Job Discussion Forums

[LozExpat]

I've been teaching in south east asia for 4 years and with complete my masters this year. I was told I would never get a job with black skin here but actually it took two weeks of looking online and I got a job while still living in the UK.

I read a couple of comments about the middle east that reminded me of the SE Asia issues and wondered how serious it is.

Do you see black people teaching out there?

Do they find it any different than white people in the same job?


I'm British, public school educated with a neutral accent. Never had problems being understood and never had complaints from anyone who's witnessed me teach. (ie parents have seen me in crowd and said "but he's black!!" and then met me and found out my English is without flaw)


Any and all feedback appreciated.

Loz

[veiledsentiments]

I worked with all colors of the skin in Oman. The credentials are the deciding factor, but as everywhere there is a certain amount of racism to be encountered. But, if you can deal with Asia, it shouldn't bother you all that much.

I'm not sure how anyone could answer whether it is different than white people... as few of us have experienced it from both sides to be able to compare.

VS

[LozExpat]

Thanks VS.

I thought it not beyond the bounds of possibility that you might have talked about it with black colleagues and arrived at a conclusion. Clearly the divide is greater than I realized.

[carnac]

My observation, for whatever it's worth, is that the color of the skin is less important than the color of the passport. MA English from UK, US, Australia, Canada, NZ - better jobs and money. Western is Western, no matter the skin color. At least, from what I seem to see everywhere.

[GabeKessel]

Both of my supervisors were black in Oman. The HOD was Sudanese and a woman and the section chief was a Black American. This was at a college.