Job Discussion Forums

[Katja84]

Hi everyone!

I've been looking for TESOL jobs in China but practically all ads ask for native speakers. What are the possibilities for non-native speakers to get teaching jobs in China, and who do we turn to? I am looking for a place in a public school, preferably a university or possibly a gaozhong. I have a year's worth of teaching experience from China, but this was a voluntary placement, and I have had basic TEFL training (1/4th of my degree this year, but it doesn't lead to an actual qualification). I will have a university degree from the UK at the time of applying.

Is it worth applying for posts that say 'native speakers only' or should I try to contact schools directly? Do you know of any reliable agencies that accept applicants who aren't native speakers of English?

Any advice is much appreciated!

Katja

[prune]

I've come across Swiss, German, French and Filipino teachers in China. If you're not white it will be harder though. Just go to a school and present yourself - this applies to private schools, but there are plenty of them and plenty of decent jobs with reasonable pay and accommodation.
It's much more likely that a school will turn you down if they see on your application that you're not a native speaker. But if they like the look of you in the flesh you should have no problems at all.

[tw]

What is your nationality and what is your ethnic background? Are you perhaps confusing "native speaker" with "white skin"?

[Babala]

As the other posters said, it depends on your nationality. If you are Asian, it's going to be difficult. My boyfriend is Filipino and it isn't easy for him to find work. I think showing up at some schools or asking your friends if they have any contacts at schools might be a good way.

[HunanForeignGuy]

[Babala]

HFG,
Thanks for the offer but he will be moving to the same city as me after he finishes his current contract. Luckily, there aren't many foreigners around these parts so he should be able to find something without too much trouble.

[Katja84]

Thanks everyone!

I do realize the situation is very different for people from non-Western countries and especially non-white people, and am rather fortunate in this context to be both an EU citizen (from Finland) and white.

I know there are a lot of non-native speakers working in China but am still rather puzzled as to how they got their jobs. I know a lot of them work in private language schools, but I would prefer a one year teaching contract at a university (fortunately I do prefer cities like Lanzhou, Yinchuan or Xining where I presume fewer native speakers apply).

Going to China and looking around on random does not really seem like an option, since I first of all want the employer to pay my flight tickets and second, there's usually at least 16 hours between the cities I'd like to work and usually no more than one university per city, and that would just be a whole lot of travelling in search of a job...

Universities ads, without exception, ask for native speakers. Is it worth applying anyway, or will my application be refused automatically? Is there any agencies that refer you to state schools, and that accept non-native speakers?

[tw]

[HunanForeignGuy]

[jammish]

Um, she is from Finland. People from that part of the world very often speak better English than many native-English-speakers.

[Katja84]

I should probably have asked what the policy on airfare is - I still have a year to go before actually sorting out applications so I hadn't really gotten that far.

I know a lot of jobs do pay airfare and though I would not mind working on a Chinese teacher's salary of 1200 a month it will be difficult to do so if I am not paid for my flights. Do employers simply add the equivalent of the price of your ticket to your salary at some point after you arrive in China (it had simply not occured to me that employers could be cheated if tickets were pre-paid)? I had assumed that airfare would not be included if one simply turned up at a university and asked for a job, whereas it would if one applied from home, but perhaps I was mistaken?

HunanForeignGuy: There's no reason to be rude, I had simply not considered by what means the air fare would be paid.

[eslstudies]

Katja, please excuse the rudeness and condescension of Hunan Foreign Guy, whose contempt for those who don't speak his English variant is well documented.

Along with others, I have worked with non-native English speakers. Some weren't even white, and they held jobs in decent universities, so don't give up.
I think having a UK degree nearly completed will be a big plus for you. The fact that you have been successful in an English speaking tertiary institution indicates your ability in the language. Apply for jobs you are interested in , beginning in the semester before you wish to work, emphasising this point.
However, never agree to work for local wages, such as 1200 a month, as you suggest! You should be paid the same as other FTs where you are working.

Poster "Cheekygal" is of European background, as are vikdk and Dajiang. All have successful Chinese experience, and may be able to help you.

[william wallace]

"Um, she is from Finland. People from that part of the world very often speak better English than many native-English-speakers."

What is that supposed to mean ? It doesn't really make any sense..sorry.

[eslstudies]

[tw]