Job Discussion Forums

[writpetition]

It really hurts that after teaching English in China and having given the career some of one's best years of life, one finds oneself against a wall of racist recruiters.

It would appear that recruiters have arrayed themselves like the Great Wall in the esl job market and the first thing they look at in an application is one's passport / area of origin.

I have taught in China for a cumulative of 7 years since 2001 and noe suddenly, my applications are not even considered worthy of a response. It also appears these days that almost all job postings are done by recruiters and they simply trash any application not from one of the BIG 5.

Would really appreciate if anyone here would know of positions open, preferably at a university, to so-called non-native English teachers.

I mean, I can't even call myself a non-native since that is my first language and also have some publishing credits to my name.

I mean, after years as an English teacher in China I find myself incapable of doing anything but...

Someone, please help me with a job at a university...please!

Someone, please help with a job...

[choudoufu]

have you tried contacting universities directly?

[Baozi man]

WP, You know what they say, "If your black, step back." I hear your pain. Fact is that English is not as "hot" as it used to be. You think you're up against racist recruiters? Got news for you. You're up against a racist nation.

Grovelling for a job is a big mistake. Eventually, you will become bitter. You will work for lower pay, be disrespected, get jobs no other [white] FT wants. Have some dignity.

If what you are saying is true, flip China off and move on.

[writpetition]

[writpetition]

[choudoufu]

[Ariadne]

Sorry you are having such a rough time finding work. Here are a few comments and suggestions.

It's not the best time to find a uni job, but you already know that. Spring Festival will be sort of early this year, so universities will be back in session by mid February. Any unexpected vacancies will need to be filled asap.

If you had some good experiences at schools in China... meaning you left the schools on good terms... try contacting them. I have seen numerous examples of schools rehiring teachers who left for a year or three. You're an old hand, you won't require much handholding, which makes things easier for the FAO.

Have you already contacted all the FTs you worked with along the way? Maybe someone knows about a potential opening and can put in a good word for you.

Get busy on the internet. Contact schools directly. Avoid the recruiters since they are obviously not helping you.

Good luck to you.

.

[Opiate]

[Simon in Suzhou]

Well, to be fair, this isn't about the color of your skin as so many are going on about in this thread. It's about holding a passport from a country where English is not the first language.

I'm not saying its fair. You may be a wonderful English teacher. But there are plenty of very good Chinese teachers who can accomplish the job just as well as MOST teachers from places like India or the Philippines. The only reason the teachers from the big 5 are here is for their native accents (well, there may be other reasons, but this is the legitimate one). Of course you may be a better speaker and know more grammar than an American, Brit, or Aussie, but generally the rule suits what the market demands.

I can't get a job teaching English in the Philippines because there are so many qualified teachers there and the government insists that a foreigner cannot get a visa if that job can be filled by a Filipino. Maybe I'm a much better teacher, and maybe that local teacher speaks horrible English. It's not racist, it just a general rule.

With that said, as others have noted, this is NOT the hiring season for universities. There are TONS of non-native english teachers working here in China, and there's no reason you can't continue to work here as well. However, you may have to accept a job at a more remote locale than you would like.

Also, if you've been teaching for 7 years, you should think about elevating your credentials. How about going back to school, and getting an advanced degree so you would have more job options, even teaching back in your home country.

[big_big_bang_theory_fan]

[Baozi man]

The idea that a local English teacher can speak English as well as a well educated Pinay or an Indian or Paki is, to put it roughly, stupid. In fact, few Chinese educated English teachers can speak English as well as a Paki or Pinay.

Chinese English teachers may understand how to pass a Chinese English test. That's not saying much. They still can't understand a reading sample which requires them to analyze a passage in context. Their pronunciation is ho hum. Their inflection is usually wrong as is the rhythm of their speech. Their grammar is marginal.

I know a lot of Chinese English teachers and hundreds of adult English speakers/learners. Precious few are fluent.

One who is fluent can not get a job as a teacher because she graduated from a third tier university, even though her Oral English is better than anyone else in the department to which she applied.

It is not unusual for an Chinese ET with 20 or thirty years experience to be unable to carry on a simple conversation in English.

Give me your Pakis, your Indians, your Pinays.

[Silent Shadow]

[Silent Shadow]

[PandaPandemonium]

[PandaPandemonium]