Job Discussion Forums

[musicalchef]

I'm a white American, but I am Muslim and wear a headscarf. (I wear normal "Western" clothes with my scarf, not "Eastern" clothes, and I use subtle makeup)

Do you think I will have a harder time getting a teaching job?

[spiral78]

Sorry - I won't say that it's in any justified, but I think the answer is 'yes.'

Harder than if you were not a visible Muslim. Impossible...probably not. But I do think you'll face some open discrimination, if you are wearing a headscarf.

Again, I don't agree with such discrimination, but I think it's vitally important to know what the reality may be, so that you can deal with it from an informed stance when and if you do encounter it.

[musicalchef]

Yeah, that's about what I was expecting. To make matters worse, some schools ask for a photo, and I'm thinking Oh CRAP, I wonder if they'll even look at my CV?

So, hopefully, I can still find a job!

[spiral78]

The photo is standard - they basically just want to see if you look professional and reliable.

But the schools WILL be thinking what their students will think of the candidate based on his/her appearance. In your case, they'll be considering whether their student/clients will be happy with a Muslim teacher.

[musicalchef]

Well, several of the schools I applied to, including two to whom I had to send a photo, replied to me and asked for more information. So I guess that is a good sign!

[spiral78]

Yes, I think it is a positive sign.

If I were you, I'd stipulate that that I personally don't consider religion an important topic for classroom communication....that I'd answer questions if asked, but that in a teaching and learning situation, religion would not be a priority for me.

Obviously, the above may not be true for you! But, I think it's a positive to be open about this, as you may be perceived as visibly Muslim. I'll try to explain clearly what I mean...

Czechs are generally not at all religious, and they tend to be rather wary of people who are openly so. There is a fairly large population of Jehovah's Witnesses in the CR, and the essential purpose of any communication they have with Czechs is to promote their religion. I am well aware of the vast difference in being Muslim and being JW, but the Czech experience of openly religious people may presuppose an emphasis on promotion of the religion - and they are a bit allergic to that.

I worked for two years with a family who were Evangelist Christians, through the process of considering the CR, actually moving there, and how things went for them both professionally and in terms of accomplishing some of their underlying goals (spreading their religion). They were uncomfortable and unsuccessful, overall - and have left the country.

I am NOT implying that your intentions are at all parallel ---- the point is simply that Czechs tend to shy away from any public discussion of religion, and your professional ambitions may well be best served by your openly stating to what extent you expect religion to play a part in your classrooms.

I hope you see what I mean! Absolutely zero disrespect or prejudging your stance on religion is meant by this post.

[musicalchef]

I understand what you mean. Thanks for the advice; any tips are definitely welcome!

[smithryansmith]

Just FYI. We had a Sihk at our school several years ago. he worn the full headscarf and full beard. never had any problems to speak of and runs a small business here now. Ive also known a number of white czechs who converted to Islam and wore clothing that displayed it. they lived in small czech towns in south bohemia, never had any major problems either.

czechs are generally atheists and look on all faiths as a waste of time. Unless you are trying to convert people they dont tend to care. youd probably face less discrimination than you might think.

I agree with spiral there. the zeal of religeous people who try to convert them is what turns many czechs off against religeous people in general.

Ive employed and worked with teachers of darker skin tones (indian and mexican origins) who had no problems.

just my opinion

[ITTP]

[smithryansmith]

40 years of communist rule turned Czechs off to religious people? The same way it turned them off in Poland? Oh wait...


Dear lord, a spelling mistake on an informal internet forum:-)

[spiral78]

(religIous - soz, once a teacher always a teacher)

Actually, Neville, correction of every error is NOT considered best practice among well trained and experienced language teachers.

Long (1977:288) states "Having noticed an error, the first, ....crucial decision the teacher makes is whether or not to treat it at all."

Hendrickson (1980) advised teachers to try to discern the difference between global and local errors, pointing out that local errors usually need not be corrected since the meaning is clear and correction may be seen as simply punitive, devaluing the communication and, in the process, the learner. (in Brown, 1994).

In the case of typographical or other localised errors in posts on this forum, where the majority of posters are not language learners, professional courtesy would seem to indicate that overlooking them would be the best policy.

[ITTP]