Job Discussion Forums

jaypereda · Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 23

Hello. My name is Jay. I am currently in Poznan looking for an ESL teaching position. So far I had been offered to work in two language schools. I have accepted to work in this particular one which had warmly welcomed my services. The other school initially had offered me to teach with them but after a follow-up visit to their office, I found myself relegated to be as an American teacher who didn't quite fit the profile base on the looks.
Apparently, I didn't look American according to their management's hiring criteria. I wouldn't fit in with the associated image of an Anglo-Saxon American 'to better meet their client's demands'. I felt appalled before that statement of bigotry or plain ignorance. And I thought that the client's need (they used to be called students) was 'to learn the English language from accredited and qualified teachers'. I sussed out the common practise to hire teachers who pride theirselves of speaking the Queen's English. I am an American who speak the same language with far less regional inflections often found in teachers from the British Commonwealth. This particular franchise from a well known language school didn't even consider my vast experience or qualifications. This time the disqualifying factor was the looks of my Spanish heritage from 4 generations (from the first Spaniard settlers in the great state of Texas). I bet the person who interviewed me didn't think that one out. Some people from this beautiful and noble country ought to learn the straight facts and the reality of the English spoken world. Now it is a good time to learn our language, and with it, the English culture and its great diversity. Maybe this was just an isolated incident but it led me to believe that there shouldn't be any prejudice in hiring native speakers this far in the Old Continent.

newyorker · Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 21 Location: Poland

Grrrmachine · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 265 Location: Warsaw, Poland

Maybe it's just someone reviving the Ali G parody "is it because I is black?"

cezarek · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 149

patrykt · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 51

When my sister went to Japan, she was told she was going to be a good English teacher...because she has blue eyes. Life ain't fair, especially in Poland when it comes to appearance. I've seen some of my not-so-normal looking acquaintences here in Poznan suffer from Polish narrowmindedness. Let it go and move on.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

newyorker · Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 21 Location: Poland

Tumteetum · Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 144

You could change the title to "Without disheartening anyone who wants to leave their home"

There is racism, and for that matter intolerance of all descriptions, everywhere. It's an unfortunate part of life. As another poster said you should put it behind you and move on. However please don't label the whole of Poland, the teaching world or even the "Old Continent" based on this experience. To do so would put you in the same generalising, intolerant bracket as those you write about.

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:39 pm Post subject:

New Yorker I realize you were probably just having fun but there is no doubt from my experience that if the guy was British he probably would have an easier time finding work in Poland.

Of course now it is even tougher for Americans to find work when competing with Brits as a result of the EU.

And I agree that Poles have high standards. But the problem is they see American as easier and therefore British is somehow superior. (Which is funny because I've rarely met a Pole who can pull off the British accent, so I've never understood this preference outside of wanting to live in the UK. )

On top of that just because something is more difficult it doesn't mean it is better. Just look at the Polish case system, although it can make the language interesting is it necessary to have your cases perfect to be completely understood? With the exception of problems with word order and some verbs are cases necessary at all?

No. Sometimes simplicity is logical.

I too had trouble finding work in the beginning and I've had problems with students who somehow felt that I wasn't qualified to teach FCE because I was an American.

But I found that each school is different. I worked at a very British school, so I guess I should have expected that but it was demotivating. Although later on when I started teaching CAE and CPE I think my students appreciated the fact that I could teach them both the American and the British.

Now I work in Asia and as someone else pointed out about Latin
America, here too it is the other way around. There are some schools in Asia that actually make people from the U.K. speak like they're from North America.

It's insanity.

I understand it's hard but sometimes you just have to realize that there are a lot of jerks out there and you just have to move on and hope that someday they will figure out how ignorant they have been.

Outside of that we can only hope that English teachers will respect these differences and stop brain washing their students into believing one accent is better than another, because nothing can be further from the truth.

The most important thing in learning a foreign language is to have a good teacher.

jaypereda · Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 23

You don't get it, do you? Do you think I needed to write an essay to make a point? This is a forum and not the classroom. If you want I could write you a better review than the one you gave me. This would satisfy your pedantic self and your snobbish or plebeian origin. It was inappropiate for you to attack my post. This forum is not made for your private self-indulgence. I made a point about an obvious display of bigotry and I don't have to oblige you with a writing piece. You should be ashamed of calling yourself an American (or New Yorker for that matter); instead of expressing your opinion about the topic, you entertained the wrong issue. For that purpose, you should find yourself an audience that would see no further than their nose. Besides, I didn't have to write in order to get hired. My teaching experience and my years in Columbia as a fellow got me the job. Sorry for sharing with you the true American spirit.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

the bigotry that I noticed in Poland was towards blacks, Gypsies, and Ukrainians. And Jews.
Before World War II, Poland was a different place, but it became a homogeneous place.

I am American and I feel that it is easier to be a British or Irish teacher there (because Poland is in the EU), but there are Poles that think it is good to learn both American and British English, and some prefer American English.
If it was easier for Poles to get visas to go to the US, I think the Polish government would make it easier for Americans to get visas.
Since 9/11, things have changed.