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hellohowareyou
Joined: 07 Aug 2004
Posts: 15
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 Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 4:31 pm Post subject: help ... where can a bulgarian with fluent english teach? |
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i have a friend who is bulgarian. her english - even her pronunciation and accent - is better than many native speakers i know. she's newly qualified and is looking for jobs in the orient, but so many of them state the applicant must come from a native speaking country.... it's not fair! in particular korean advertisements seem to be almost entirely open to only native speakers...
is it possible for someone of sufficient standard who is not a native speaker to get jobs in the east... anyone got any tips or know of any places which are receptive to such teachers?
HELP!!! |
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anthyp
Joined: 16 Apr 2004
Posts: 1320
Location: Chicago, IL USA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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Has your "friend" ( ) looked at China yet?
Ah, the PRC isn't the wasteland everybody seems to think it is. There's a ton of opportunities in every different province, from the great cities like Beijing or Shanghai to the small dumps (and I mean that affectionately) like the one I work in. Colleges, universities, private language schools. And best of all - the demand for jobs is so great right now, they'll hire anybody!
Bring on the Nigerians, the Cameroonians (?), the Filipinos. Bring on the French Canadians. Bring on anybody who possibly speaks a little English and who isn't Chinese!
Maybe in Korea, or Japan, they might only be interested in native speakers. But you - er, your friend - should have no problem finding a job in the PRC, especially since (oh all right) he/ she is qualified. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Does "newly qualified" mean she has a bachelor's degree? |
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Bindair Dundat
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 1123
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| Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: help ... where can a bulgarian with fluent english teach |
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| hellohowareyou wrote: |
| i have a friend who is bulgarian. her english - even her pronunciation and accent - is better than many native speakers i know. |
Oh yes, I know your friend well.
| hellohowareyou wrote: |
| it's not fair! |
Right.
Most EFL jobs worth having require a MATESL or MATEFL degree, neither of which exists in Bulgaria (no way is a Bulgarian 5-year degree in English Philology, British Studies, or whatever equal to a MATESL or MATEFL).
For lesser jobs, I think the "native speaker" bit is accepted by many less-monied employers in lieu of a higher degree because the employers in question can't afford MATESL/MATEFL grads. Sometimes they may think that being a "native speaker" confers cachet that they can take to the bank (certainly true in Korea), and sometimes they truly believe that NSs are more qualified than NNSs; to an extent and for some purposes, the latter is true, as NSs are possessed of the "native-speaker intuition" that only the most diligent and talented NNSs ever seem to acquire, and which does come in handy in teaching.
Hiring only NSs frees the employer from the tough task of having to decide, through looking at test scores or through some other means, which applicants are minimally qualified. This is a task that is often beyond the ability of the employer.
Hiring NSs means that the applicants have usually at least been exposed to the methodology which is assumed, and the range of language which is employed, by the textbooks in use; hiring *experienced* NSs means a lot more.
Your (*cough cough*) friend doesn't seem to have any experience, which is a big, big minus.
That said, I also know a Bulgarian whose English is far and away better than that of many NSs of English. and who has pocketed many a Korean won by teaching Engrishee. Her trick was being *there* and ready to work, but she was also an *experienced* teacher of English before she ever tried with the Koreans. She has also taught EFL in an American university, again by being in the right place at the right time.
So tell your friend to get some experience and then GET GOING. Leave the country and go where the money is. Hit the bricks. I hope, for your friend's sake, that you are really your friend in disguise. If your friend is really someone else and lacks the initiative to undertake this sort of inqury in the first person, as it were, well, I'd say we have another sad Bulgarian prikazka brewing.
I have met a fair number of eastern Europeans teaching EFL at universities in the Middle East, in Korea, and in Europe. They generally have lots of experience, and a serious MA-or-better backing them up.
Oh, yes, and lots of ambition, too.
BD |
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The Red Baron
Joined: 06 Aug 2004
Posts: 183
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| Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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| BD, you are starting to sound more like Ludwig everyday. Have you been taking lessons? |
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