Job Discussion Forums

bootbyrd · Joined: 19 Apr 2004 Posts: 10

I am interested in going to Asia to teach English. My prefences are Japan, Tawian, and if I get a degree South Korea. Currently I don't have a degree, but I am working on getting a two year adult education teaching certificate. I also have volunteered for the last year in an ESl classroom as a teaching assitant. AS well I have taken one of those teach and travel courses, which I can see now is kind of a rip off. Although it did give me a lot of information, and I guess that's not a bad thing.

on to my main question... I have a number of large tattoos. I will say all of them can easily be covered depending on what I wear (regular collered shirts that means no v necks, and long skirts and/or opaque tights, and/or pants). I was wondering what world views of tattoos are and especially women with tattoos. I know (or I have heard) that the Japanese consider other Japanese with tattoos lower class or gang members. But what about westerners that are tattooed?

Also and i know this has been asked a hundred times, but since I am only getting a certificate, and not an actual four year degree will this harm my chances of getting a job. I am hoping the combination of education and experience will be enough to get a good job, but there are so many different opinions I am having a hard time following it all. I suppose technically I could take four years to do the certificate, and take a ton of electives, but I would much rather try to finish it in two.

or alternately if you have taken some courses and working towards a degree what are your chances, and what are your options?

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Aramas · Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 11:34 pm Post subject:

Tattoos are quite widespread in Australia, although traditionally they were generally only seen on the lower rungs of the working classes and sailors.

However, in the past decade or two a lot of middle class people including young women have taken to them, albeit subtly. It's fairly common for educated middle-class women between 18 and 30 to have a small tattoo or two, as is the case with body piercings. They tend to be things like a celtic tribal band around the upper arm or ankle, a ying-yang symbol on the shoulder etc. Then there's the ubiquitous swallow that a lot of girls have above their breast - I always wondered if that was for informational purposes.

Having said that, large colourful tattoos are usually only seen on 'rough' people that have trouble spelling their name (what Americans might call 'white trash'), and such people would be unlikely candidates for an English teaching position. As always there are exceptions, and some people just like tattoos. They're a small minority though.

Shaman · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Posts: 446 Location: Hammertown

khmerhit · Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 12:02 am Post subject:

Nothing personal, what follows.

Tattoos send a message, IMHO. Generally speaking, i dont like the message. Call me small-minded, hypocritical, uptight, square, anything you want, I dont like the message tattoos give out.

A young guy I knew got one--middle class, white boy, early twenties, travelling around for a bit before going home to the real world. He thought he was being cool, got himself a tat, dabbled in smack, bought himself a gun, went to prison for a day or two. Your typical antinomian behaviour before starting up the career ladder. He conformed to type, in other words, and followed the present trainspotting trends. Snore.

Well, he took his lovely tat and his "manageable" smack habit home with him, and died of an overdose.

Thats one reason why I dont like tats.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Khmerit,
Was that a poem?

If your tattoos are large and visible, I'd say you'll have a difficult time in most of Asia. People won't understand even if you explain why you have them and they will treat you differently. So why did you get them? Laughing

If they were small and unobtrusive, it would not pose much of a problem.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

If your tatoos are "visable" you need some spelling therapy - or at least a course in using the spell-checker !

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Oh Scot47

Hoisted by your own petard?

Your "tatoos" should be "tattoos". Unless, of course, you are using an archaic spell-checker...

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Teacher in Rome

touche ! (There should be an accent on the "e" of touche but I am too stupid to figure out how you do that. Guidance from nerds is welcome.)

Incidentally,isn't it "hoist by his own petard" ? (not "hoisted" )

As for spelling "tattoo" I do not need to because I do not have any !

And as for the post about "Asian Culture" by Laurent does the poster think culture is unitary throughout Asia ? Is Chiang Mai the same as Osaka, and Chungking the same as Kuala Lumpur ?

Tattoos are a definite no-no in Japan - unless you are a bona fide gangster.

Sheep-Goats · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527

If you have an uncoverable tatoo on your neck, you won't get a job in Thailand. And if you can't get a job in Thailand, the Japanese will laugh at you. Also, the four year degree is hugely resepected here (or perhaps it would be better to say that you're less than human without one), a governmental requirement in China and Thailand (and possibly other countries too, but I don't know the laws of others that well) for a work permit.

Now, it's possible to teach without a permit -- but that probably means you'll be teaching in a shit school for shit money.

I should also mention that dress is very conservative for teachers in most of Asia. For instance, I am required to wear a white long sleeve button up shirt, tie, black pants, and closed toe shoes. It's written into the contract. If you can cover all of your body art up with conservative dress, you can get around the tattoo thing. If you can't, then you can't, and finding tolerable work will be very difficult.

The Asian view of tattoos is not really as specific as "oh, she's a gang member" or "she's western so it's okay." A tattoo is seen more along the lines of a visible notice to the world that you refuse to fit in with society as it stands -- and while that's hunky dory in California, in Asia that can be akin to pissing on someone's leg.

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

I have a rather large amount of tattoos and most people have seen them in China! the general consensus is that most asians have an easier time with tattooed foreigners than tattooed locals!

The folks that I have talked to about it seemed to think that it is just a peculiar caracteristic of foreigners...I think this was the only reason I see to be grateful for Hollywood!

I am not sure as far as other Asian countries go, but you will be OK in China!!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

In China and Taiwan, tattoos are mainly for triads and gangs, and each tattoo may symbolize people you killed Shocked

However, you are Western. I've got two tattoos and a number of body piercings. I cover the tattoos and only show the ear piercings and nose. no problems.

Mouse · Joined: 24 Dec 2003 Posts: 208

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Scot47 - I think you're probably right with "hoist" rather than "hoisted". (Touche to you, too!)

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

Tattoos aside, you might find it difficult to get work visas in Japan and South Korea without a university degree. It's a government prerequisite before they'll give out the typical EFL teacher visa for their respective countries.

I'm not sure about Taiwan.

Some schools in Japan might ask you to keep your tattoos under wraps for whenever you're working. But I don't think it'll keep you from finding work.