Excited
So what if I know more about dangling participles and comma splices than the typical white American? I’d be unqualified to teach English in China because of my skin color.
An article in the L.A. Times reports on the blatant job discrimination going on in China against Chinese Americans for ESL teaching positions. The overwhelming majority of language institutes prefer to hire white instructors. I would blame them, except the patrons of these institutes have white fever, loving all things blond haired and blue eyed, and the racist supply must meet the racist demand.
“I’ve had to deal with Chinese parents who have the mentality of ‘White is right,’” Benjamin Newbry, associate director of the Princeton Review test-preparation company in Shanghai, told reporters. “It’s just the idea that somehow if you’re white, it qualifies you, and skills don’t really matter. Being white becomes a plus on your job application.”
Or you don’t have to apply at all. Matt Froude, a 27-year-old white Australian was approached on a bus one day in Shanghai and without more, received a job offer to teach English.
The Chinese want to be taught by white people. When the English teacher isn’t white, “Chinese parents aren’t shy about complaining.” Newbry said these parents often “were up in my face” and could get “pretty aggressive when it comes to their kid’s learning environment.” Drawing in some of my experiences with the uncouth, overbearing, and tactless mainlanders I’ve met, I have a feeling Newbry’s comments are an understatement of what really goes on.
When interviewing the parents about their preference for white teachers, one parent unabashedly said, “Of course.” His rationale: “Their pronunciation is more precise.”
Are there laws in China against race discrimination? On paper, sure. Yet employers explicitly state age and gender requirements on job postings. What’s more, the applications for teaching positions at these language institutes require photos. This requirement is why someone like Jennifer Ashley, who graduated from Cal. State L.A. with a degree in English didn’t get hired–she’s a dark-skinned Eurasian and her photo would have clearly shown that.
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I understand how you feel, but I have to agree with some of the others... Racism in employment is the defacto standard in many parts of the world, but especially Asia. In Malaysia (which has a 35% Chinese population) it is very common to explicitly post the desired race in a job advertisement. In Singapore, companies have to be more subtle. If they want to hire a Chinese person, they will post the ad in a Chinese language newspaper or website (Since only Chinese people speak Chinese, right? wink wink) or vice versa for any other race/normal language group except for English.
People in mainland China are raised in an environment where yes, English is spoken only by white people with attractive light skin, big round eyes, and wide smiles of pearly white teeth. Is it racist to think this way? Sure, of course it is. But the sad truth is that this is how things are in China. Times are changing, and people in the mainland are much less racist now than they were just 20 years ago, but the people of the middle kingdom (china) have a long way yet to go. Please try to be patient with them.
but what if i am Chinese-American with a total American accent, a horrible Chinese pronunciation and couldn't understand half of their complaints?
nooopppeee.. i have a feeling that they would be still prejudice!
but what if i am Chinese-American with a total American accent, a horrible Chinese pronunciation and couldn't understand half of their complaints?
nooopppeee.. i have a feeling that they would be still prejudice!
cr f hspnc r jpns gy rlls my ssh.
hspncs wll sy fw wrds lk mg ndly, ndly, whch wll dsrpt th sprt f th ssh rll.
Jpns ppl wll d crmns fr ch ngrdnt ncldd n th rll.
wnt t knw f 'm gttng th fll jpns ssh xprnc.
Dnng s ll bt th xprnc nd f nythng s ff thn th xprnc, tst, nd cstcy f tng ssh bcms dsppntmnt.
cr f hspnc r jpns gy rlls my ssh.
hspncs wll sy fw wrds lk mg ndly, ndly, whch wll dsrpt th sprt f th ssh rll.
Jpns ppl wll d crmns fr ch ngrdnt ncldd n th rll.
wnt t knw f 'm gttng th fll jpns ssh xprnc.
Dnng s ll bt th xprnc nd f nythng s ff thn th xprnc, tst, nd cstcy f tng ssh bcms dsppntmnt.
I go to a Japanese Restaurant Franchise in London, called Benihana.
The Chefs are Filipino.
We even got them to a party and they were showing all the filipinos how to roll sushi.
I go to a Japanese Restaurant Franchise in London, called Benihana.
The Chefs are Filipino.
We even got them to a party and they were showing all the filipinos how to roll sushi.
