Job Discussion Forums

[Ryks]

I may have this wrong, but when an employer requires someone to be a native English speaker to apply for the job, doesn't that just mean your English has to be at a native level?

I've applied to multiple jobs that state this, but then reply saying that I actually need to be a resident of an English speaking country.

My issue is that I'm a German citizen but i've lived and studied in both Australia and England since the age of 6. In other words I consider English to be my mother language and am able to speak at a native level.

I know it isn't a visa requirement for people teaching English in Japan to have to have an English citizenship. Is there another reason for this?

Thanks!

[ssjup81]

I think it's only just a preference that the person be native of an English speaking country, but it's odd in your situation because you've had the majority of your schooling (I'm assuming) in English speaking countries.

Maybe the employers you're interviewing with are just stubborn or something.

Maybe someone with more experience can give some mroe input.

[fluffyhamster]

I did a search for 'schooling AND 12' (i.e. 12 years) with Glenski as author and limited to the Japan forum. The first relevant result appears to be:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=83940

Scroll down slightly to Seklawaria's reply in that thread.

I guess it is easier (however discriminatory) for employers to hire more obvious native speakers (citizens/holders of passports from English-speaking countries, who are clearly assumed to generally have had the necessary schooling and upbringing in English) than to go to the extra bother (however minimal) of proving to Immigration that a "non-native" (German citizen/passport holder) has those 12 years of schooling. The best you can probably do is bring the regulation to the attention of potential employers and hope you'll find one willing to go the extra mile.

[Ryks]

Thanks for the replies! I completed all my studies including university in Australia and England so in that sense i'm fine.

I'll check out that thread aswell!

But yeh it's annoying being handicapped by such a thing. I could get myself an English citizenship, but it would take a long time and I kind of want to keep my German one

[OneJoelFifty]

I think it also comes down to how the employer thinks it might appear to the students. Although I'm sure your English (and cultural knowledge - sprinklings of English, American or Australian culture with every class is desirable) is on par with a native teacher's, an employer at a language school is selling an image as much as an education.

[Ryks]

Seems an odd image to portray when hiring foreign teacher to teach a foreign language

But yeh not much I can do except keep applying and hope for the best.

Is there anyone else with this issue that has some advice?