Job Discussion Forums

creeper1 · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 5:16 am Post subject:

Its still very important. How can the parents believe you really are Canadian? And not a faker?

Anyone familiar with China can see how the general population are lied to continuesly.

The food may be fake. The money is often fake. It's not pollution it's "fog" etc etc

May be a simple and not very accurate indicator of authenticity but skin colour is important.

upsilon · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 14 Location: earth

astrotrain · Joined: 18 Apr 2013 Posts: 96

Well, I use to think that way but there are certain things you can leverage to increase your employment odds in this country.

That is to teach a subject.

Teaching English to me is beneath my skill set, work and academic experience. It doesn't pay anything close to teaching academic subjects in China. Don't wanna offend any English teachers here but . . .

First, I am Chinese Canadian as well coming out of Toronto. To the O.P. we have these two things in common at least. Don't know your age but maybe similar as well.

If we do have that in common then bring out your work history in the damn job applications. I worked for 3 Canadian banks\financial services companies plus the oldest newspaper in Canada. Moreover, guess what my academic background is?

Economic IGCSE and AP economic teaching positions as well as IG Math, Science, Physics positions are all over this country. You just gotta look for them and heavily leverage your Canadian work history for these positions.

Since you are a science major they are one of those sought after teaching candidates.

Stop looking for the stereotypical English positions and try a different approach.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

max71081 · Joined: 05 Aug 2015 Posts: 125

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I think max gets it, if I read the 'irony' emoticon correctly Wink

Astro, though.... Rolling Eyes

kpjf · Joined: 18 Jan 2012 Posts: 385

happeningthang · Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 117

Essentially what Upsilon is saying is true.

Ethnicity does matter, but for the most part it's only those of Asian heritage that have a big problem.

The problem lies with the parents ~ otherwise known as the customer to schools and training centres. Parents sending their kids to learn English want and pay for fluent native speakers and they will pay more for it. If they see an Asian face in the role of teacher they may assume all they're getting is another Chinese teacher or a Phillippino (of which there are many in the ESL game) or whatever.

If they see white faces and blonde hair they KNOW they've got a foreign teacher, if it's Asian there's doubt and suspicion that they may be being cheated. It's enough to keep some parents away and can cause others to reconsider.

Bottom line ~ it's bad for business.

All of which is ridiculous.

I've long been waiting for the day when the ESL employing nations wake up to the fact that Phillippinos and Indians speak good English, will teach it for a fraction of the cost of whitey and probably do a better job. The amount of ridiculously overqualified Phillippine teachers I have to knock back while waiting for a communications major from Idaho who likes the idea of travelling for a year and enjoys Chinese food... it just shows what the market really values.

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

The thing is, none of us are stupid.

It's factually correct that a white face will earn more for a teaching center than a local teacher or a foreigner of Asian descent. They can charge more and have an 'exclusive' factor.

So, it's wrong but it is there for a reason.

If I were to run my own school and could pay a Chinese Canadian 150 an hour or 200, or a white guy from America the same, with a similar teaching skill, business sense says to take the white guy, whether that is right or wrong.

kona · Joined: 17 Sep 2011 Posts: 188 Location: USA

I would think there'd be less discrimination for uni positions, or is that not the case?

max71081 · Joined: 05 Aug 2015 Posts: 125

thechangling · Joined: 11 Apr 2013 Posts: 276

creeper1 · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 5:10 am Post subject:

To the dude impressed with himself for teaching a subject get over yourself.

We are not all graduates in fine arts etc.

Anyway you are still teaching English. The parents pay for an international education.

If actually learning and understanding the principles of science it would be better done in the native language (Chinese)

You are essentially (just) an English teacher.

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

Agree with above.

Let's be honest. Even at 13-14 most Chinese kids who have been in a regular primary school do not have the English capabilities to be taught subjects, especially those that require free thinking, at their English level.

My friend who taught GCSE Business Studies said the class was essentially just a Business English class because they didn't know what words like 'raw materials' meant, so before he could even continue with the textbook he had to spend a few classes before each chapter running through the words.