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Please see an update to this article entitled Non-Native Speakers of English Teaching in China Revisited
Non-native speakers of English who want to teach in China will find that their options are limited. A sad but true fact in China is that foreigners are often hired based on their looks with a much lower emphasis placed on actual teaching skill. Many schools will only hire teachers who look like they are from the West (or Australia and New Zealand) because of the advertising value. A school that employs a blue eyed, blonde hair foreigner for example, is going to attract more attention than hiring someone from Africa, Central and South America, or elsewhere in Asia. In addition, schools are wary of hiring non native speakers because they want their students to learn the native accent.
However, there is hope for non-native English speakers teachers who want to teach in China If you have a good degree and can demonstrate that your English is comprable to that of a native speaker’s you do have a fighting chance. Just today, I was talking to a senior in highschool who told me that her English program employs two Philipino teachers. Schools may also hire non-native English speakers from European countries. A school that I worked for some years ago employed a couple from Spain and Germany.
In my observation, non-native English teachers have the best chance of finding jobs at universities and schools in big cities. A school in a small city that is only hiring one foreign teacher will probably not employ a non-native speaker. Big schools in larger cities often employ multiple foreign teachers from various countries as they want their students to be exposed to all different varieties of English.
If you are applying for an English job as a non-native speaker, it is important to be upfront about where you are from. It is equally important to be confident and to remind the school that your English grammar is probably better than that of a native English teacher. You should also emphasize any teaching experience that you have had in your own country and any traveling or contact with foreigners that has allowed you to practice your English.
Another suggestion is to go to China on a tourist Visa and seek jobs by talking to the employers directly. Schools that may be otherwise nervous about hiring a non-native speaker may be more comfortable if they can meet you in person. Make sure that you speak slowly because if prospective employers can’t understand you, they will assume that their students won’t be able to understand either. Again, it is important to let the school know that you are very confident about your English abilities and that your students will benefit from your classes.
While I can understand the “business aspect” of hiring a native English teacher, I do know that many great non-native teachers are passed up every year. I myself have talked with prospective non-native teachers who have near perfect English skills. In my opinion, a school should be more concerned about the teaching ability of a person as opposed to the color of their hair or their eyes. If you are looking for a job and having trouble, don’t give up! There are schools in China that hire non-native speakers so keep trying!
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Good afternoon. My name is Svetlana. I am from Russia, but my English level is quite good, I studied this language at the university and now I am an enterpreter, but I would like to teach English in China. And I really need a vacancy for the next term which begins in summer or autumn. Now I work as the teacher of the russian language in Harbin,so I am searching for the job for the new semester. If you provide some suitable vacancy for me I would be extremely glad.
Thanx for reading my letter-request.
I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards, Svetlana
[Reply]
Hello,Svetlana. This is Emma.Our school is looking for a new foreign teacher these days and I’d like to know more about you. If it is possible, could you please send me your cv as well as your photo so that we can know more about you?
Hope hearing from you soon.
Best wishes!
Yours,
Emma
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Hi,
This is Michael from Ethiopia. Since childhood, I was so interested to learn about different cultures and immerse myself in the tradition of other countries people.
I believe I have a very good command of English language. I am working for Canadian university called University Of Windsor as a director and counselor of the liaison office in Ethiopia. I have met a lot of native English speakers and I didn’t have any difficulty of communicating with them.
I also work in my office with a German woman and we communicate only in English everyday. I can also easily communicate with a person who barely speaks English. I write persuasive and argumentative essays. I am also very experienced to explain my self and other things in simplified English words.
I have a desire of teaching English in China (anywhere in China). And on the process I also want to learn Chinese language. This will be the best opportunity for me to have an exposure for new culture and tradition. Please help me to get one.
My e-mail is michaelarayanme@yahoo.com
michael@windsorwired.org
[Reply]
Dear Sir or Madam ,
Good day please . I must admit it affords me an infinite wave of pleasure to have come across a honest website for once . You see I am a seasoned English teacher from Cameroon but unlike some of my colleagues currently in China I have a North American native accent having worked with friends from Texas for the past four years . Now I’ve always loved to come teach In China due to the better pay package coupled with my eagerness to learn and maybe write some mandarin . I’d also love to use a chopstick . Reason? Well china just fascinates me so to say . Especialy Chinese quisine.
As we all know most website are hosted by Americans who never give us a second thought when we post our resumes . They usually prefer th British , Australians Canadians and South Africans . Hence I was so impressed with your honesty about traveling in person to China and proving my worth . I should be over there by the end of this month and would very much love to pick up a teaching position . I was just hoping you could be of assistance . Could that be possible? Because I know there are still a few hundred vacancies all over China begging to be filled . I would love to have you Tel number so I could call on arrival . Thanks for you industrious web site and keep in touch if interested in my humble proposal . God bless you Sir .
Sincerely ,
Mr Divine Tendoh Sangbong
Pop box 2154 , Bamenda , Cameroon
W Africa
Cell +237 799 369 27
[Reply]
i studied in English From my Childhood. Best English student in my days at college
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Hi, my name is Shirley, I’m from the Philippines. At present, I am working as English teacher to Koreans, Taiwanese and Chinese nationals . I have man to man classes, and group classes of 4 students. During summer and winter vacation, I am in charge of the English camp for Korean children, a project which usually lasts for 4 weeks.
I am interested to work in China. I prefer to work with children, but willing to teach adult also.I can guarantee that I can work well with less supervision. Please contact me.
