ESL Jobs Forum

[gelynch52]

I'm not so sure about the beard thing. In my experience it will be very difficult to get a job in either Korea or Japan with a beard. It would be my recomendation to get the job, establish yourself as competent, be liked by the students and management & then grow a beard over an extended holiday like (Chinese) New Year or Chusok (in Korea). Then once you have it you will not be fired for having it but I am quite sure you will not make any new friends that way (especially girlfriends in the romantic sense).
Ladies are hard to come by in Korea unless one is of the same age group. Since I am in my 50s it is virtually impossible to get a date.
_________________
Jerry Lynch Teacher of English & All Around Nice Guy

[Supergussy]

>>>Hey Supergussy...your'e wrong. The industry is racist.<<<

Firstly, I'd suggest you re-read my original post related to the context of that to which I was responding. I agree that the industry does seem to be racist. I don't think the teaching of English is isolated, as the problems would seem to stem largely from the old "native teachers are best" philosophy, which is present in the teaching of all languages. What I do not believe to be a fair generalisation, is that the UK is somehow more racist than other countries when it comes to recruiting non-native or non-white native teachers. If we wish to compare nations in terms of racism we must be very clear as to what standard we are comparing them against. How do we define racism, when what constitutes racism varies between nation, region, race, culture and class?

Secondly, I am not so much calling for teachers to unite against racism as posing the question as to what, if anything, we can do to overcome the racism that we DO find in relation to our industry on an individual level. Should we, as teachers, be in part responsible for attempting to change the attitudes of our students (and/or colleagues) toward race and racism? And, if the answer is "yes", how can we do something to help make such a change?

Thirdly, I would like to point out that some of the assumptions members have made about me (both here and via my email) are entirely incorrect. Racism, like all prejudice stems from a lack of information and understanding. In the same way that to assume a person of Oriental appearance is unqualified as an English teacher, it is quite wrong to assume that someone who speaks against racism is some kind of left-wing tree hugger intent on saving the world. Anybody here willing to make such sweeping generalistaions on the minimal amount of my personal information that is available via this site would be better examining their own attitudes before making allegations of prejudice against anyone else, let alone an entire nation.

Angus

[Scooby *Scott* Doo]

Well, why don't we unite then as teachers? I mean for starters we need to kick out the bums who run the slave driving language schools. Aren't they the real racists? I mean they hire, so they decide who works, and they could easily hire on the basis of non-discrimination, but they choose not to. So to the devile with them! That's what I say. They arbitrarily fire on the base of race too, I've seen it. Come to think of it, there are some Univesity programs that do the same too. Basically all employers when it comes down to it.

Is there some international union of teachers I could join that actively fights discrimination among teachers?

[Lee Hobbs]

[Wocca]

[aardvark]

I just interviewed with UCLA as an ESL teacher in their university extension program. I had to drive 90 minutes in CA heat, pay $18 for parking and interview with a non-native English speaker who corrected my pronunciation of "Celce-Murcia" as I tried to make the best impression. I thought I had nailed the interview. I was sent to the Admin building to get processed, have my ID and social security card copied and all that.

One week later, they haven't called and I feel like a jilted girlfriend after a one-night stand (he didn't call!). If the director wanted a pool of applicants for the job, why didn't she say so?

This brings up the question of racism vs. participation in wage slavery. Racism is the refuge of the unqualified over their non-selection (at least that's the way it appears in the USA). Wage slavery (which is a better term for rampant illegal immigration) is the engine that propels the wages of ESL teachers (and others) down. It really is a race to the bottom. One of the posters mentioned unionization, and I would favor this if only it would work in the USA.
I have seen my future as a part-time ESL teacher who works here and there and never seems to be able to save enough money for retirement because there is ALWAYS someone who is willing to work for less. How do I break the cycle? I am thinking about leaving ESL and I am not a happy camper.