Job Discussion Forums

carnival · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Posts: 8

I'm a Brit born Indian and am studying towards a Diploma in Teaching Business English. I was hoping to work in Indo but have been disheartened to hear that preference is given to "bules" or "goray"(Hindi-fair).

I've heard that people of non-Euro ancestry are discriminated against in the teaching job market... Sad

is this true?

carnival · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Posts: 8

"bule" and "gora" are not derogatory, forgive me if any one feels offended.

ljb · Joined: 12 Feb 2009 Posts: 41

Hi

Don't be disheartened, I believe it is all dependent on the organisation you work for. I have known and still know many British people of different ethnic origin working here as teachers and academic managers.

Two teachers have just finished working at our EF and both of them experienced no discrimination from customers or staff due to their ethnicity (Pakistan/British)

Go for it. I think if someone doesn't want you to work with them for reasons based on discrimination and customer preference then in my opinion why would you want to share your skills with them?

Good Luck

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

I think the discrimination you describe is less of a problem now than in the past but I won't mislead you by pretending that it doesn't go on. As a rule of thumb, if the person you are dealing with (DoS, school principal) is a westerner then s/he will be more interested in your qualifications and experience than your ethnic background. Legally, it is the colour of your passport that counts and not the colour of your skin.

The odd time I've heard Indonesians voicing this kind of predjudice I remind them that one day their children's children might be in the same situation...

carnival · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Posts: 8

Thanks malu and ljb

It's reassuring to know that it's not as bad as I'm lead to believe.

Ozindo · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 40 Location: Indonesia

Worked in EFL in Indonesia for a good number of years now and I can honestly say I have never noted any discrimination on the grounds of skin colour. It's been my pleasure to work with good educators of Indian, Pakistani, Sierra Leonian and other heritages. In my experience teachers are judged on their qualifications, as well as their attitude to teaching in this diverse and complex country, rather than their appearance. That said, many Indonesians are fascinated by skin colour and will openly discuss the variations in hue. Refreshing really, and I prefer it to the often *beep*-footing way we refer to people with different racial characteristics in some western countries.
Best of luck in your job search - come with an open mind, and you'll get maximum benefit from the experience.

ariellevy · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

The Indonesians are very easy going about race (at least if you are not Chinese).

I am working in Medan now, and there have not been any things said about my color.

There was a Chinese man (Mauritian, who lived in the United Kingdom) who wanted to work here, but the owner of the school (a Chinese man) would not accept him, because he said that he didn't "look the part."

Most of the students at this school are Chinese. I'd say something like 60% Chinese and 40% pribumi. But the reaction of the Chinese here has been very different to the reaction of Chinese on the Mainland.

For the record: I'm about 190cm, 105kg, and black American. Not shoepolish black, but I won't be mistaken for anything but a black American.