Thak you.
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Hi, my name is Shirley, I’m from the Philippines. At present, I am working as English teacher to Koreans, Taiwanese and Chinese nationals . I have man to man classes, and group classes of 4 students. During summer and winter vacation, I am in charge of the English camp for Korean children, a project which usually lasts for 4 weeks.
I am interested to work in China. I prefer to work with children, but willing to teach adult also.I can guarantee that I can work well with less supervision. Please contact me.
Thank you.
[Reply]
We are trying to get something going on TeachAbroadChina.com for non-native speakers. If there are any schools out there who are interested in hiring non-natives, please contact us through our ‘contact us’ option in the menu above or leave us a message here. We would like to create a list of schools that do hire non-native speakers. For my non-native speaker friends, I feel your pain. It’s difficult to compete with native speakers in certain parts of China. We will do everything we can to help.
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Good day!
I would like to apply in your good school as an English Teacher.
I graduated at Philippine Normal University with the degree of Bachelor in Elementary Education and Masteral in Educational Management.
I’ve been teaching for 15 years in elementary level.
I am willing to teach in China and I hope you will consider my application.
Thank you verymuch.my contact number is +639282307405
Marissa M. Cornelio
Applicant
[Reply]
perhaps the chinese english schools should hire non-native teachers initially as trainees. then after a month or so, evaluate if the trainees can be elevated to full time certified english instructors. filipinos are well known for their competence and fluency in the english language. china can benefit from their outsourced cheap labor
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Eternal-sea hires a lot of filipinos. They’re actually looking for some new teachers right now.
tel 025-84820900
eternal-sea.com
No. 20 Minggugong Road
Nanjing – China 210016
Tel: 025-84820900 – 84820619
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Dear Sirs or Madams
My name is Janna. I am from Russia. I am an English teacher and I have been teaching English in Russia for 2 years, mainly, high school students, but I have also participated in tutoring middle-class children and adults for 6 years already.
I have 3 months teaching experience in Private school in China, Harbin city.
I have many foreign friends, some of them are from USA, when we meet each other, we communicate only in English.
I love my job very much and I am willing to teach in China. I am available for full and part time work and for private tutoring in my apartment. I can start working in August or September this year.
If you have some appropriate vacancy for me, please contact me.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely, Janna.
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Dear Sirs and Madams,
I’m really eager to teach Russian in China. My name is Dolson. I’m 28 years old. I graduated from the Oriental Faculty of the Buryat State University. My qualification is a philologist of Oriental Studies. I know several foreign languages such as English, Mongolian and a bit Chinese. I’ve been working as an English teacher in high (secondary) school for 5 years. While working at school I attended several courses on teaching methods. This year I have been recommended to get the second category according to Russian Teaching Standards. I’d like to work at your college as a Russian teacher because it is considered to be my native language. I speak read and write in Russian from my childhood and I know it perfectly.
I’m looking forward to hearing from U ASAP
Regards,
Dolson
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Hope to hear from you soon
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is that most of the people they called native speakers are not better than some of the africans we have here.l applied for teaching jobs on line and they been turning me down.Education to me is non profit organisation.Knowdlege and culture sharing should be the main thing.As a trained teacher l dislike the chinese educational system because it lacks values.
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Ayo,
Thanks for your comments. You are absolutely correct. The Chinese education system is all about making money. This is why so many schools will not hire non native speakers because they don’t think they get as much advertising out of them. It’s a shame but it’s the way it is…have you been able to get a job here?
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[...] few months ago, in an article entitled Can Non-Native English Speakers Teach English in China? I discussed some of the difficulties that non-native speakers of English may encounter in China in [...]
the fact is that chinese thinks if they have a native speaker English teacher, they can learn a lot. in my own experience as a non-native speaker ESL teacher, it is really unfair. I have been an ESL teacher for 5 years by now,and I was confident of my teaching skills until my school hired an old american.just imagine an old businessman trying to be a teacher…but because of the fact that he is an american,the school thinks he is a perfect teacher…discrimination that is…
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@Kikay,
Thanks again for your comments. Actually, sometimes I am not really so sure that students themselves really do care that much about what the person who is teaching them looks like or comes from. I think that this ‘discrimination’ as you rightly call it, really comes directly from school administrations that believe that they will get more for their ‘advertising dollar’ if they hire native caucasian speakers to teach. This is the travesty. Instead of focusing on teaching skills, it is all about bringing in more students. While this strategy may work for a while, eventually I think it will have some negative impact on schools because the quality of the actual learning process will plummet. I have seen this firsthand recently where I work. In the past few weeks, my school has had to more or less fire a few native speakers of English because students were complaining about their horrible teaching skills. In the meantime, there have been a variety of non-native speakers who passed through looking for jobs who probably would have done a much better job and made the students a lot happier. That, my friend, is bad for business.
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My name is Tanya. And I am in Taipei . I would like to get a job , know Russian and English.
Could You help me?
Thanks a lot.
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I am mina, I have been working as an English instructor in the Philippines for 9 years already. I have tutored and still tutoring Korean nationals until now. I would like to get a teaching job in China, but I know that there is a low regard for non-native English teachers there. However, the exposure and training of non-native English teachers here in the Philippines is indeed remarkable to be in a par with the native teachers. Evaluation and skill assessment is needed to measure the abilities of English teachers here in our country.
I am also hoping of getting a good chance of working as an English teacher in China. Hope something favorable happens.
