By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: I am from a India Non-Native English Country, can i get teaching job in Guangzhou or not?
I live in panyu,Guangzhou. I want to be a English Teacher. is it possible for me to get a teaching job in China. Since i am not from a Native English Country i getting difficulties in getting a job. PLease tell me what kind of JOb can i get. I am MBA in Finance and HUman REsource by qualification and Graduate in Commerce. With 2 Years working experience in My country. i am currently working as a DBMS ans HRIS OPerations Administrator in a Indian Compnay But now i looking for a foreign english teacher JOb, part time or full time no problem.
12 years 45 weeks ago in Business & Jobs - China
I'm from Russia, I've been teaching English in college for 10 years. Although Chinese like "natives" but if you show them you're qualified, they will at least consider you. Never stop educating yourself, show genuine interest in English & teaching, don't be boring in the class, vary activities, pick up discussion topics that are related to your students (e.g. Is it a good idea to date while you're a student? or Who should pay for the date?) , show respect for their culture, learn some Chinese, watch English movies, do something in English every day. Chinese students prefer foreign teachers to local ones because we bring life to the class, we don't read boring books, goof off or clock watch. I always say to my new students, " I'm from Russia & I understand your reaction. If you find my class boring, useless, or if you find me unqualified, you are free not to come to my class". I always have a full classroom of students & my class always runs over because by the end of the class they understand that it's OK to make mistakes & ask stupid questions, so everyone wants to try. What is more, they never come up with lame excuses like My English is bad because I'm Chinese. I say," I'm Russian, but it doesn't give me the privilege of speaking mediocre English". I'm not saying it's going to be a piece of cake to find a job & keeping the job, but it's worth a shot.
I want to encourage all the non-native speakers who are working or job hunting in China. We're not second class teachers, English doesn't belong to the US, Canada or any particular country, it belongs to the world. You can say I'm not a native speaker but you can't say my English sucks. I don't think it's a challenge to teach your native language, but it is a challenge to teach your second language, to learn the third language (Chinese in my case) & to keep yourself posted when it comes to the recent changes in your language. Cheers!
MissA:
This is an excellent answer, Elena. Your English is perfect, which surely also helps a lot. One thing I'd disagree with though - it is difficult to learn to teach your native language. Learning how to effectively communicate with and engage students in such a way as to maximize your own students' learning is a difficult thing indeed, no matter if you're teaching your first, second or third language.
maggiegirly:
I agree with MissA,Your English is just as perfect as native English speakers,That's the point .since you are from Russia and I am sure you are white,Schools in China always prefer to hire white people. As a Chinese, I feel sorry for that ,we should just hire people as long as he or she is qualified no matter who you are,white,black,Asian or others. Everyone should be treated equally.
Hulk:
You go, girl. I only care about ability and pronunciation. I don't give a hoot where anyone comes from, as long as they've got the skill.
:
Elena, you've just made me feel proud for being a non-native English teacher. Thanks so much. I had no idea about this thread. How did I miss it?
:
Well, Hulk you're more familiar with this place than I am. I am on this forum for like 7 months or so. Anyway, it is encouraging to me what Elena said. I am glad to came up with this thread. In the meantime, I hope the op had found something suitable to his professional skills and needs.
Please stop and think. Most persons native to India do speak English, but do also have a heavy accent.
\WHY CHINESE SCHOOLS SEEK "NATIVES" and do not use one of the Chinese graduating from their own language schools?. Because of the accent.
I doubt seriiously you could find a school that will hire you, except if they have been looking for a teacher for a while and can not find one.
Maybe you should try your luck with private tutoring instead.
JustinF:
Have you every heard an Irish, Geordie, or Australian speak? Me neither, they just make sounds.
YOU WILL FIND WORK BUT MAYBE IN A SMALLER CITY YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK VERY HARD AND search schools yourself. you will have to settle for a low paying gig, 3000rmb maybe
Anonymous! Looking at your written English I would seriously stay in the position you are in. I mean come on, look at your poor use of grammar, spelling mistakes and punctuation errors. I don't think English teaching is for you!
