| Racism? | |
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| Nov 8, 2007 21:52 |   |
 | Hi everyone, This is my first post. I am looking to teach English in China. Why? I think it is a fantastic opportunity to experience China and make money at the same time also I want to be reunited with my GF who is a Chinese national. I read on some other forums that there seems to be a lot of racism when it comes to the recruitment of non-white English teachers in China. Oh I am Chinese-Canadian by the way. This worries me. My qualifications? I just graduated so I don't have a plethora of work experience particularly when it comes to teaching. What I do have is a 4 year BA in business and I plan on getting my TEFL in the near future and I have bunch of determination as I really want to find a way to be with my GF (awwww...yeah I know...call it love). What I am hoping for is to secure long-term employment in China and relocate there possibly permanently. Many of the teaching contracts I see are 6 months to 1 year with some being renewable. I am hoping to use teaching as a way to gain entry into China and if turns out to be a long term profession...GREAT!!! If not, I have at least a year to live there, earn a living and to look for another job after the contract expires. Basically, I am trying to buy time. I know it is possible for people to work in China for many years possible apply for PR and if I marry my GF I think there are ways to extend the visa where as in normal circumstances you can't right? Man everything is so confusing but I don't plan on moving until the end of next year. Any help people on my questions or worries? Thanks. |
| Nov 9, 2007 02:03 | #1 |
| GUEST44208 | Wish you plenty of luck here, buddy. Yes, what you heard is right. You will be surprised that the Chinese employers here discriminate against non-white when looking for candidates to fill English-language related jobs. Maybe it is coincidental - but why do you find that the columnists here are all white !! :) |
| Nov 9, 2007 07:02 | #2 |
| Thanks guest. I am hoping me being Chinese won't be much of a problem. I don't even mind starting at a lower pay scale. In the end it is your ability not race that determines how far you get in any profession. That is why I am working in Canada at the moment and saving up all my money which is like a mini fortune over there. Anybody else have any comments or replies? |
| Nov 9, 2007 08:12 | #3 |
| you have ba in business, right? do you speack chinese? if yes, why don't you looking a foreign invested company there in china to get a better pay than teaching? if you don't speak chinese, i still advise you to try to get job in foreign invested company than teahcing in china. if you fail to land any job in china, make your english salon, advertise your salon in all kind of schools where you will live in china, not worse money than by being hired as teacher, and you don't have to listen to them tell you what you should do, you are own boss, on your own schedule. good luck .an ( an american- chinese) |
| Nov 10, 2007 07:18 | #4 |
| I am replying to Azntonym directly but for other's benefit I will make a few points here. Most places have no problem with hiring foreigners who are genuinely have English as their first (or equal) language. However you will find a few who want foreigners who look foreign because it is all about marketing rather than what you can do. I work with an Asian from the UK and he has no problem getting jobs. Sure you can try and get a job in a company, but you will probably have to get one in a foreign company as Chinese ones all look for cheapnes rather than quality...one day they will learn ! Teaching is easy, aim for a college and maybe look for one that wants a specialist in business English. If you want decent pay, ignore the government colleges (or schools) and aim for private ones within the system..(not language centres) as they pay higehr salaries than govt colleges. Do not do as you say and accept lower pay..this is China where bargaining in the market place is normal. Unfortunately employees haven't learn the skill in handling employers yet. In such places you (as a novice) should be aiming for 6000rmb pm in the south, 5000 rmb in the north and west |
| Nov 12, 2007 13:33 | #5 |
| "Teaching is easy, aim for a college and maybe look for one that wants a specialist in business English." Yeah I am hoping my business education and experience with dealing with CEOs and presidents of companies here will give me an advantage in teaching business english or at least my resume and experience portfolio since I have no prior teaching experience. I going to do more in-depth research on the schools in the areas I am look at and see if they have business english programs. Maybe I can also look for work as an interpreter since I can speak and write Mandarin? How are those opportunities in China? Actually I was thinking if I could do that long term and through successful networking maybe I can make my own business out of it and do freelance work as well as tutor business clients in English? Thanks again Apault! You have been such great help!!!! |
| Nov 12, 2007 21:43 | #6 |
| GUEST44103 | Maybe the CEOs & Presidents can help you get a job in China ?;) Have you tried them ? |
| Nov 13, 2007 17:47 | #7 |
| I hope so :). But I won't say I am really friendly with any of them although I do have a mentor who is pretty high up in a multinational company. She used to be my prof. I just mainly dealt with them through projects and professional associations. Time to step up my networking skills! |
| Nov 16, 2007 09:11 | #8 |
| GUESTSYLVIA | hmm... well i just registered for a TESOL course too, 'cos in the next couple of years i'd like to teach english in Hong Kong. i'm australian with chinese parents and i have a double bachelors in design and international studies. my TESOL agent in sydney told me that if i have the relevant qualifications (which i do) plus being able to speak cantonese, then that's going to count for a lot even though i'm not white. so even though it's very unfortunate that racism towards your own race exists in china/hong kong, i don't think it should deter you that much from looking for proper positions of teaching english. the fact is, you're canadian and you speak english better than blond hair blue eyed russians that they get in to be teacher there. |
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