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My name is Shish Ram & I am from India. I am MA,MPHIL in English.I have been teaching English to Indian students since 1998.Now,I want to teach English to Chinese students.Ready to start asap.Please contact to me either on my
Cell : +91-9224662066
or via e-mail : sr999i@yahoo.com
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Hey,i have really enjoyed reading this amazing article,actually,non-native english teachers should show and proove that they can teach english perfectly which basically depends on their english abilities and personal skills….i’m a non-native english teacher too, presently teaching in a private english school in china,i have been teaching english here for almost one year now,i haven’t encountred any problems with this school so far ;because as they constantly say (our best teachers are not english natives),;fortunately,the non_native english teachers who were previously working with this school before i got hired, were competent and well-skilled which automatically made the school owners change their mind about the effectiveness and the utility of the non-native english teachers,….my colleague (from spain) and i are considered the best lovely english teachers in this school because we’re simply hard workers and we often keen to teach in a good clear way as the school administration members usually make us hear with a big happy smile on their faces!!.the point is only about how to transmeate the message in a lovely clear way to the receiver without any obstacles or hinders that may lead to confusion!! thanks much for reading,good luck for everybody
:)
[Reply]
[...] Can Non-Native English Speakers Teach in China? – Original article on TeachAbroadChina.com addressing the issue of non-native speakers of English teaching in China. [...]
“It is equally important to be confident and to remind the school that your English grammar is probably better than that of a native English teacher.”
This is the most ludicrous statement I have read in a while. Please explain Mr Vance?
Your article seems to be centred around one huge logical fallacy, i.e. non-natives are passed up but people with “blond hair and blue eyes” (i.e. people from mainland Europe) get jobs just because of their looks. Can’t you see that you’re contradicting yourself here?
Looking at some of the English in the responses to this article, only confirms my belief that hring non-natives in China is a BIG mistake…
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@Peter Easton,
How am I contradicting myself by writing that English schools in China prefer to hire people who look Western? I was using the ‘blonde hair blue eyes’ as just an example. Of course there are others who get hired who have black hair and brown eyes but my point is, English schools like to hire people who LOOK Western.
There are plenty of non-native speakers of English who should never step foot in a classroom; there is no doubt about it. There are also plenty of native speakers who should never step foot in a classroom but they get to because they look Western. I can speak for this from a lot of experience in China.
It sounds to me however, that to you personally, looks don’t matter as much as “can the teacher actually teach quality English classes?” That’s fine with me. However, I disagree with you and others who make blanket statements about how hiring non-native teachers is a mistake. You know as well as I do that there are non-native speakers out there who are very qualified and speak excellent English but schools won’t even talk to them because of the way they look or based on an assumption that their English must be bad because it’s not their first language.
If you take a look around this website you will find plenty of comments left by people from around the world who learned English as a second language. Some of them are simply excellent. Would you deny them the chance to teach at your school simply because other non-native speakers have really bad English?
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I think we need to refine the debate a bit here. Let me put it this way, I believe that one the whole it’s a mistake both educationally and commercially to hire people from the following places:
Mainland Europe, especially Southern Europe and Eastern Europe (incl. Russia).
The Middle East
The Philippines
South Asia (even India, Pakistan etc)
Africa (except South Africa and even then, some Afrikaners and black South Africans don’t speak great English either…) and especially the Francophone African countries like Cameroon
Very very very few people from these places can compete with a local Chinese English teacher in either salary requirements or English language proficiency. I’m sorry but this is the hard reality on the ground.
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Hi! I dont agree with the comment above given by Peter Easton. You are wrong. We cant judge people by their nationality, the country they belong to. ……………..
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We can make rules / policy around people’s nationality though. The government do when it comes to issuing visas. Organisations do it because it’s helpful – it stops everyone wasting time and resources.
If someone is a non-native speaker with native-like proficiency they will always slip through the net and find work – so many do in China. That’s when the scrutiny of examining a candidate on an individual basis is necessary but for 95 per cent of the time a simple policy serves an organisation well.
[Reply]
Tanya on July 17th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
My name is Tanya. And I am in Taipei . I would like to get a job , know Russian and English.
Could You help me?
Thanks a lot.
Hi Tanya! I seem to know you. Have y ever been to Harbin? Are y russian?
[Reply]
@ Peter Easton
You said: Very very very few people from these places can compete with a local Chinese English teacher in either salary requirements or English language proficiency.
I totally go against with your comment for you included Philippines. Go and visit our country for you to find out how Filipinos speak English. Comparing Filipino teachers to local Chinese English Teachers makes me laugh for it seems you haven’t met the “Real Filipino English Teachers” here in China. Chinese English teachers are having hard time to have a real conversation, a sensible one and they couldn’t even last for a minute.
Again, including my country in your list is unacceptable.
[Reply]
Sure Philippinos are usually good speakers but they can’t compete with Chinese teachers because a) they often can’t speak Chinese well which means local teachers have an advantage with lower levels students and b) In China I can hand-pick the brightest English graduates from local universities and there’s a very big supply….
[Reply]
Our nationality is Filipino and not Philippinos…FCS!
Go ahead, pick the brightest English graduates from any local universities here in China and I will pick the brightest high school graduates in my country. Then, let them have a debate. I bet that what you have chosen will never win. You don’t know what you’ve been posting about non-native speakers.
[Reply]
Hi Iangquan , it is Tanya.