Did the person who wrote this article even read the L.A. Times article she cited? I was interviewed for, and quoted in the article, and I did not say that I wasn't hired, nor am I a dark-skinned Eurasian. I am, in fact, relatively fair-skinned and I was, in fact, hired. My contract wasn't renewed at the end of the year (until the school in question realized that foreign teachers weren't flocking to it), but it's really hard to say whether that's due to the fact that I'm part Asian or some other reason. What I told the reporter, who I felt was eager to put words into my mouth during the interview, was that I thought I had done a good job at the school, taking on extra classes when another teacher quit, never missing a class, etc.
Did the person who wrote this article even read the L.A. Times article she cited? I was interviewed for, and quoted in the article, and I did not say that I wasn't hired, nor am I a dark-skinned Eurasian. I am, in fact, relatively fair-skinned and I was, in fact, hired. My contract wasn't renewed at the end of the year (until the school in question realized that foreign teachers weren't flocking to it), but it's really hard to say whether that's due to the fact that I'm part Asian or some other reason. What I told the reporter, who I felt was eager to put words into my mouth during the interview, was that I thought I had done a good job at the school, taking on extra classes when another teacher quit, never missing a class, etc.
If someone asked me to choose a sushi chef out of say
Japanese, chinese (mainland), hispanic, korean, or white,
I would pick Japanese (because he's japanese) and will take sushi rolling way more seriously than all the other choices.
2nd: Korean (Cause he looks japanese) and they make Kim Pap, a relative of the sushi family: (tight sushi rolls are important)
3rd: white (cause the white man is serving the asian man)
4th: Hispanics (they don't want to lose their job so they have to give a good product)
5th: Chinese (Cause he doesn't give a sh*t how the sushi looks, and cares only if it sells)
If someone asked me to choose a sushi chef out of say
Japanese, chinese (mainland), hispanic, korean, or white,
I would pick Japanese (because he's japanese) and will take sushi rolling way more seriously than all the other choices.
2nd: Korean (Cause he looks japanese) and they make Kim Pap, a relative of the sushi family: (tight sushi rolls are important)
3rd: white (cause the white man is serving the asian man)
4th: Hispanics (they don't want to lose their job so they have to give a good product)
5th: Chinese (Cause he doesn't give a sh*t how the sushi looks, and cares only if it sells)
Yes there's many Hispanic (or simply Mexican) cooks working at restaurants. There's tons working for Panda Express. Probably because the owners can pay cheap labor.
Reminds me of Joy Koy's joke of thanking the Mexicans for cooking Orange Chicken.
Not sure how I feel about CBAs being discriminated in China because they are not White. Is the same thing happening in other countries like Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, etc?
Then there's the case of going to another country to learn English. Other Asians, such as Koreans, also have been going to the Philippines to learn English.
Yes there's many Hispanic (or simply Mexican) cooks working at restaurants. There's tons working for Panda Express. Probably because the owners can pay cheap labor.
Reminds me of Joy Koy's joke of thanking the Mexicans for cooking Orange Chicken.
Not sure how I feel about CBAs being discriminated in China because they are not White. Is the same thing happening in other countries like Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, etc?
Then there's the case of going to another country to learn English. Other Asians, such as Koreans, also have been going to the Philippines to learn English.
@Jesse!: Itu00e2u0080u0099s not u00e2u0080u009cthe other way around.u00e2u0080u009d White people have no disadvantage in securing jobs teaching Mandarin in the West especially at the university level. And the Asian parents over here arenu00e2u0080u0099t going to complain.
At my college for foreign language classes you had attend discussion classes in conjunction with a lecture course. The lecture could be taught by anyone who is an effective instructor but the discussion should be taught by someone who possesses proper pronunciation skills. And itu00e2u0080u0099s rare to find non-Asians who not only have the pronunciation skills but also have the knowledge to explain u00e2u0080u009creal worldu00e2u0080u009d phrases or pronunciation. From what I gather, westerners are hired in China to teach discussion style classes not to explain the intricacies of English to some kid who canu00e2u0080u0099t understand English.
@John: Letu00e2u0080u0099s not change the subject from native English speakers of Asian descent not being able to teach English in China to itu00e2u0080u0099s odd to see Latinos working in Asian restaurants in America. Asian Americans teaching English in China shouldnu00e2u0080u0099t be viewed as the equivalent of seeing non Asian geishas in Japan. If it is the same thing then Asian Americans have no business Americanizing and fooling ourselves into thinking we can be u00e2u0080u009cAmerican.u00e2u0080u009d
Youu00e2u0080u0099re missing what is really going on here. Itu00e2u0080u0099s not simply about expectations. People in China are getting white washed and white people are there to help glamorize western culture. And Asian westerners certainly cannot glamorize or fetishize western culture as well as a white person no matter how well we speak English. Private English speaking schools or the business of teaching English in East Asia is never simply about teaching English.
