Job Discussion Forums

[jkim]

Grrr.. I'm an Asian-Canadian in Japan now, have lived here before, have heaps of decent, legit ESL teaching experience and yet this is the sort of reply I still get... (note: I now automatically send my photo along with resumes to avoid any unwanted surprises)...

Dear Ms. Kim,
Thank you very much for your e-mail and resume.
We are sorry that we require only native English teacher.
Sincerely,
Kokusai Scholl

This is absolutely infuriating. And the irony?

THEY SPELLED THE NAME OF THEIR OWN SCHOOL WRONG!!!

[JimDunlop2]

I've heard of this... But I've also heard of extreme xenophobia in certain areas where tehy have "no whites allowed" signs on bars and restaurants. I guess I won't know till I get there...

It's really a mixed bag I think. I have a friend that just got back having taught a year in Tokyo. He was born in Argentina and raised for the most part in Canada, so his skin is slightly (but somewhat noticeably) darker than that of a caucasian, and his accent is very, very light. When I asked him about it, he never had any problems whatsoever....

It almost seems like it's the luck of the draw as to who gets discriminated against, and why, and where and when.... At least I can't seem to see any patterns.

[TokyoLiz]

Jkim,

I would send it back to them with the typo highlighted

If school management is that prejudiced, you don't want to work for them anyway. They are chooches.

[David]

As was earlier stated, schools like that are not places you'd want to teach at to begin with. I suspect the students also, are not people you'd like to teach either.

I also ran into similar roadblocks and narrow thinking during my early years there. I can understand your feelings being a 4th generation Asian-American. "Get angry and don't let the *beep* get you down", was my attitude while in Japan.

However, I managed to carve out a career spending some 10 years teaching EFL at companies, at private schools, high schools, community centers and universities in Tokyo. Schools worth something will be concerned with your teaching ability, not your ethnicity. It helps to have management that will stand up for the teacher in cases when 1-2 students complain about the color of their instructor.

During my time in Japan, I got to know a number of successful Americans and Canadian teachers of Asian descent. Two, in particular, were lucky enough to move from teaching into corporate positions with major Japanese companies from the contacts made from teaching.

I would suggest giving the local school board in your area a call. Many part-time AET (as they were called during my time) positions often go unfilled and are not advertised. The pay can be quite good for 9-12 hours a week. Company classes can also be a good place to work. At my first teaching job in Tokyo, an outfit that dispatched instructors to companies throughout the Tokyo region, there were some 6-8 Asian-Americans there.

Sorry for my ramblings.

Good luck and gambatte!!

[anon]

Hello there
Sorry to hear of your bad experience. I too am an Asian Canadian
but I haven't had similar encounters...up to date. I live in Tokyo though...having the most foreigners here...if that makes a difference.
Anyways something you can try out.

Don't put your picture on the CV unless they ask.
2nd, if your English is native level just say you're native. They won't know the difference.

As I'm not aware if were born in Canada or if you were an immigrant, as long as your English is Native level just say you're native.

good luck and tell me how you're doing

[email protected]

[nakanoalien2]

Haven't seen your resume, but I would suggest that you write that your are a native speaker, with native in bold. Do not put fluent. You could very well be fluent and not be a native speaker. Keep in mind as well that some schools do not require native speakers as a policy while others do. Therefore, you could have a resume that says you are fluent and have experience, and still not be a native speaker. Duly noted that this is a PITA.

Bob