Yes, I am Russian. I have never been in Harbin.
OK, I would like too.
Tanya.
[Reply]
@ Peter Easton
Just for your information stupid jerk! Philippines is the third largest english speaking country in the world!, and English is their official language! I’ve been in the academe for a couple of years with many native and non native english teachers., and you know what?.. filipinos always kick their (native teachers) asses coz they are fuckin’ lame in teaching!.
Most of the native english teachers like you (as they say) dont know HOW to teach., and you know why?, beacuse the reality is…they/you don’t have an education degree. Some of you are just college/university students… and the worst is…chinese people would even hire a high school graduate!?.. WTF!
and i think you.. Mr. Peter Easton..is just one of them!…
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
[Reply]
Jhunex, you’re knocking down strawmen.
Your Filipinio high school kids would still not be available or qualified to teach in China.
Actually, no Filipinos are qualified to teach English in China. The government knows there is a problem with illegal teachers, which is why it’s so hard for you guys even to get L visas…
[Reply]
Again, a teacher whom he thinks he is a teacher but in fact not a real one is posting a rubbish comment here thinking that no Filipinos are qualified to teach English here in China. It only shows how narrow minded you are by the way you have made a childish type of conclusion.
My purpose of having a debate with your chosen brightest college English graduates from any local universities here in China and Filipino high school kids of mine is to test their English proficiency (obviously…we are on the winning side). This will show how good we Filipino English teachers are when it comes to the improvement of our students not only mentally but most importantly, the emotional and psychological aspect.
NOW, if you think that we Filipino teachers are not qualified to teach here in China, you better look first at yourself if you really deserve to be called a teacher here. I’m very sure that you were only hired by your looks and not how you teach so your just lucky to have that Caucasian looks. If not with that, you are nothing but simply an ordinary type of guy.
I would also bet that you can only be a teacher here in China but in my country, you are nothing.
[Reply]
@Jhunex,
Unfortunately, this isn’t even the worst of it. Mr. Easton makes a series of statements which generalize non-native speakers to a shocking degree. You can see the post that he made on our forum by following this link.
Click here
He is not willing to even give Filipinos (or other non native speakers) a chance at a job. I am not sure I have ever encountered such a biased attitude in China…
[Reply]
and i would NEVER…NEVER… and NEVER dare to share my teaching expertise to someone like Mr. Easton..a person with a decaying brain of a rat!..a racist, concieted, narrow minded, a jerk and a shit!.
1. I know this piece of shit is not an education graduate, so obviously he doens’t know the essence of learning and teaching at all.
2. He seems to be an idiotic person who thinks that he is somebody, were the fact is…he is just nobody. if..and only if (which i dont think he has) this shit is capable of hiring teachers..then, NO teacher will stay for long with this kind of person.
3. I am a professional teacher with 2 international licenses. And i only do business with intellectual beings gifted with mind and the faculty of knowing were Mr. Easton (the shit) for sure didnt pass my standards…
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
P.S. excuse my words, its intended for my easton. (the shit).
[Reply]
If all of You would like to be called as a teachers , STOP IT.
No more personal insults.
You ought to be ashamed.
Thanks a lot.
[Reply]
“He is not willing to even give He is not willing to even give Filipinos (or other non native speakers) a chance at a job. I am not sure I have ever encountered such a biased attitude in China…
(or other non native speakers) a chance at a job. I am not sure I have ever encountered such a biased attitude in China…”
You obviously haven’t much China experience then because the majority of schools and universities will not hire Filipinos and non-native speakers. In fact, it is ILLEGAL for them to do so.
It seems Mr Vance, that you are in the habit of promoting a lot of illegal activity on this board, including prosletysing, promoting non-denominational religious sects as well as encouraging black market labour.
Perhaps you ought to consider the seriousness of these offences in the PRC before you get get this website closed down and you yourself get checked out by the PSB for working on the wrong visa.
[Reply]
@Peter Easton,
I challenge you to show me in Chinese law where it states that non-native speakers of English are not permitted to teach in China. I have worked both in schools AND universities that were able to LEGALLY hire non-native speakers of English. They were able to secure valid, legal working visas for them.
This website is targeted at foreigners. It is hosted on a server outside of China and I do not allow posts or comments (except for a few words sometimes) to me made in Chinese. I simply write about my experiences as a teacher here in China. Discussing topics on a website with other foreign teachers (which is how the site was designed) is not against any law that I know of.
While I strongly disagree with your sentiments on non-native speakers of English, I have not gone as far as to call you a name or use dirty language with you. I am sorry that others have done that but it is my policy to allow all comments on this website.
Seriously, I am curious about this issue of non-native speakers teaching in English and would appreciate a more detailed explanation from you about why they are not permitted by Chinese law to teach.
[Reply]
Mr Vance,
I agree that name calling and abusive language has no place in any adult discussion. However, it is as sure a sign as you’ll find that a person has lost the argument. The ad hominem has to be the basest of all logical fallacies.
Re: non-native speakers: as far as I know they are not premitted to receive a Foreign Expert’s Certificate by the Immigration police, therefore they cannot apply for a Residence Permit (otherwise known as a Z or working visa).
Now, I am not so niave as to think the majority of schools and universities across China apply for FECs when hiring staff, but I believe that by law, they are supposed to.
