Half asians don't seem to be as recruitable in China..?

Question

Just curious....

I was in China for about 9 months last year, had no problems getting jobs, but the jobs I actually preferred turned me down after they saw my photo...

"You no look like foreigner, you like Chinese!! We wanna blonde hair, blue eyes..."

That's just bizarre!!

Has anyone experienced that?

Having said that, I had none of this funny business in Japan..??

Thoughts?

B.

Does that make a better teacher or something??

Just to confirm : I have a neutral, Australian accent and also qualified...

I would consider that the 'real deal' as you put it...

I just happen to 'look' part asian.

So, I know the how to cook authentic food, but it seems I lack the 'image'...

Really crazy. As mentioned, this never happened in Japan.

Answer 1

I had the opposite problem as you. EVERY school (ie: private for profit language institute) wanted to hire me because I have blond hair and blue eyes. My Chinese girlfriend who went on an interview to teach English got the job mainly because I went with her, and they saw that as a status symbol that she was with me. They tried to book me as a speaker too, but I refused to go (I was quite a celebrity in the city by this time).

All these places were desperate to get me, but I couldn't work since I was on a student VISA. But I did get on the TV news, and was interviewed after a Q&A for a summer language camp. And every mother in the neighborhood wanted to introduce their child to me so they can have an English conversation. I had to go into hiding most of the time.

It's all about marketing. They want a foreign face dancing in front of them, something new, something different that they rarely get the chance to see except in a US magazine (what Chinese doesn't want to go to the US?). Back then I was hardly in a position to teach, the way I am now. But all they need is someone who can speak it, to converse with. They already have Chinese teachers who can better translate the intricacies of grammar in their own language, they don't need you for that. All they want from you is your accent, pronunciation, and western looks. I could have had a PHD in turning a light switch on and off and still would have gotten the job.

Therein lies the other debate. Is it really necessary for foreign English teachers to have a degree, when they're nothing more than a performing monkey for these children and college students, and hardly doing any "teaching" at all?

I?ve taken a TESOL class at the university, and had a job offer at a college where a friend who I met while studying works. And I know I would make a lot more money than the average white person just based on my looks, but I am more concerned with actual teaching, and I know these people just want me because of my appearance. I?m not ready to go back yet

Answer 2

I am an American, but my children are half Korean/half Caucasian. I live in China. I would suspect that the jobs seeking foreigners were looking for people looking the part, otherwise they would be seeking Chinese. I'm a little surprised, since in my 3 years in China, I haven't heard of this problem. If for a teacher, I am amazed it happened. I guess the school or agency was looking for teachers looking the part of a "Westerner". I taught in Korea, and did not see this happening there. My brief work in Japan, on the other hand, showed me a lot of discrimination on the part of the Japanese - one of the other teachers (Japanese) and I had obtained our Ph.D. degrees from the same US university; he was called "Doctor" and I was called "Mister" by students, faculty, and administration.

Answer 3

They are looking for 'western' English teachers. By 'western', they mean of European ethnicity. A lot of people can speak English(like Indians), but they will pay premium to have the 'real deal' so to speak. They want real English speaking(north american, uk accent) speakers who are European. It's not just about teaching English. For example, If I owned a Japanese restraunt, I would not want French chefs to work there. It just isn't as authentic.

Answer 4

you will be v. popular in HK
in HK mix ppl are most popular...believe me

and good luck

Answer 5

yes