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Sunflower_in_your_hand
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:36 am Post subject: looking 4 a job but not considered a native english speaker |
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Hey,
I just got certified as an ESL teacher, and am very excited about going to China to learn Mandarin. Although English is my first language and I went to an Ivy-league college. I am still not considered a native english speaker so it has been difficult.
I was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences? If they can recommend schools which abide less by the country of origin law? or just if anyone has any advice
Thanks. |
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lf_aristotle69
Joined: 06 May 2006
Posts: 546
Location: HangZhou, China
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| Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:42 am Post subject: Re: looking 4 a job but not considered a native english spea |
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| Sunflower_in_your_hand wrote: |
Hey,
I just got certified as an ESL teacher, and am very excited about going to China to learn Mandarin. Although English is my first language and I went to an Ivy-league college. I am still not considered a native english speaker so it has been difficult.
I was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences? If they can recommend schools which abide less by the country of origin law? or just if anyone has any advice
Thanks. |
You should be more frank about your background, that way people could help you more easily.
What is your country of origin? Do you now hold US citizenship? How many years have you lived in the US? Just while doing your Degree study? What degree do you have? What field? Do you have an ESL teaching qualification? Do you have (ESL) teaching experience?
But, you will find that many schools, universities and English training organisations in China do in fact hire non-native speakers. Particularly African and Filippino. It's just that they prefer to try to hire native speakers in the first round. But, around this time of year for the next 6 weeks they will have to start looking more at the non-native speaker pool, as there are more empty positions than available teachers.
Be careful of accepting a position that cannot get you the correct documents. Don't settle for a job working on the incorrect docs!
There is another very significant factor that may be making it more and more difficult for non-native speakers to find ESL jobs in China. I think the government has certain regulations/guidelines for schools on teacher recruiting that stipulate that schools should/must (?) hire native speakers. Actually, I don't know much about this, probably others here are much better qualified to discuss those details. If it's the case then maybe only in the more competitive major cities.
Good luck.
LFA |
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HunanForeignGuy
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 989
Location: Shanghai, PRC
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| Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:14 am Post subject: Re: looking 4 a job but not considered a native english spea |
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| Sunflower_in_your_hand wrote: |
Hey,
I just got certified as an ESL teacher, and am very excited about going to China to learn Mandarin. Although English is my first language and I went to an Ivy-league college. I am still not considered a native english speaker so it has been difficult.
I was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences? If they can recommend schools which abide less by the country of origin law? or just if anyone has any advice
Thanks. |
Dear Sunflower,
All of this depends on a great deal of factors in China. Please remember that there is not even the concept of equal opportunity employment here.
That being said, much more depends upon what kind of a degree that you hold, from which university, your national origin, etc. I am sure that you probably wrote your initial thread in a bit of haste but the grammar therein just gives me a little cause for concern. Once you have entered the employment process here, if you are not a native speaker of English -- and now in some cases even if you are -- your prospective employer may, or most likely will, require a telephone interview to determine your suitabilities.
I have been able to assist Israelis and Germans in finding employment here and have been less lucky in attempting to assist a friend from South Africa who was not a native English speaker. But this is after all China, and if you are willing to relocate to a small town or city in the hinterland, your chances will increase greatly.
As another poster wrote, more details are needed. If you wish, you could always PM me.
All of the best -- it's a great country.
HFG |
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tw
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 3898
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| Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:47 am Post subject: Re: looking 4 a job but not considered a native english spea |
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| lf_aristotle69 wrote: |
| There is another very significant factor that may be making it more and more difficult for non-native speakers to find ESL jobs in China. I think the government has certain regulations/guidelines for schools on teacher recruiting that stipulate that schools should/must (?) hire native speakers. Actually, I don't know much about this, probably others here are much better qualified to discuss those details. If it's the case then maybe only in the more competitive major cities. |
According to www.safea.gov.cn/english/catalog.php?id=guide or to be more specific www.safea.gov.cn/english/content.php?id=12742753
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I'm not a native English speaker. Can I teach English in China?
From: Time:2006/02/17
Native English speakers are preferred but not required as long as you have a good command of the English language and do not have much of a foreign accent. There are many teachers in China who were not born in but educated in English speaking countries with not much of a foreign accent. There are many ESL/EFL teachers in China who did not educate in English speaking countries but have taught very well. |
Some employers and/or agents would tell you that the "law" has changed and that all foreigners applying for teaching positions MUST be born in either USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland. Don't believe a word of it! |
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SuppaTime
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:40 am Post subject: |
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I've run into a number of non-native English speakers teaching at uni.s. I think the bottom line is that they won't consider you the pick of the litter. But if you can stomach that, I think you can get past it from a practical standpoint, and get a job. The demand in the market makes it so. One other silver lining -- once you gain a reputation in a particular city or area as a good teacher, you can become in demand in that area, at least at some schools. I've seen that happen with people in your situation.
Suppa |
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Sunflower_in_your_hand
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:32 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, some of your posts have been very reassuring. But it looks like a lot of you are 'native speakers'. I was hoping to hear the experiences of some 'non native' speakers. But the link to the gov. site was useful and so was the info about the 'non natives' teaching at the uni's.
I am from an African country but you can't tell from my accent, I grew up abroad. |
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tw
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 3898
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| Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:29 am Post subject: |
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| Sunflower_in_your_hand wrote: |
| But it looks like a lot of you are 'native speakers'. I was hoping to hear the experiences of some 'non native' speakers. |
At least you don't look Chinese. 
| Quote: |
| I am from an African country but you can't tell from my accent, I grew up abroad. |
Then you are very much a native speaker. Don't sell yourself short. |
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ColinA
Joined: 31 May 2006
Posts: 262
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:25 am Post subject: |
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| Sunflower_in_your_hand wrote: |
| I am from an African country but you can't tell from my accent, I grew up abroad. |
Much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news Sunflower, appearance is everything to Chinese employers. Why do you think they demand a passport photo? Qualifications, "certification", experience etc hardly rate, compared to one's skin colour. I tried to get an ESL job for an Australian-born Chinese whose first language was English but my employer said with a giggle we dont hire Asians (and I guess Africans), full-stop! My advice is to try a country where appearance is not everything and I hear the pay is better too but you may need a Degree.
_______________________________________________________
"Political correctness" means following party guidelines |
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tw
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 3898
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:40 am Post subject: |
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| ColinA wrote: |
| I tried to get an ESL job for an Australian-born Chinese whose first language was English but my employer said with a giggle we dont hire Asians (and I guess Africans), full-stop! |
Were you working for a language training centre? If yes, then naturally they wouldn't hire Asians because they need the foreign face FT's to attract customers, i.e. students.
Just yesterday I saw a fellow of African origin out shopping with a Chinese young lady. Hardly anyone took a second look at them. |
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ColinA
Joined: 31 May 2006
Posts: 262
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:47 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| . . .naturally they wouldn't hire Asians because they need the foreign face FT's to attract customers, i.e. students. |
Exactly, my point 
| tw wrote: |
| Just yesterday I saw a fellow of African origin out shopping with a Chinese young lady. Hardly anyone took a second look at them. |
Were u in Guangzhou by any chance? There are hundreds of very black Africans there and I dont think any of them are in the business of ESL. |
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