I'm sure you will if you will look hard enough. But before you do that, don't you want to consider improving your written/ spoken English first? I mean ESL teaching is an obligation it is not JUST something you do 'just because'. Have heart to your future students.
I'm from Russia, I've been teaching English in college for 10 years. Although Chinese like "natives" but if you show them you're qualified, they will at least consider you. Never stop educating yourself, show genuine interest in English & teaching, don't be boring in the class, vary activities, pick up discussion topics that are related to your students (e.g. Is it a good idea to date while you're a student? or Who should pay for the date?) , show respect for their culture, learn some Chinese, watch English movies, do something in English every day. Chinese students prefer foreign teachers to local ones because we bring life to the class, we don't read boring books, goof off or clock watch. I always say to my new students, " I'm from Russia & I understand your reaction. If you find my class boring, useless, or if you find me unqualified, you are free not to come to my class". I always have a full classroom of students & my class always runs over because by the end of the class they understand that it's OK to make mistakes & ask stupid questions, so everyone wants to try. What is more, they never come up with lame excuses like My English is bad because I'm Chinese. I say," I'm Russian, but it doesn't give me the privilege of speaking mediocre English". I'm not saying it's going to be a piece of cake to find a job & keeping the job, but it's worth a shot.
I want to encourage all the non-native speakers who are working or job hunting in China. We're not second class teachers, English doesn't belong to the US, Canada or any particular country, it belongs to the world. You can say I'm not a native speaker but you can't say my English sucks. I don't think it's a challenge to teach your native language, but it is a challenge to teach your second language, to learn the third language (Chinese in my case) & to keep yourself posted when it comes to the recent changes in your language. Cheers!
MissA:
This is an excellent answer, Elena. Your English is perfect, which surely also helps a lot. One thing I'd disagree with though - it is difficult to learn to teach your native language. Learning how to effectively communicate with and engage students in such a way as to maximize your own students' learning is a difficult thing indeed, no matter if you're teaching your first, second or third language.
maggiegirly:
I agree with MissA,Your English is just as perfect as native English speakers,That's the point .since you are from Russia and I am sure you are white,Schools in China always prefer to hire white people. As a Chinese, I feel sorry for that ,we should just hire people as long as he or she is qualified no matter who you are,white,black,Asian or others. Everyone should be treated equally.
Hulk:
You go, girl. I only care about ability and pronunciation. I don't give a hoot where anyone comes from, as long as they've got the skill.
:
Elena, you've just made me feel proud for being a non-native English teacher. Thanks so much. I had no idea about this thread. How did I miss it?
:
Well, Hulk you're more familiar with this place than I am. I am on this forum for like 7 months or so. Anyway, it is encouraging to me what Elena said. I am glad to came up with this thread. In the meantime, I hope the op had found something suitable to his professional skills and needs.
Man,let's face the reality:
1.As you said,you are from India ,obviously,English is not your first language like us.that's alright If your English is awesome,the point is,your English seems not good enough to teach English to be honest,Look at your Grammar mistakes and spelling mistakes.
2. As all we known that most Indian people have a very strong accent when they speak English,and they like to speak as fast as Native English speakers ,It seems it's the way to tell people how good of their English .I always have problems to understand them for some reason.
3, Guangzhou is a place with big competition cause a lot of people want to teach English here ,nice weather,well paid and close to HongKong,that makes sense.
Good luck.Man
You could but your English has to be absolutely impeccable. Perfect grammar and no stereotypical Indian accent. It could be tough but I see tons of job offers from Panyu. Good luck.
Thank you, guys. I'm flattered. My English is not perfect, of course. I take great pleasure in speaking it, I like the way it sounds & I want to share my passion for this language with my students.
When people say, "I'm afraid you're not qualified" , we frown, get angry & walk away, but we never listen, we never question our own qualification. In order to find a job, you have to bone up on your English which you cannot do without realizing that your English doesn't cut the mustard.
