|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
etgs
Joined: 13 Jul 2010
Posts: 2
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 2:28 am Post subject: Teaching in China without a native English-speaking passport |
 |
|
Hi everyone,
I'm a recent BSc graduate from a Canadian university and I'm interested in a teaching position in China. I've been in contact with some recruiting agencies but one issue that's always been in my mind is my nationality. Despite the fact that I speak English with perfect pronunciation without any accent, and even though I've studied at American and Canadian schools all my life, I have a Turkish passport, and no citizenship from a "Native" English-speaking country. I'm wondering how much of a hindrance this is for employers in China. I know for example that the South Korean government won't even issue work visas for teachers without a specific nationality (or so I've been told). Is this the case in China as well?
As an aside, does anyone here have any experience with the English First school in Nanjing? One of the recruiters I'm in touch with recommended that school but I'm hesitant due the dubious comments I've heard about that organization.
Any and all comments would be much appreciated. Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Sinobear
Joined: 24 Aug 2004
Posts: 1269
Location: Purgatory
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 4:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
If you're not a passport holder from the 'big 5': Canada, U.S.A, U.K*, Australia or NZ, then you can be flat out refused a FEC/FRP.
There can be exceptions to this outside of the 'big 3': Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
As there is tons of evidence available to support this - if you're prospective employer has enough guangxi (connections), they can get you your legal papers regardless.
There are two interesting points about the above. It's interesting that in GZ, they'll give a person from NZ an FEC/FRP without a hitch, but some people from Ireland were asked for proof of their ability to speak "comprehensible" English. I can't, for the life of me, understand Kiwis, but have no problem with the brogue.
The other thing is that there are teaching jobs (other than EFL) that you can obtain with a different passport if you can provide proof of English competency. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mister Al
Joined: 28 Jun 2004
Posts: 840
Location: In there
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 6:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
| OP, If you have good experience in teaching ESL then I wouldn't worry about your passport. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
etgs
Joined: 13 Jul 2010
Posts: 2
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 6:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hey guys, thanks for replies.
So if I am to understand this correctly, its not necessarily the visa that would get denied, but possibly the foreign expert certificate required for teaching once I am actually in China? That might potentially be worse  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
LeopoldBloom
Joined: 08 Jul 2010
Posts: 57
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 6:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Where I was in China there were more FT's from outside the big five. It might be the situation that in Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou you could encounter some problem. But anywhere else and you'll be golden, no problem. For all practical matters China has to have as large a pool to pick from as possible. FT's have no rights and the salary is low, go figure. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mr. Kalgukshi
Mod Team
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Posts: 6613
Location: Need to know basis only.
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 8:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Several inappropriate postings have been deleted.
ALL members involved in addressing the messenger rather than the message run the very real (more than highly probable) risk of being permanently banned to include ISP. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
joey2001
Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 697
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:38 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching in China without a native English-speaking pass |
|
|
| etgs wrote: |
| Despite the fact that I speak English with perfect pronunciation without any accent, and even though I've studied at American and Canadian schools all my life, I have a Turkish passport, and no citizenship from a "Native" English-speaking country. I'm wondering how much of a hindrance this is for employers in China. I know for example that the South Korean government won't even issue work visas for teachers without a specific nationality (or so I've been told). Is this the case in China as well? |
Yes, China has serious issues with its preference for "native speakers". Many schools are extremely superficial and prejudiced when choosing teachers. They don't care about their actual English skills, and over-emphasize race, nationality, age, appearance etc. It's discrimination, simple as that, nothing new in China. Chinese are taught to think that way, to strictly judge people by fixed and inflexible standards. They can't seem to comprehend that somebody who has been exposed to English for years or even a lifetime but has the "wrong" passport might actually have a better command of the language than some under-educated native speaker.
Not to point fingers here, but just have a good look at this forum, which presumably consists largely of "English teachers". How many users can't even distinguish between "their", "there", "they're", between "its" and "it's", between "hear" and "here", between "your" and "you're", "where" and "wear", "to" and "too" etc.? How often do you see "definately" instead of "definitely", and much worse? Assuming that the majority here are native speakers, I'm sure those mistakes by native speakers are VERY common. Frankly, I see this kind of misspelling EVERY TIME I read something on this forum. Not to mention other, non teaching related forums (whose members are 100% native speaking Americans) I've come across, where spelling/grammar is sometimes so bad that I honestly have a hard time figuring out what is being said. But in this case, it's TEACHERS who should know better.
I, a non-native speaker, can't help but notice these things in other teachers' posts, and wonder how they explain more complex grammar rules in the classroom when they can't even get the simplest most basic spelling of the most commonly used words right. I know, grammar and spelling isn't everything, but it's a fundamental part of every language. How can we expect the Chinese to improve their English when teachers pay so little attention to spelling at least the most common words correctly? Seriously, people should get over their illusions that all it takes is a "native speaker" to be able to teach a language properly. Sadly, SOME (not all) native speaking teachers have absolutely no clue about their own language. Not trying to criticize anyone here, just pointing out my own observations. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HiddenTreasure
Joined: 03 Oct 2010
Posts: 81
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 2:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Technically speaking, most provinces have a rule at the education department/PSB level on who exactly can be granted working credentials based upon their country of origin - though rarely enforced.
How did you get non English speaking passport? Even American passports don't speak - they just have watermarks  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
|
| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 11:43 am Post subject: Re: Teaching in China without a native English-speaking pass |
|
|
| joey2001 wrote: |
| Not to point fingers here, but just have a good look at this forum, which presumably consists largely of "English teachers". How many users can't even distinguish between "their", "there", "they're", between "its" and "it's", between "hear" and "here", between "your" and "you're", "where" and "wear", "to" and "too" etc.? How often do you see "definately" instead of "definitely", and much worse? Assuming that the majority here are native speakers, I'm sure those mistakes by native speakers are VERY common. Frankly, I see this kind of misspelling EVERY TIME I read something on thi | | | |
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
