Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rojees]

Is it common to find asian-looking teachers teaching in Korea?

I know many schools only go for white people, even the unqualified ones.

Im asking because im a newbie, and im looking teach adults in Seoul.

Yes, i am asian-looking, and would like to hear other people's views or even experiences. A recruiter told me I have no chance of finding a job. Although discouraging, I dont believe its entirely true and makes me even more determined.

ANy comments?

[RACETRAITOR]

It can hurt but it won't totally mess you up. I'm not sure how students would respond to, say, a Vietnamese-Canadian teacher, but they would get used to it given the chance.

There are a large number of Korean-Americans here who do well. It really is an advantage if you're a Korean who can speak the language.

[Gwangju sucker]

i'm a canadian however my mom's from the phillippines. i was never told anything like that. i got numerous job offers. i've been asked once or twice why i'm darker than other canadians and it wasn't asked in a rude way or anything.
a friend of a friend who is black was told that it would be tough to find work however the last i heard she was doing really well in a public school.

[Joseph.Yau]

I'm Canadian born Chinese and I've heard that it makes it a little difficult to find a job, but it doesn't mean it's impossible or anything near that. It just may take longer to find the position you want. I didn't have trouble finding a job (teaching children), that said, I majored in English at the University of Toronto and had a ton of experience with kids.

If you are diligent you'll find the job. Besides, do you really want to be working for a place that won't hire you because you look Asian, despite your qualifications? Once you find a place, the job you'll have will be that much better considering your boss is most likely more open minded than most.

Good luck with it!

[yesnoyesyesno]

that's a sort of crazy question asking if there are "asian-looking" teachers in south korea, south korea is an "asian-looking" country, probably 99.8% of teachers in south korea are "asian-looking," what else would they look like. as for some places prefering "white people" well, south korea has like a 500-600 billion dollar economy, you'll find something to there besides not get hired by english schools who only want white people. the other "asian-looking" people in korea seem to be doing pretty good (those cell phones and HDTV's are fantastique)

[tumbleweed_marijane]

well....i'm an 'asian looking' indian english teacher. but my school recruited me from india, so i didnt have to go through all the trouble of getting a work visa(which i've been told is next to impossible for an indian) and looking for a job.
BUT i've been considering, when my contract finishes, having a go at a bigger piece of the pie. research i've come up with so far have not been very encouraging. in fact, they've done nothing but flare me up.

so...good luck to you. and i hope you prove 'them' all wrong.

[kigolo1881]

Strange, i replied to this topic as #4, but that's gone now. Must be discrimination due to me being a Vietnamese-American English teacher here.

[geedog]

[i_teach_esl]

[Vancouver]

[caniff]

[Empress Jiyong]

I'm Asian, but also ethnically Korean... I think things are different for us again from how they are from for white westerners and from non-Korean Asians.
I've contributed nothing useful to this thread.
Goodbye.

[caniff]

[Empress Jiyong]

[caniff]

Yeah, better.

I have some friends in your situation. Never made any sense to me, but it is what is, I guess. Whities like me do get benefits that gyopos don't.

Is the situation BS? I always thought so.