My Indian friend, I wish you every success in 2013 & always. I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for if you put your heart into it & brush up on your English.
Cheers, Elena.
I'm from Eastern Europe.
I recently had an interview (arranged by an agent) where the lady who interviewed me told me: "We hire only native speakers, this part of the city..."
If I'm not mistaken what she meant was "Our clients are rich, they want real foreigners".
Yep, even Chinese Americans are not American enough to teach here.
Maybe you could try to teach finance instead. Finance, E-commerce, Marketing, economics or Human resource are better ideas than English perhaps? We once had a Spanish teacher teaching finance in our university. Good luck!
I'm in the same situation buddy. I lived and studied in UK, learned native English pronunciation. But that's never helped me here in Guangzhou. I have to admit that I never been or will be like a native speaker and they're deserved to get a high wage. Just learn Chinese, not only speaking, but also writing and reading. It's not that difficult as you think, I managed to learn 600 Chinese characters in 2 months. I am sure it will secure my future.
And teaching is not for my nose
of course! nobody can stop you, just be ready to answer questions from the students. they are sometimes more clever and knowledgeable.
Seriously..!! MBA in finance so and so... with such grammar mistakes...no chance..!!
I seriously doubt the guy is a quack..!!
Please stop posting such things.. at least for the sake of fellow Indian expats..
dont waste your time trying. It's difficult for europeans, and almost impossible for non-european and dark-skinned people. we normally associate color and ethnicity with particular traits and it's hard to break stereotypes. use your time where you have a higher probability of succeeding.
You will be surprised, but all you need is to find the right person. Now if you have an accent and so on and so forth that won't matter because they will just tell you to say you are from the United Kingdom. Everybody knows there are many Indians living and working in the UK. Although you aren't from the UK they will ask you to tell them that you are. I met a girl from Zimbabwe and she had a strong accent and they just told her to tell people that she was from the UK.
It's called the cover up! If you don't feel comfortable in doing this then don't lie. They tell you to say this, but nobody really asks!
Just recently was checking this site for jobs. Check page 13, non-native English speakers can apply to a school in Ningbo, 6500 /month.
If the salary is lower then 7000 & it's not a first tier city, just go for it. They cannot find so many native speakers but the demand for English teachers in China is on the rise.
i got a lady a teacher position in a small city here in shandong, she had a masters in education from berkeley but her passport was from hungary. the school she works for could not hire her in a tier 2 city but the school they have in a tier 3 hired her. she has now been here 2 years, good luck to you
British and Americans most of them are innocent and even without any bachelor degree they are being recruited by Chinese people... Chinese are intelligent one day they will kick them out of country and will say in English "stupid fellows".... That day they will come to know what is the value for English language
These people had spent half of their lives in bars ,discos,babysitting,dancing,singing... so better don't disturb them let them eat their bread peacefully..... Develop your skill in your career
dokken:
You sound very bitter. Pathetic even. I took my job as an English teacher seriously and I worked hard. I prepared for many hours every week and I made a difference to my students. Their English improved. It is doubtful that non-native speakers can teach English in a skilled engaging way. This is why the Chinese insist on native speakers to teach English. In the U.K it is expected that Mandarin teachers will be Chinese.
I was just an English teacher yet I made more money than you ever will. You jealous? I think so.
Stiggs:
@dokken, read his only other post and you'll see he's not exactly thriving here in China. It would explain his bitter outlook on life.
My guess is he can't get a job teaching because he's not a native speaker and probably thinks it's unfair so he blames the people who can teach here for stealing his job.
expatlife26:
Yeah! You should be ashamed of yourself!
America and the British Empire are the back-to-back world war champions and you should show some respect to that unrivaled achievement.
If not for them you could probably still be a part of the Austro-Hungarian empire and having to worship strictly the Habsburg ruler.
So every time you feel good you don't have to pray to Vienna, enjoy traveling through the Suez or Panama Canal, or eat fish and chips remember that these excellent conditions today would not exist without bravery, skill, industrial power, and determination of the anglosphere.