Job Discussion Forums

[sarc1]

I'm a native born English speaker of Asian descent. I taught English in Asia for awhile. Things I learned from that was; people think you aren't a English teacher and just studied it (i had people ask me how long I studied English) and schools preferred to have English teachers that were white. Ex: My school wanted to show that they were prestigioius enough to have a foreign teacher so they brought in an Aussie for a day to take pictures of him around the kids. Also I had a friend apply for a job and part of the application was sending a picture, when they saw that he was Asian he didn't get the job.

With all that said I still was able to find work and tutoring jobs. Although initially the parents were sometimes hesitant but were fine once they got to talk to me.

My question is this: I have not been to South America and considering moving there. What are the perceptions of recruiters/ELL in Peru/Chile? Do they prefer to hire someone that fits their idea of "gringo"?

[naturegirl321]

If you're a native speaker, you will get tons of job offers.

[Justin Trullinger]

It sounds a bit crass, but here the assumption on the street is that all non latinos are native speakers of English. It's as if there are only two languages in the world...

People will ask you where you're "really" from, though. It happens a lot here. Nobody seems to mind, because your native language is obviously English, unless it's Spanish. But the idea is that all North Americans, Brits, Aussies, etc, are blond and blue eyed. I try to tell people that all of those countries also have a lot of: Asians, people of African descent, middle easterners, people of Indian descent, people from the Carribean, latinos, and indigenous peoples, and others I've forgotten. And they are all as "American," (or whatever) as each other.

But nobody really accepts this.

Also, be aware that you're "Chinese." Don't ask me why, but the general word for an Asian looking person here is "chino." I've had this conversation with students, but they insist that China, Korea, Vietnam, and the whole damn continent are basically the same place. And that the people all look the same. You may be asked on the street whether you have a restaurant, or an "everything's a dollar" store, as these are the perceived majority activities of Chinese immigrants. (We're working on exchange programs with various countries in Asia, hoping that cultural education is contagious, but sometimes the level of ignorance is a little shocking.)

I hope I'm not painting too bleak a picture. If you can teach, you'll find good work, and I think you would provide some much needed cultural awareness to a lot of students as well.

But you should know, political correctness hasn't exactly arrived here yet. And as a result of this, as an English speaker of an ethnic minority, you would have some experiences that a caucasian teacher would not.

Regards,

Justin

[rgamarra28]

I've been to Peru a few times now. I met an american who runs his own English language school and when I inquired about the prospects for an American wanting to teach English down there he replied, "We're always looking for English Teacher in General."

Many Peruvians who have traveled to another country and have picked up the basics of a foreign language are considered "Very Qualified" to teach that foreign language when they return to Peru. Don't be surprised to find a Peruvian English Teacher that speaks Broken English, or a French Teacher who speaks Broken French.

I would say that certification doesn't really matter much at all. They just need someone who knows how to speak the language (even if it's on a quasi or semi level of fluency) and they are happy to give them a job in return.

Happy Hunting!

[MELEE]

When I was in Ecuador, I worked with a Hawaiian, everyone called him "el Chino", he was laid back enough not to be at all bothered by it. In Mexico, I work with a Jamaican and a Ugandan. We would definately welcome a non white American. I think it would be good for the students, help break their misconceptions.

[citruscinders]

Hello Sarc1,

I am a Canadian born Chinese female in my late (!) 20's and I've been teaching in Buenos Aires for a year. This was my first year of teaching English and I didn't have too much trouble finding work once the school year started. If the person who is hiring you understands the actual concept of "native speaker" then there's usually no problem. If they are just after the "look" then you probably don't want to be teaching there anyways.

My students were, on the most part, a little confused at first, but once I explained my lineage (which really is neither here or there or relevant to being a native speaker) they accepted me. And besides, English IS my first language and is better than theirs.

I did get asked once if my other language contributes to my odd accent. Considering that I barely know any Cantonese, I'm sure that boss was just looking for an excuse to fire me (we don't get along). I do have a Canadian accent, which is bit different from the American accents they usually hear on TV.

Also, I teach a lot of grammar, which is very uncommon for the people I know who are also teachers of caucasion descent. So maybe the "extra" puts me in my bosses' good books.

Anyway, I don't think you'll have a lot of trouble finding work in South America. Once they know you, they'll segregate you from the various Asian immigrants in their countries that they sometimes discriminate against.

Good luck and feel free to ask me anything.

[Cdaniels]

I would think that after Fujimori, Peruvians would be aware of Asians who speak European languages. Perhaps the former President only further complicates the general perception of Asians? One of my students is from Peru is part Japanese, and her son was living in Japan. I'll try and ask her.

[mahajosh]

I can't speak for the rest of Latin America, but I wouldn't worry here in Peru. Asians, particularly those of Japanese descent, but Chinese as well, are seen as a sort of elite.

And even if you are caucasian, if you're not blond haired and blue eyed, you're not "really" american. It's assumed as a matter of course that I'm Peruvian american or something because I have brown hair and brown eyes. If I say I'm from the US, the question of what part of Latin America my family's from always comes up.
As was said in a previous post, anyone with a decent level of ENglish can do pretty well here

[FreddyM]

I market myself as a native English speaker because, duh! I am one, having grown up in the United States, studied there to the university level, worked there, lived there for 30 years. Yet, I was born in Mexico, and am living and working there right now. And I *look* Mexican too, and not the light-skinned upper-class type either.

The school where I work at considers me a native speaker. They are looking to shore up the English deparment with other native speakers. They're willing to pay me the same salary as any foreign native speakers they might hire, which is somewhat more than the local teachers they have onboard. (This is not the case for my first year's salary however--right now I am paid really low, but they've offered me a substantial raise for next year cuz they really liked how I work.)

However, having gone through the recent experience of shopping myself around to other schools, I do wonder whether stereotypes and discrimination sometimes come into play. My qualifications and experience top most native speakers from other countries, yet the pay rates I've been offered at a couple elite schools I applied to seemed really insulting. International hires I've heard about at other schools seemed to have really great benefits handed to them, despite the fact many of them didn't have any better qualifications than I do.

So, it's a mixed bag, I'd say.