@James: First of all, youu00e2u0080u0099ve given the figures for the lowest salary bracket meaning the salary that Asian westerners would receive if they could find a job. True English teaching jobs donu00e2u0080u0099t pay much anyway but the cost of living is so incredibly low in China and the cost of living is so high in NYC, LA, SF that youu00e2u0080u0099ll actually earn much more teaching English in China than you would working at McDonalds in big city America. Plus some of those schools in China give you a free apartment with all utilities paid. And remember, the reasons why Asians and non Asians go to China to teach is not simply an issue of salary anyway. For instance, white people certainly have their extra privileges in Asia. Asian westerners definitely lose out.
@Jesse!: Itu00e2u0080u0099s not u00e2u0080u009cthe other way around.u00e2u0080u009d White people have no disadvantage in securing jobs teaching Mandarin in the West especially at the university level. And the Asian parents over here arenu00e2u0080u0099t going to complain.
At my college for foreign language classes you had attend discussion classes in conjunction with a lecture course. The lecture could be taught by anyone who is an effective instructor but the discussion should be taught by someone who possesses proper pronunciation skills. And itu00e2u0080u0099s rare to find non-Asians who not only have the pronunciation skills but also have the knowledge to explain u00e2u0080u009creal worldu00e2u0080u009d phrases or pronunciation. From what I gather, westerners are hired in China to teach discussion style classes not to explain the intricacies of English to some kid who canu00e2u0080u0099t understand English.
@John: Letu00e2u0080u0099s not change the subject from native English speakers of Asian descent not being able to teach English in China to itu00e2u0080u0099s odd to see Latinos working in Asian restaurants in America. Asian Americans teaching English in China shouldnu00e2u0080u0099t be viewed as the equivalent of seeing non Asian geishas in Japan. If it is the same thing then Asian Americans have no business Americanizing and fooling ourselves into thinking we can be u00e2u0080u009cAmerican.u00e2u0080u009d
Youu00e2u0080u0099re missing what is really going on here. Itu00e2u0080u0099s not simply about expectations. People in China are getting white washed and white people are there to help glamorize western culture. And Asian westerners certainly cannot glamorize or fetishize western culture as well as a white person no matter how well we speak English. Private English speaking schools or the business of teaching English in East Asia is never simply about teaching English.
@James: First of all, youu00e2u0080u0099ve given the figures for the lowest salary bracket meaning the salary that Asian westerners would receive if they could find a job. True English teaching jobs donu00e2u0080u0099t pay much anyway but the cost of living is so incredibly low in China and the cost of living is so high in NYC, LA, SF that youu00e2u0080u0099ll actually earn much more teaching English in China than you would working at McDonalds in big city America. Plus some of those schools in China give you a free apartment with all utilities paid. And remember, the reasons why Asians and non Asians go to China to teach is not simply an issue of salary anyway. For instance, white people certainly have their extra privileges in Asia. Asian westerners definitely lose out.
gosh..now i'm a bit worried..i'm thinking of applying for a english teaching job in shanghai...i'm chinese-canadian...sigh...what kinda world is this...
gosh..now i'm a bit worried..i'm thinking of applying for a english teaching job in shanghai...i'm chinese-canadian...sigh...what kinda world is this...
So what if non whites have trouble getting hired teaching English in China? Those chinese schools only pay like 500-750 bucks a month. It's not like teaching English in China is a glamour job. You can flip burgers in any McDonalds here in the U.S. and make double that. All those whitties who teach English in China = ppl who can't cut it in the U.S.
So what if non whites have trouble getting hired teaching English in China? Those chinese schools only pay like 500-750 bucks a month. It's not like teaching English in China is a glamour job. You can flip burgers in any McDonalds here in the U.S. and make double that. All those whitties who teach English in China = ppl who can't cut it in the U.S.
It's not just China. I've seen this in the US as well, in English / TOEFL classes. The teachers are all white. Not just white, but pale white.
It's not just China. I've seen this in the US as well, in English / TOEFL classes. The teachers are all white. Not just white, but pale white.
What the--?? And the Mandarin Chinese teacher in my high school was white.
