Desperately Seeking Answers

I am Patricia and I am from the UK. At present, due to the nature of my husband's job, we have been in New Zealand for the last four years. No complains so far. NZ is certainly a holiday destination I would recommend to anyone. It's absolutely beautiful!

I have a degree in English and I have been working in the UK and in NZ at various schools, primarily secondary as a teaching assistant. I also have an Advanced Tesol Certificate specialising in Grammar and Teaching Children which I qualified early this year.

I am at a point in my life where I am able to do something for myself. And that is to do what I love doing - teaching and making a small contribution to education globally.

Naively, I thought it would be easy for me to get a job anywhere teaching English since there is a demand for it on a global scale. I have tried very hard to find employment but I don't seem to be having much luck. Presumably with my qualifications, I am thinking I am employable. So where am I going wrong here???????

A little background of myself; I am of asian heritage (a chinese indian Malaysian) but I have lived most of my life in the UK. As far as I know, I speak British English. I am approaching fifty this year. Yes a huge milestone and it's only a number as far as I am concerned. However, I am proud to say that I don't appear to neither look nor behave like one. (whatever that is suppose to mean) How a fifty ought to behave or look, I wouldn't have a clue.

So bearing that in mind, please someone tell me if my asian heritage and my age are a disadvantage? It would be nice if someone working for Global Tesol College could answer this post. Much much appreciated. Thank you for reading!:-)

Patricia

I will be brave about this one. I have a close friend who has a degree and is a native English speaker born and raised in Western Canada. His great grandparents are from Southern China. Both his parents are ethnically asian. 2 years ago he applied for 30 positions in China. He recieved 10 replies. only 1 was willing to hire him. My friend speaks very little Cantonese. In my 5 years in China I have come to the conclusion that the schools would like to see more perception than reality when it involves hiring a foreign English speaker.

This is rather disappointing news but I had an inkling that this might be the case. C'est la vie.. Thank you so much Donald for sharing that piece of information with me.

Don't give up. Someone may decide reality is better than perception. After all, my friend did get hired.

Bloody Good News! I am hired! Perseverance and hard work have paid off!!!! I am just so excited ...........

Donald I am please to know that your friend got hired.

There might be those with a similar story like mine, Donald says 'Don't give up' and I certainly didn't!

Thanks everyone for reading my article.

Hello Mary and donald:

After applying to close to 50 positions, one of my good friends finely told me that unless I had blond hair and blue eyes good luck in trying to find work in China and or the middle east. Despite being born and raised in Canada (edmonton), and being a native english speaker, a lot of employers keep seeing just another non "blond hair blue eyed" individual. My parents are from Pakistan, so maybe that what it is.... But Donald I still havent given up, god willing there is something or someone out there that sees past the ethnicity.

Hello Mohsin

I have been here in China for the last 6 months and I am having one of the most wonderful experience of my life. I completely understand what you are going through but please keep plugging away. One day someone will give in and see you for who you are. Once you are in the loop, so to speak, and you have proven yourself how worthy and good at what you do, there's no turning back. The offers and appreciations keep pouring in. I hope this helps. Good Luck Mohsin. I am off to work now.

Patricia

With your qualifications you would be better off working with a high end recruiter for international or foreign language schools. They are MUCH more forgiving when it comes to Native Speaker or Color of Skin issues. They are looking for quality teachers regardless of race, age or nationality. My wife and I both work in these kinds of schools and someone like yourself would be a welcome fit. The key is these higher end schools don't post on typical ESL websites. Contact a professional recruitment agency for teachers and you will increase your odds tremendously!

Dear Anthony:

Thank you kindly for enlightening me with this information, I hope I am not a bother but may I ask which recruitment agency would be a great start or one that would be safe to try? Sorry for asking,..

Dear Mary:

Thank you kindly for your positive feedback, I still have my fingers crossed, and also feel even more confident thanks to Anthony's suggestions..

thank you both...