This business of teaching english

I recently turned down a lucrative teaching job offer because my recruiter wanted me to pretend i was American. Apparently this was the only way i could get the job since the school would only take 'native' language speakers. The tendency for recruiters and prospective teachers to collude in duping school officials is an everyday occurance in China, it is something i am uncomfortable with, but is certainly not the bases for my refusal of the offer. The reason is more complex than that.

School administrator's,parent's and student's insatiable appetites for the native' English speaking' teacher is based on a very 'dangerous' perception, one that reeks of bigotry. This perception assumes that it is possible to predict a person's capabilities based on their ethnicity/nationality/culture/religion etc. The mindset is such that, a person who is not an American, British etc cannot possibly speak or write proper English. Like all bigoted ideas, the perception has incredibly ridiculous flaws, for example, one hundred percent Americans have been refused teaching jobs because they are ethnically Chinese,imagine that rubbish.

It is not in dispute that English is presently the most widely spoken languge in the world, it also a fact that the greatest number of English speakers are second language speakers. English publications and usage of the language in business is very dominant.The contribution to the spread of the language was not the reserve of native speakers. African,Indian, Chinese etc(all non native language speakers) scholars have made immense contributions to literature,sciences, arts,etc. through the use of English. Prestigious universities in so called native language speaking countries have non native language speakers teaching English language and literature to 'native' English speaking students.

So by playing along with the deception just for the sake a money, i would have been prostituting my principles, and clearly insulting all non-native English speakers who have made, and continue to make significant contributions to science and humanities through the use of English.

Think about it!

U said it all but on a second thought man,u came here for money.Sometimes,just accept the job and when u are in class,tell the students where u are from.In the final analysis,if u are a good prof,they won't care abt ur nationality and believe me,u would be doing a great favour to all ur peeps from ur country.Each time someone from ur country comes to that school,he or she would be respected cos u left a positive image thur.Good luck anyway.

I have a hard time lying:about anything! Not just where I'm from.I am so forgetful and I'm afraid,i might say one thing today,and say the complete opposite tomorrow.Things like that catch up with you,then the shit hits the fan and that's nasty!
I think a lot of Chinese schools are getting a raw deal from 'English teachers' because most of these teachers,can hardly speak,or write proper English.God knows what they teach the poor kids in class.But then maybe it's more about image than actually learning English?? Maybe it's prestigious when kids go to schools that have 'native' English teachers.I've lost out on a few teaching jobs myself because of where I'm from.
Reality bites!

Yeah.They are more concerned about having a "white"teacher than having a good teacher.I say white cos sometimes,even blacks from the so -called native countries are rejected for being black.goshhh

Sorry to ask you this guys but, i just wanted to know what its like for a black guy in China(Shanghai).
Do the chinese girls like or hate black guys over there or do they prefer white guys? Are they racist?
The reason why i am asking is because i am planning to go there maybe this summer, can anyone help?
Thanx

Man you have been asking that same question over the last few months, and I believe some members have already replied to your questions...

Sorry to ask you this guys but, i just wanted to know what its like for a black guy in China(Shanghai).
Do the chinese girls like or hate black guys over there or do they prefer white guys? Are they racist?
The reason why i am asking is because i am planning to go there maybe this summer, can anyone help?
Thanx

I agree with you Pat,the whole racism thing is a little tired.Plus Mac,it's there on other threads,I think.

Hey man I strongly agree with you on this. I am an African American and I along with you have been denied several lucrative positions soley based on my color and not my credentialss. When I was in Shenyang my white friends got better deals, more opportunities and better money despite the their lack of education. I have a Bachelors degree in American Literature and another degree in Hotel management and Tourism. But I still find an increasing difficulty in landing a decent wage. Actually up here in the northern reagon of China I am treated no better than a dog or a zoo animal. The parents and the university students look down upon me. Simply based on color. In fact the only feasible thing that I have here is my passport. I try to take advantage of that. I understand its much worse for people directly from Africa. I also hate the fact that some Africans lie about where they come from. In the long run it actually destroys chances for people like me to get ahead and prove that blacks in genral can be just as good teachers as whites and in many cases a lot better. I dont see the difference in "Native Speakers" anyway. A chinese student 99% of the time will never have an accent of a so called "native speaker".
White is right in this country and until we prove otherwise what can we do? Last month I saw how horrificly the Chinese media potrayed Nigeria. I couldn't even understand what the hell that nigerian ambassedor to China was saying in English. it was embarrissing to Black people of all ethnicities. Actually the government here claims to be helping you but it's only trying to mimic USA by attempting to say.... "see we even help those poor starving, helpless little black children, we build houses for them and work in the hot weather. Look how advanced we are". Most people know China just wants the rich resources that Africa provides. If there were no resources China give to shits about being so diplomatic. Its sad but true. We have a long way to go ladies and gentlemen.  Anyway I'm new here and hope to be speaking with you dudes soon.

Ran- Fields