's truly the right word to use for what goes on in China is debatable.

What does it mean when the Chinese will offer a job to a white Canadian while ignoring the resume of a Canadian-born Chinese? In that situation, being of the same race as the hiring manager wins you no favor.

Also, Chinese are the same race as Japanese and Koreans, but I don't think the groups exactly show any race-based solidarity. I think there is more ethnic-based discrimination than true race-based discrimination. It's like, you're either a mainland-born Chinese or you're not. That's the big differentiator.

[alter ego]