What the--?? And the Mandarin Chinese teacher in my high school was white.
Chanster!!!! Where have you been??? No word from you in months and then you show up on 8Asians?!?
Chanster!!!! Where have you been??? No word from you in months and then you show up on 8Asians?!?
You know...it seems like all the Mexican places I frequent here in nyc are run by Chinese...do you guys in Kansas actually have authentic Mexicans making your burritos? or are they all just working in Chinese restaurants too? ;)
You know...it seems like all the Mexican places I frequent here in nyc are run by Chinese...do you guys in Kansas actually have authentic Mexicans making your burritos? or are they all just working in Chinese restaurants too? ;)
*sigh* .... people are retarded.
*sigh* .... people are retarded.
Dude, a Hispanic guy can roll sushi just as well as a Japanese guy. One's race does not determine the awesomeness of one's sushi rolling skills... nor does it determine one's awesomeness in speaking and teaching English. These narrow "expectations" should not prevent people from gaining employment, because they're irrational.
Dude, a Hispanic guy can roll sushi just as well as a Japanese guy. One's race does not determine the awesomeness of one's sushi rolling skills... nor does it determine one's awesomeness in speaking and teaching English. These narrow "expectations" should not prevent people from gaining employment, because they're irrational.
Bertie - well, I remember going to a Chinese restaurant in San Antonio (Texas) and all the waiters, waitresses, and hostess were Hispanic. That was weird. And more recently, I went to a Din Tai Fung in Arcadia (California), and all the cooks in the kitchen appeared to be Hispanic as well.
I don't think people are retarded - they are just have a certain expectation when they go to eat at an "ethnic" restaurant, one just assumes that people from that ethnicity work there.
I mean, wouldn't it seem a little odd if you went to a Mexican restaurant in let's say Kansas, and everyone you saw working there was Asian?
As for the Chinese preference for white people teaching English in China - personally, I wouldn't take too much offense. I mean, I would feel sorry that an Asian-American would have a harder time finding a job teaching English, but I would just expect that.
Bertie - well, I remember going to a Chinese restaurant in San Antonio (Texas) and all the waiters, waitresses, and hostess were Hispanic. That was weird. And more recently, I went to a Din Tai Fung in Arcadia (California), and all the cooks in the kitchen appeared to be Hispanic as well.
I don't think people are retarded - they are just have a certain expectation when they go to eat at an "ethnic" restaurant, one just assumes that people from that ethnicity work there.
I mean, wouldn't it seem a little odd if you went to a Mexican restaurant in let's say Kansas, and everyone you saw working there was Asian?
As for the Chinese preference for white people teaching English in China - personally, I wouldn't take too much offense. I mean, I would feel sorry that an Asian-American would have a harder time finding a job teaching English, but I would just expect that.
Yeah this is old news, but you'll also find similar positioning the other way around. When I was learning Mandarin here in SF, we had one white teacher and one Chinese. Perhaps with some irony, I learned a bit more from the white teacher since he had also learned Mandarin as a second language i.e., he had experienced what I was going through and struggling with...
I'm actually a big proponent that the first year or so of foreign language instruction should be taught by "one of your own" who has also learned the foreign language like you... then later maybe transfer to native speakers to get the accents and such right. There are exceptions to this of course... but that's how I've learned best.
In China and Asia generally, you see that American media has done a good job letting everybody know that if you are American, you are white. If not, you're sorta fake American. Also, people are retarded.
Yeah this is old news, but you'll also find similar positioning the other way around. When I was learning Mandarin here in SF, we had one white teacher and one Chinese. Perhaps with some irony, I learned a bit more from the white teacher since he had also learned Mandarin as a second language i.e., he had experienced what I was going through and struggling with...
I'm actually a big proponent that the first year or so of foreign language instruction should be taught by "one of your own" who has also learned the foreign language like you... then later maybe transfer to native speakers to get the accents and such right. There are exceptions to this of course... but that's how I've learned best.
In China and Asia generally, you see that American media has done a good job letting everybody know that if you are American, you are white. If not, you're sorta fake American. Also, people are retarded.
One time I was out at a sushi restaurant, and my friend voiced her concern that the people rolling the sushi appeared to be Hispanic and not Japanese. I was like, are you kidding me?
People are retarded.
One time I was out at a sushi restaurant, and my friend voiced her concern that the people rolling the sushi appeared to be Hispanic and not Japanese. I was like, are you kidding me?
People are retarded.
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