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Mr Shit.. Peter Easton…
I dont think you know what you’re talking about… as i’ve said, you’re trying to think that you’re knowlegeable about hiring non native english teachers which is obviously hilarious for you because you dont know any. please… get a life, will you?.. pretending to be somebody is really a serious illness, i would advise you to consult a doctor as early as now..
just for you to know mr easton, hiring non native teachers is not illegal. Let me inform you that i am not a native english speaker, but i am working in one of the best and biggest kindergarten schools here in china with almost 200 schools all over 44 cities of china. I have a working visa, foreign expert certificate and residence certificate with me.
Now, can you tell me if its illegal to hire non native english teachers?..
and if i uses profane words.. its because you’re acting like such… respect yourself so you wioll be respected in return… and learning things before posting it here is one way or sign of self respect.
again.. get a life! will you?
[Reply]
The only way you could possibly get an FEC is if you have dual nationality because if your passport is from a non-native speaking country, it is impossible to obtain an FEC. It’s a simple rule with a clear list of countries.
Now, it only remains for you to tell us what your nationality is…
Your English is bad so I’m inclined to believe that whoever hired you must either be desperate or a fool.
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BALTIMORE USA,June 6, 2006
(CBS) While the United States is working to keep some immigrants from coming to live here, it’s actively seeking others. CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews reports that thousands of teachers are recruited from abroad each year.
A team of top officials from Baltimore has traveled to Manila to conduct an immigration raid. Specifically, it’s a raid to hire Filipino teachers. If the interviews go well, school officials will hire every Filipino teacher in the room, 81 of them, to teach math, science and special education in the city’s public schools.
In the United States, he says, “I could go out for recruitment and I might see five or 10 teachers. … Overseas we saw hundreds.”
Baltimore has recruited more than 200 teachers from the Philippines so far, and while administrators say they are pleased with the quality of these teachers, they are doing this because they have to.
There is a shortage of teachers, not just in Baltimore, but nationwide. Nevada’s Clark County imports math and science teachers from Canada. Topeka, Kan., brings in teachers from India and Spain. Dallas brings in bilingual teachers from Mexico and Chile. At least 10,000 teachers are needed — from abroad — every year.
America’s shortage is so well known that the Philippine colleges offer special courses in American education.
“We were trained about the No Child Left Behind Act … and then on behavior management,” says special education teacher Victoria Borja.
Back in Manila Philippines,the 81 teachers offered contracts have just won the lottery: They will double or triple their salaries by coming to Baltimore. And they represent the future.
©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/06/eveningnews/main1689748.shtml
BOTTOMLINE FILIPINOS ARE WORLD CLASS COMPETITTORS….
CLEARLY NATIVE SPEAKERS NEEDS NON-NATIVES….
[Reply]
@Jose,
Thanks for posting that story. I’m happy that people are setting the record straight about non-native speakers of English in China. This is what we try to do here..
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Notice they are not going to America to teach English….
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@ Peter Easton
OMG! Clearly how narrow minded he did not get the point!!!
The quality of Filipino Educators is not just applied to Chinese people but all over the world…
BOTTOMLINE MR. PETER EASTON’S ABILITY TO TEACH IS ONLY FOR CHINA!!!!
[Reply]
I forgot people only learn English in China. Talk about narrow-minded. You go to Europe and try and get a job teaching English. See how far you get.
Anyway, your argument is a secundum quid; a logical fallacy based on the law of small numbers.
[Reply]
Peter Easton said: Notice they are not going to America to teach English.
Imagine a non-native speaker being hired in U.S. with below or even average English proficiency and speaking ability and ask to teach Math and Science? Will you think that he/she can be an effective and efficient teacher? Of course, the answer is not at all.
Peter Easton said: Anyway, your argument is a secundum quid; a logical fallacy based on the law of small numbers.
The argument is based on a fact that Filipino teachers are qualified teachers not like you who pretends to be in the teaching profession. Like what Jose said, BOTTOMLINE MR. PETER EASTON’S ABILITY TO TEACH IS ONLY FOR CHINA!!!!
I think you are only insecure that there are Filipinos teaching English here in China.
Going back to the question, Can Non-Native English Speakers Teach in China? Absolutely yes, provided that these are qualified teachers, for we also know and a fact that there are pretty bad native speakers out here including Peter Easton who shouldn’t be in these noble profession.
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Gosh…I’ve seen a mistake in my last comment. I couldn’t believe it for I’ve been an editor in my high school days..
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What makes you think I’m not qualified? I’m assuming by the way you’re arguing that you think all the Filipinos who teach English in China are qualified. If you believe this you are very much mistaken because most of the Filipinos I have come across, including yourself, are not proficient enough to justify a foreign teacher’s wage.
Face it, you wouldn’t even be here if China wasn’t so desperate for ESL teachers, whereas I would and if there was no demand here I could even go to your country, or Europe or anywhere. You couldn’t. You are better off sticking to you day job playing crap 80s cover songs in seedy bars because you’re not good enough to teach English.
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^ snob^
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Not a snob, just a businessman.
[Reply]
Peter Easton on October 7th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
You obviously haven’t much China experience then because the majority of schools and universities will not hire Filipinos and non-native speakers. In fact, it is ILLEGAL for them to do so.
================================================================
This my take on the aforementioned :
This sound racism. You could have used the term “non-native English speakers” rather than specifying it “Filipinos”. That ignited the conversation.
I’m very much into current events here between The Philippines and the Republic of China, and the ONLY thing I believed that is considered “illegal” is when you’re hired as a nanny in one of the family living in mainland China to teach Englishto their kids.
