Job Discussion Forums

[goodbyeus]

This is a serious post and im not looking for the feel good/encouraging answer, but im also looking for factual information or opinions based on actual experience.

Ive decided that I am very interested in teaching in China and I have a 4 year degree and will have a CELTA by June, however, I am African American. From reading around this forum I have learned that non whites are not looked as favorably upon as their white counterparts even with equivalent qualifications by people who do the hiring in China. As someone who is thinking about but has never taught in a foreign country (especially China) I have obvious concerns about whether my desires are even a possibility. If they are, are there certain provinces/cities areas where they dont look down upon people just because of the way they look, or areas where I may have a better chance of being hired? I really want this but I understand some things never change and I like to be somewhat informed before I go and make decisions, especially when it is such a big decision.

MOD EDIT

[LanGuTou]

Your desires are a possibility but it is very true to say that many employers here put skin color before actual ability or training. Maybe you should look at smaller provincial cities where the supply and demand factor is not such a big issue. Often they just want to fill posts. That is not meant as demeaning or an insult on your ability. Just the plain, straightforward fact that you have this natural disadvantage.

But yes, you can find teaching jobs in China!

[goodbyeus]

So your saying I might have an easier time finding a job in a smaller town than a big city like Shangai? Not saying your wrong, it just seems backwards, I would think bigger city, more diversity (saw a post that there were alot more foreigners in Shanghai), more likely to be openminded. But I guess its opposite in China? Of course im comparing this to the only thing I know and that is rural vs urban America.

Do you know by any chance if other asian countries like SEA or Japan are less discriminatory?

[TexasHighway]

I worked with several African-Americans in Shanghai and they were excellent teachers and well-liked by their students. I say choose where you want to teach and if you are turned down by one school, try another. I know you are just trying to be realistic but you will never get a job anywhere if you get discouraged and adopt a defeatest attitude. Of course, the students will probably expect you to be an expert on the NBA but I am sure you get that everywhere!

[LanGuTou]

So there's your answer from Texas Highway.

If Shanghai is where you want to work, start the search there. Smaller cities might be considered as back up options should you have no luck.

One thing that has changed perceptions is the number of foreign movies now watched by the younger generation of Chinese. That has helped them to accept multicultural societies a bit more readily. Older generation Chinese might find it harder to accept.

[Ariadne]

As you have no doubt learned from reading the forums, there are African American teachers in places all around China. Not huge numbers of them, but they are out there. I think you would have better luck looking for positions at universities instead of language schools.

Some schools want only young women, some want retired couples, some want men. One school might say OK to an overweight man and no way to an overweight woman. Schools in China can and do discriminate for many reasons, skin color is only one of them.

It is my opinion that many FTs get their jobs because of timing... the resume hit the desk of the FAO at the moment when they really needed to get busy hiring for the next term or to fill an empty spot. The tricky part is that it's hard to pin down the 'right moment' factor. It's different for every school and FAO and it changes. An application might be totally ignored one day and pounced upon another day.

Get your resume out there to the schools that interest you. Write a short cover letter as the email and personalize it to the school you are applying to. Keep trying. It can take a long time... or only a few days... to find the right job.

Good luck to you.

.

[goodbyeus]

Thanks alot for the advice, I really appreciate this forum and everyone on it willing to offer up advice.

Texas:
I didnt mean for my post to come off as defeatist I was just looking for some honest opinions. To be honest with you, even if you had all said it was impossible, I still would have thrown some resumes out there just to see what happened. You are right though, I will probably need to brush up on my basketball knowledge, especially since I am 6'2 :p (Is there height discrimination in china? that was a joke...)

Either way, I suppose there is always a chance regardless of popular opinion otherwise alot of things throughout history would have never gotten done.

Thanks again all and stay safe.

[JZer]

[thelmaharper.1921]

[daCabbie]

[Little Tiger]

I think your more likely to find discrimination in smaller cities and with companies that are still small or focusing heavily on marketing, the fetish for marketing here is White, Male, Classically Handsome. That being said I have lots of black friends in big and small cities, most seem to work for well established private schools - for example EF in Shanghai, I have a black friend there who loves it. I would start my search on some of these bigger schools (usually western-owned) - they may not be the best but generally don't discriminate and they will be an easy place to get a couple of years experience.

My last foreign manager is an African American and he spent 2 years in Korea, loved it and never mentioned anything about racism there. Don't always believe things that people post here as fact, especially if they are "a friend of mine said..." or "I knew a guy who knew a guy who.."

[TexasHighway]

goodbyeus wrote:

[MisterButtkins]

At my current school there are 3 African American teachers. I think some schools prefer whites and some do not care. If you have a Celta and 4 year degree I don't think you should have a problem finding jobs. If you apply to X jobs and a handsome white man applies to the same X jobs, he might get a few more offers than you, but you probably wouldn't want to work for those schools anyways, as they are just looking for a handsome white man to pimp out to the parents of rich kids.

[Non Sequitur]

My advice is get applying now to public unis and colleges in 2nd level provincial centres. You should have at LEAST 30 applications out by the end of this coming week.
Go!!!!!

[Gamecock]

You mentioned that you have a degree and CELTA. Do you have 2 years experience in teaching? If not, this will limit your opportunities more than your skin color.