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visible tattoos, certificate programs and teaching english
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ls650

Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:25 am Post subject:

Wolf wrote:

Tattoos aside, you might find it difficult to get work visas in Japan and South Korea without a university degree. It's a government prerequisite before they'll give out the typical EFL teacher visa for their respective countries.

One of my fellow teachers who has worked in Japan told me that she knew of teachers who did get TEFL work. They applied for some kind of working holiday type visa. The catch is that it's a one-time only 18-month visa. You can not extend it or get a second one.

scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:28 am Post subject:

The comment about only spelling "tattoo" properly if you have one was meant as a joke. Next time I will begin with "THIS IS A JOKE" for those who are a bit slow on the uptake, Last edited by scot47 on Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:33 am; edited 1 time in total

scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:29 am Post subject:

deleted Last edited by scot47 on Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:34 am; edited 2 times in total

scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:29 am Post subject:

deleted to avoid upsetting my long-suffering fellow-teachers

shmooj

Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 1:33 pm Post subject:

Laurent wrote:

Tattoos are a part of Asia's ancestral culture

...what? All of it? Shocked

Mouse

Joined: 24 Dec 2003
Posts: 208

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 1:48 pm Post subject:

Quote:

Next time I will begin with "THIS IS A JOKE" for those who are a bit slow on the uptake

If the joke was actually funny, you wouldn't need to.

scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 1:51 pm Post subject:

Oh my some people are very serious ! Do you ALWAYS take things so seriously ?

Mouse

Joined: 24 Dec 2003
Posts: 208

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 1:53 pm Post subject:

I take jokes very seriously. In fairness, though, what I wrote might have sounded snappy. If it did, my apologies.

bootbyrd

Joined: 19 Apr 2004
Posts: 10

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 1:57 pm Post subject: Re: spelling therapy

scot47 wrote:

If your tatoos are "visable" you need some spelling therapy - or at least a course in using the spell-checker !

yes that was a stupid mistake. I feel silly for making it. But I guess we can't all be perfect as was just pointed out to you.

bootbyrd

Joined: 19 Apr 2004
Posts: 10

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:08 pm Post subject:

Sheep-Goats wrote:

I should also mention that dress is very conservative for teachers in most of Asia. For instance, I am required to wear a white long sleeve button up shirt, tie, black pants, and closed toe shoes. It's written into the contract. If you can cover all of your body art up with conservative dress, you can get around the tattoo thing. If you can't, then you can't, and finding tolerable work will be very difficult.

The Asian view of tattoos is not really as specific as "oh, she's a gang member" or "she's western so it's okay." A tattoo is seen more along the lines of a visible notice to the world that you refuse to fit in with society as it stands -- and while that's hunky dory in California, in Asia that can be akin to pissing on someone's leg.

Thank you for this, I really appreciate it. This is basically what I was saying, I can dress conservatively they will be hidden, and no one will ever know I have them. I am not expecting to go over there with blue and purple hair, tattoos, and whatever else, and expect the whole country to change their attitudes towards it. I just need as much information as possible, and know that if someone does see one of them, or it slips out in conversation that I am not going to get fired, or have serious problems.

bootbyrd

Joined: 19 Apr 2004
Posts: 10

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:17 pm Post subject:

Laurent wrote:

You might want then to cover them with a business shirt, I also suggest that before signing a contract, send a picture of yourself showing few tattoos.

Speaking about dress code, the day we will all teach wearing a business shirt and a slack, Asian people will start to look at us in a deferent way�

So far, too many young soul �teachers� like to work with tee-shirts and shorts�

Thank you for your advice. I can cover them if I dress conservatively which is not a problem for me. They are not agressive designs in my view but they may be seen differently by others. I actually have Lotus flowers, a Peony, and a Chrysanthemum, which are all respected in Asian culture. Not saying that will make it any better or any worse.

bootbyrd

Joined: 19 Apr 2004
Posts: 10

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:26 pm Post subject:

khmerhit wrote:

Nothing personal, what follows.

Tattoos send a message, IMHO. Generally speaking, i dont like the message. Call me small-minded, hypocritical, uptight, square, anything you want, I dont like the message tattoos give out.

A young guy I knew got one--middle class, white boy, early twenties, travelling around for a bit before going home to the real world. He thought he was being cool, got himself a tat, dabbled in smack, bought himself a gun, went to prison for a day or two. Your typical antinomian behaviour before starting up the career ladder. He conformed to type, in other words, and followed the present trainspotting trends. Snore.

Well, he took his lovely tat and his "manageable" smack habit home with him, and died of an overdose.

Thats one reason why I dont like tats.

Wow that is so ridiculous. I don't even know what to say to that. I understand tattoos are not for everyone, but I feel this was really inappropriate. In no way do I think I am cool or impressing people with my art work. I am not a drug user, a junkie, a society low life, etc. My tattoos as cliche as this may sound have very special meaning to me, and were planned out for years before I decided to get them. I am sure some people fit into your story, but not me. I work at a credit union, am a productive member of society, and have no problems with that at all. I am not expecting to go into a completely different culture and change the way they feel. I am sorry that you have such a negative attitude towards people with tattoos, but not all of us are devient members of society.

Thanks for you opinion though even though it didn't really tell me anything.

Eijse

Joined: 17 Dec 2003
Posts: 119
Location: Yemen (Aden)

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:42 pm Post subject:

... Last edited by Eijse on Mon Sep 06, 2004 1:51 pm; edited 1 time in total

bootbyrd

Joined: 19 Apr 2004
Posts: 10

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:42 pm Post subject: Re: no problem

nolefan wrote:

I have a rather large amount of tattoos and most people have seen them in China! the general consensus is that most asians have an easier time with tattooed foreigners than tattooed locals!

The folks that I have talked to about it seemed to think that it is just a peculiar caracteristic of foreigners...I think this was the only reason I see to be grateful for Hollywood!

I am not sure as far as other Asian countries go, but you will be OK in China!!

Thank you! This gives me hope! Smile

bootbyrd

Joined: 19 Apr 2004
Posts: 10

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:46 pm Post subject:

Eijse wrote:

Don't worry about the tat situation too much, bootbyrd. It takes all types.

I have tattoos as well, not that many know about them. I can't imagine why anyone WOULDN'T want any, but I don't really care if they don't.

THANK YOU!!!

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