They DO hire Filipinos to be an ESL teacher, but I won’t say most schools. Just some. I believe that the quality of a Filipino teacher is incomparable but looking at a Chinese’ perspective, they hire rednecks so that they can have this “american accent”. Doesn’t matter even if it’s not the “standard” accent.
I strongly disagree of Mr Peter Eastong saying that if it weren’t being desperate of having work, Filipinos won’t be teaching in China. This I do not believe. I know that Filipinos are better off in the US of A. If this Mr Easton is a self-absorbed teacher who only have narrow thoughts, then why are you teaching in China? Is it because no one can see your worth from your own country? The reason for the diaspora of Filipino teachers is because we have TOO MUCH teachers and they’re always in-demand in the west.
And also, Filipino schools don’t need western teacher to teach us English. I must say I learned my english without having any western teacher to teach me written and oral.
I dont like how you dissed too how Filipnos can have teacher’s wage equal of a foreign teacher from the west. Cannot blame me though, I’m just saying my stand on this.
Anyway I have NO interest working outside the Philippines. If I to become a teacher, I’d rather serve my country and teach the children coz I believe the kids are the future of one’s nation. If I were to teach what I know, I’d teach it to Filipino kids.
-ratherBanonymous-
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sorry for the typos. was the dark in my room when i typed it
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“And also, Filipino schools don’t need western teacher to teach us English. I must say I learned my english without having any western teacher to teach me written and oral.
————
I know a lot of native-speakers who have taught in the PI. There is a lot of work there for us and you would certainly benefit from a few classes with a proper native-speaking teacher.
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…..as far as im concerned there are a lot of Filipinos and other NNS that are as good as Native Speakers. So to answer the question! YES! Filipinos and Other NNS can teach in China… And we will be around China FOREVER!!!!
AND THERES NOTHING! OH NOTHING! YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT!!!!
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…just another fact that Filipinos are good english communicators…
FILIPINOS BETTER CALL CENTER AGENTS
Culture compatibility. English proficiency. Neutral accents. More foreign investors are choosing the Philippines as a base for their offshore customer service facilities because culturally, Filipinos are more Westernized than their Asian neighbors.
The Philippines was an American colony for almost 50 years and Western business practices have rubbed off on Filipinos. The commercial code of the U.S. is no different from Philippine mercantile laws, such as the bill of lading and negotiable instruments. The Philippines and America have similar requirements for certified public accountants as well.
Filipinos watch American TV and are thus more familiar with the nuances of American English. They also have neutral accents, compared with Indians. When clients dial a 1-800 number, they think they are still talking to an American, when in fact it is a Filipino on the other end.
In addition, Filipinos are more customer oriented and more patient in handling calls, aside from being helpful and friendly.
A 1999 regional study conducted by the Australia-based Call Center Research shows that the Philippines invests heavily in keeping the quality of customer service. CRC ranked the Philippines second to Australia.
http://www.outsourcing.ph/outsource_call_center.htm
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^ A website from a Philippino outsourcing firm promoting it’s services is a pretty poor argument at this stage I’m afraid. Since when has working in a call centre doing menial data-entry and dealing with specific requests from native speakers being anything like teaching Chinese people how to speak English? You’re barking up the wrong tree here.
“Filipinos and Other NNS can teach in China… And we will be around China FOREVER!!!!
AND THERES NOTHING! OH NOTHING! YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT!!!!”
———————-
Except: a) refuse to give you jobs and b) choose to live in Shanghai where NNTs are kept to a minimum.
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Except: a) refuse to give you jobs and b) choose to live in Shanghai where NNTs are kept to a minimum.
REALLY? OOOOHHH!!!! SO SCARY!!!!
well guess what were all over China and im teaching in a University FOR 4 YEARS NOW!!
Stick that to your brain!
And i hope that would make you sleep at night!!! BWAHAHAHAH!!!
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Peter Easton on October 20th, 2008 at 1:27 pm “I know a lot of native-speakers who have taught in the PI. There is a lot of work there for us and you would certainly benefit from a few classes with a proper native-speaking teacher.”
Yes, I won’t deny that we too have NES teaching in some school all over the Philippines, BUT English teacher is not their profession. Maybe some teaching history ( I had one in my school before), math, etc. As a student of an ESL, I find NNS to be more effective in teaching since they’re the one can relate more of how it’s like to learn a second language aside from the mother tongue. That is just according to my experience.
If it’s true that you got couple of NES teaching English here in PI, I’m sure it’s some schools owned by Chinese/Korean/Japanese nationals.
We have different experience with NES and NNS. I won’t blame you if you think that bad of us Filipinos. Maybe you just happened to meet some who didn’t meet your requirement or standard of being an ESL. I just don’t like how the Filipinos are being belittled in this conversation.
Forgive me if I sound rude before, I should have kept in mind that I’m supposed to respect people older than me.
And about the call center thingie mentioned above, it’s just an example why western company outsourced here in the PI.
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I can’t find any concrete evidence why can’t anyone from the country below won’t be able to compete any local Chinese English Teacher in English language proficiency? Of course the salary is another story which I do not mind.
Mainland Europe, especially Southern Europe and Eastern Europe (incl. Russia).
The Middle East
The Philippines
South Asia (even India, Pakistan etc)
Africa (except South Africa)
Mr Easton, I really find your comment intriguing and I congratulate you for getting my full attention about this. I know this is of no bussiness for me to intervene about this NNS as ESL in China. But as a Filipino citizen who highly have high respects of my English teachers, I’d like to spill out what I think I’d let you know.
