Job Discussion Forums

lamdd · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 2

Hey all

I have a pretty strange situation. I was born in Hong Kong, but mainly raised in the United States. I am thinking about teaching in Shanghai. About my current status, I have dual citizenship, I'm both chinese citizen and American. I should be able to freely enter and exit china without any sort of visa. Should this be a plus for me to teach in china? Or would it be for some reason bad for me to do so. I can only think its easier both for me and the ESL School, is there something I left out? Thanks for all your help!

Trish Flurman · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 92

Welllllll, to be fair, I don't see how you can be Chinese. You must Hong Kong'ese; since you were born in Hong Kong and not China. Of course, everyone know that Chinese citizens cannot hold dual citizenship.

You can only enter the Chinese mainland under one passport and all your employment after entry would have to use the same passport.

You've left out what your ethnicity is. This may have a lot to do with getting a job.

To come to China to work you need a visa, foreign expert certificate, and resident permit after arrival - so working for a language, nothing has changed compared to the rest of us; nothing is easier for you or the school. To be an employee, you still go through the same process.

So, the number one issue is your ethnicity - what you look like.

fitzgud · Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 148 Location: Henan province

So, the number one issue is your ethnicity - what you look like.

Methinks the same as what your is, Trish dear!

lamdd · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 2

thanks guys

To be more clear, I'm ethnically chinese. I held a british passport before hong kong was returned to China. After 97, I was issued a Chinese passport. So personally, I have two passport, one Chinese and the other one is American. Its a little bit weird but it works out fine.

Last year, for example, I studied abroad in Hong Kong. I left america with the US passport and arrived using my HK ID. When I traveled to China with my US friends, they all had to enter with a tourist visa, while I lined up under the chinese citizen line (which was must faster) using my Chinese passport (which is an ID now).

I didn't have any trouble and I could have stayed in china however long I wanted.

1. So I wanted to know whether this is a plus to teaching in China or a negative?

2. In addition to that, on a different topic, I have another question. In addition to english, I can speak fluent cantonese, and on top of that my mandarin is a bit more than conversant. There is no reason to hide that is there? Will there be preference that I can speak mandarin? I heard from some sources that it can be harmful too. What do you guys think?

Thanks guys =) Sorry for not being more clear before, hope this make my question less confusing.

Trish Flurman · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 92

How can you have a Chinese passport and American? Is there a different rule because it was a Hong Kong one that then changed? I'm curious.

Read many other posts in the forum. You will likely have a lot of trouble finding a job teaching English here. Schools want white faces for the most part, regardless of your upbringing and speaking.

Check other thread and see what you think.

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

"Homebred" teachers are gaining popularity - especially if they have deep English language roots from the west!!!!
Some students feel the teacher with the local look may better suite the local situation. So even though you're not really local in the true sense I'm sure you could jump on this bandwagon.
And the money you can make - well any savy opperator will market your looks and skills to that class of fee-payer - who can pay.
By the way this wealthy ""want to (want my kids to) learn English brigade" - has already tried the "white monkey" route - therefore "yellow-monkey" now is becoming a popular option.

By the way some skilled local English teachers - who have gained a rep can out-earn the 4,000/month FT mob - no problems.

And how to get this kind of employment - I've no idea!!!! The recruiting of this type of teacher doesn't take place on the kind of websites we visit.

Trish Flurman · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 92

Of course, if you're an actual teacher, a "Chinese" citizen, speak both major dialects of Chinese, then why not just get an actual Chinese teacher teaching job?

11:59 · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:04 am Post subject:

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Overall, being a foreigner is a better status, then being "CHinese" and looking for a one year stint teaching in China as a Chinese person

Joe C. · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:46 am Post subject:

11:59 · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:30 am Post subject:

johey24 · Joined: 10 May 2007 Posts: 1

lammd

Been in China (Shanghai) for 2 years now, and at my school we have had several ABC's and BBC's teaching, all without any single problem. Well received and respected by all. What you "look like" here in the bigger centres is of no concern. Your ability to speak the local language - a major plus.

On the issue of entering on a Chinese or a foreign passport ... the biggest (and only) negative about entering on your foreign passport, as far I have found, is that you'd have to get visas and all that, renewed every year. Normally that is not a hassle as most good schools take care of all that. Never had an issue myself, nor do I know of anyone in Shanghai who has had in my time here.

As for coming in on the Chinese passport : from what my local lawyer friend tells me, it is illegal to have two passports - so I guess it is. Well, at least it will be be frowned upon.

Thus, the main issues to consider:
1. You enter as a local but you want a foreign post.
2. To get the post you need to supply officialdom with your foreign passport.
3. You can not as there is no entry stamp on your foreign passport.
4. Using a local document means you may not get as good a salary as a foreigner.
5. You risk being exposed as someone with dual nationality.

Just enter on your US passport, I'd say.

Hope this helped.