Doing some analysis of different teachers from the countries mentioned above, they dont have any issues in written but most of them fails in the oral part— even Chinese English Teachers. I am chinese in blood and in no way trying to offend them Chinese nationals. Chinese people can easily adapt the “american accent” because of their language system and phoenetics. Filipinos CAN too.
I really want to know the root cause of why you’re excluding yourself or getting involved with NNS in your school. Take note : chinese teachers teaching there in your local area are NNS as well. You might think twice of what you just said.
And oh, isn’t it so biased that eastern part of asia (excluding PI) is not included in the list of NNS? It got me wondering now.
I’d like to hear your side
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I think Mr. Easton is just a SICK man and diagnosed to DIE soon. Condolence Mr. Easton.
Let me tell your poor mind that you can’t do anything!. Filipino teachers will continue to shine in China and all over the world because of our teaching expertise
(” because we are real teachers and great english speakers”)!
Oppppssss…. in case you dont know, i am earning 8500 RMB every month plus my parttime job of 150 RMB per hour. And, not only that… everything is free here including food…. can you beat that?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA….. poor boy….
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WOW!!! Nice to hear that im happy 4 you Mr. Roger Moore!!!! Great Job!!
That’s how you do it!! “Pilipino k b?” are you Filipino?
Anyways i think i just made my points clear that NNS CAN TEACH HERE IN CHINA AND WILL ALWAYS BE AROUND CHINA! any argument for this issue will be useless or nonsense this would be my last comment on this site.
My next comment would be IF a NATIVE SPEAKER would protest and kick my ass off my UNIVERSITY here in CHINA now!!
Which “WILL NEVER EVER HAPPEN!” anyway….
BWAHAHAHAH!!!!
Ciao!!!
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And i will not be DESPERATE to be arguing with this issues like Easton do……
Bwahahahahahh!!!!
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Yes.. pinoy ako!..
the idea that NNS cannot teach in china was just a rubbish creation of a poor mind., am sad that mr. easton was the creator… lol…
and… filipino teachers should not go down to mr. easton’s level, so we should stop commenting on his nonsense and ludicrous views..anyway, he’s nothing but just a dirt of our fingernails….lol…
filipino teachers will continue to soar… higher and higher…. because we are real teachers, we are teachers indeed by profession…we are creative, innovative and hard working…and because of that…we’re being loved….
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Most of you went down the same road, to the same levels of scorn, prejudice and acrimony here. Sort of a lesson on life, really. One might remember that the opinions of others, especially those that differ from our own, make very little difference in our lives unless we allow them to.
Discussions on racial discrimination usually bring out the worst in us, exposing deep-rooted anger, contempt and resentment for the worst of human inequities smoldering at the surface of the human psyche.
My opinion: No one is right or wrong here, just a little misguided and misunderstood.
There is and always will be room for EFL teachers of all english-speaking countries and cultures in China, at least in our lifetimes.
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The comments above have been most illuminating. What I gather, and this is a strictly subjective view point, is that many English teachers (I hesitate to use the superlative “most” for want of statistical accuracy), irrespective of where they hail from, irrespective of their ethnicities, are not necessarily epitomes of proficiency. In saying this, I do not in any way mean to sound disparaging but only subcribe to the view point that the best speakers/writers of English stray away from the teaching profession into more lucrative, tractable careers such as copywriting/journalism/technical writing and many other fields for a variety of reasons from money to professional satisfaction. Having said that, I admit that the teaching profession is one of the noblest and have often heard that the sense of gratification obtained from teaching is extremely special. But that is not the reason everyone chooses to teach and where there is a lack of dedication, there is incompetency.
To return to some of the comments I read above, it deeply saddens me to learn that the color of one’s skin can be detrimental to that person’s prospects as a teacher of English and that too in China-that is very telling of the Eastern European countries where the bias, I am certain, is more pronounced. Call it hubris, but I bitterly resent it when someone, native or non-native, makes flippant remarks about my English, (accented as it is, imperfect as it may be), especially when that someone in-my-humble-opinion is no F.Scott Fitzgerald or Arundhati Roy.
To conclude, I like to think that I am proficient in English. I am a non-native speaker in the sense that I have lived all my life in India except for the last four years, which I’ve spent in the American Midwest and I cannot say that my living here has subtantially altered my English speaking or writing abilities in any way other than to provide access to libraries overflowing with the some of the world’s best literature.
I have, for sometime now, been considering China as a prospective country to teach English in -not that I have a TESOL certification but boastful as it may sound, I consider that a trifling matter. China-for all the travelling/photo opportunities the country affords, rich culture and cuisine and no doubt, a great history. But sensitive as I am to these kinds of perceptions, I might content myself to settle in the Mid-west for now, ensconsed in my Corporate Job. Thank you sir, for this article and for the many insightful comments here.
Arjun
(please delete my comment in the other article)
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Hi, I had diploma of English major in China, and taught English for 3 years there (2 years in college level, 1 year in middle-school level), and was an English technical translator for 12 years in China. I have lived in the USA for more than 15 years, and took lots of college-level courses in the USA. Right now, I am interested in teaching English in China. If any schools interested in my background, please send email to: sharondchang@yahoo.com
Thanks for your reading my request.
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hello,
I am Mrs. Angie Panganiban, teaching General Science, Biology and English. I am interested applying for the teaching position in China or somewhere in United States
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Hello,
I am a postgraduate student at University of Birmingham, UK, but i am originally from Romania. I worked as a translator (English-Romanian) for a EU training program, I have a IELTS certificate, a pedagogic module obtained in Romania and due to my Master in International Studies on Asia Pacific i have a special interest in China. I am really interested in applying for a teaching position in China, or at least (South) East Asia. Would it be possible to get a job there, even if i am not an English native speaker?
Thanks for your time.
Looking forward for your answer
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Greetings of Peace!!!
Hello, before anything else, let me first introduce myself. My name is Alberto Quinopez Angalan Jr., 30 years old and single, a very enthusiastic and dynamic teacher from the Philippines looking forward to new a school with a good contract this coming school year 2009-2010. To respective employers, I’m holding a residence and working visa which will expire on October 7, 2009.
With regards to my educational background, I’ve finished my Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education major in Mathematics minor in English at Saint Louis College, San Fernando City, La Union, Philippines. I’m a certified teacher from my country for having passed the License Examination of Teachers for Secondary Education- LET SECONDARY in August 2005. To further improve my teaching when it comes to English, I’ve decided to enroll and finish my TESOL in the Philippines from August 17-21 2007.
About my teaching experiences, I have over 4 years of teaching experience but approximately more than 3 years of teaching here in China. Right now, I’m teaching here in Wuxi Dadi Bilingual Kindergarten School, Wuxi, Jiangsu and my kids ranges from 3 to 7 years old. I have taught in International Dept. Mudu High School, Suzhou, Jiangsu from February 2008 to April 2008 where in I taught Mathematics, General Science and Social Science to students who will study overseas university under the GAC approved teaching center. But before that, I began teaching college here in China since September 2006 to July 2007 in Dongying Vocational College, Dongying City, Shandong and in Suzhou Polytechnic Institute of Agriculture, Suzhou , Jiangsu from September 2007 to January 2008. I also taught in a kindergarten school in Shijiazhuang, Hebei as a part-time teacher last August 2007. For the past years of my teaching experience specifically here in China, I have learned how to handle college students and kids which makes me a versatile, effective and efficient type of ESL teacher so I assure you that there will be no regret once you hired me.
For more details, you can email me at dear.jhunex@btopenworld.com and relevant documents will be forwarded upon your immediate request.
Thanks and Best Wishes!!!
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sorry to inform that chinese poeple are good at anything except at learning foreign languages(especially english) so they always think the main reason is the english non native speaking teachers (domestic teachers)
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From actual experience in China, I would beg to differ. Maybe it’s just this school but I work in a small city and I notice that there is aggressive “colour marketing” or rather propaganda marketing by hiring visitors who look the part I guess. People here have never seen a foreigner in their lives or at least sightings are resticted to once in a blue moon. But yes, people wear blinkers when it comes to recognizing the fact that I am not Chinese though of Asian descent but enough to stand out (unless you factor in the dark hair)
I don’t possess a “native” accent but I do have good diction as was evaluated by my previous employers as well as a neutral accent that most people do understand clearly given that I have worked with foreign clients from the US and the UK. That doesn’t seem to find an audience here when you have blonde with blue eyes batting his lashes and has a pronounced Scandinavian accent and speaks English with a guttural sound that I see is far from desirable but then….
Though I know that I mustn’t bite the hand that feeds me I also see blatant racism that is dished out to me day after day while I do all the heavy lifting. Don’t wish to go on and on whining away to glory. Just very thankful to have this place to have my voice heard.
Sorry about the rant. *breathless now*
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Hi, I am an Argentinean citizen, residing in South Africa for the last 3 years.
I speak Spanish as a first language and fluent English.I have a degree in
Psychology from the University of Buenos Aires and experience teaching Spanish as
a second language in Argentina to foreiggness.
I would like to teach Spanish in China, is there any place where I can apply for
this possition?
Thanks !
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Hello!
I and my wife are teachers of English and Russian languages and foreign literature. Having and using new methods of teaching on these subjects, we give courses on these disciplines for pupils.
We love our job very much and we are willing to teach in China. We are available for full and part time work and for private tutoring in my apartment. If our suggestion is interesting for you, we can discuss it.
If you have some appropriate vacancy for us, please contact me(email: abondarenko07@rambler.ru or aternovskaya@rambler.ru).
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon.
With regards,
Andrew and Anna Bondarenko.
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hi , my name is Paula, Iam looking for someone to like to be enterpreter to the bank , senior , community center, and etc, but not in the hospital . I used to lived in Queensland and become a volunteer
social workers in ethnic community council for three and half years.
now Iam moved in Melbourne Victoria for nine years. Iam looking for part time job as enterpreter. I become enterpreter in centerlink in Queensland 1985 to a pilipino people before and got paid. If someone is interested please contact me in my email address.
regards,
paula
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hi..
my name is marilyn, i’m indonesian. At present, i’m living in beijing.
I’m studying chinese here (in Beijing Normal University) until June.
I’m really interested to find a job in China.
I have a bachelor degree of accounting from curtin university, Perth , Australia.
i have an experience teaching english for kids and adults in my country
and another working experiences, but not as an english teacher, such as accounting teacher for middle school (using english of course)and as accounting assistant.
I’m ready to teach as soon as needed.
you can contact me through my email: marilyn.chandra@gmail.com
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