I think you can find work. Apply for jobs and get a contract BEFORE you come over and make sure you get a work visa first.

 Post your picture, maybe you can teach me English. 

target training schools or international schools (i mean the sham intl schools for the wealthy)

universities are the best places to work., but require 2 years experience (in china) if you have a MA or PHD they will over look the experience part.

know how to track schools on your own so you can avoid agents.

It's the nationality that counts, that and pronunciation. If you have good pronunciation and you are a native speaker you shouldn't have a hard time finding a teaching job.

Sadly, your boyfriend is right.  Asian Americans find it nearly impossible even if they have the best qualifications, etc.

KT, You have 9 months to think about an alternative to working in China.  As some board members express, you may have difficulty finding work here due to your physical appearance.

And don't mind Ted.  A good bloke, but lives somewhere in the hinterland of Canada and is desperate.  No neighbors, no one to talk to.  (Except some guy called Silva.)  Just lots of trees and brown bears.  I think he fishes for salmon and goes sledding all day for fun...

Seriously, look around.  It's a big world.  And the odds are gonna be against you here in China.  Try Europe or South America.  Seriously.  Lots of teaching jobs on those 2 continents.  And you won't run into the racial biases that await you in China.

Good luck, young lady!

I had a good friend who was an American with Chinese ancestry and I was told by my agency, “that the school I was applying with would only hire white teachers”. I would think that having a person similar to them speaking perfect English would be much more meaningful than having a white person do it. Little in China makes any sense let alone common sense. I have told my students that being prejudice is a sure what to limit their knowledge and that once they experience it first-hand perhaps they will actually understand what I meant.

I think you are supposed to be a Korean teacher.  We have locals for English teacher already.

The reason I am looking for an English teaching job in Guangzhou is because my boyfriend is moving there this month for his job.  I can't be a Korean teacher, as I don't speak any Korean.  I don't speak any language other then English and very basic Chinese (I am learning).  I was adopted by a white family in Minnesota when I was a year old.  And my English is better than most Americans!  I am working on getting my TEFL certificate this summer and hoping that will better qualify me for a teaching job.  I am planning on coming out for two weeks in November, hoping to get some interviews and then move there in January/February 2014.  I appreciate everyone's advice, but teaching somewhere other than Guangzhou is not an option for me.  I was just curious to see if anyone had any insight on the best way for me to find a teaching job despite my Asian appearance.

You sound discouraged try to get over that and just do your best at reaching your goal :- )
The small city I live in isn’t a good example for all of China. It’s a big world and things change every day. The economy is getting better all of the time so maybe too few people will want to come here and perhaps your chances will be better then. Contrary to what China thinks most people in the world don’t want to move here, hell none of my friends even want to visit. The world’s view of China is about one baby in a toilet drain from going down the crapper (pun intended)

There's an American Korean at my Uni. He's going to teach at another one next year. My Uni has about 45 foreigners, some non-natives too (Traveler). So yes, It's possible. Not sure about Guangzhou, never been there and not dying to go. Of course your English is better...many Americans can't even spell ...'their own language'.

Thank you for the encouragement!  I hope to read more encouraging comments! 

Hi there,

Not all native English speakers are good at what they do? Most can't even spell and they rest are here just for fun. So, I should say that you have a pretty good chance in getting a job. Once again, it is do with location. I am sure that you will easily get a teaching job up north as the Centres here are always looking for teachers.

Good luck.

I am having the same problem as yours. What am I suppose to do to get a job in China?

Manasyt,

Do you work at a university in Guangzho?  If so, which university?

Thanks for the help!

Nope. Xiamen.

Good Luck..and I know you wanna be with ur bf and all, but if u just wanna be close to him like in Asia...try Korea and EPIK, they are a public system and many of my "non-white" friends have been hired with no problems at all...

Thank you for the advice!  We will be living together in Guangzhou.  Do you think it would be easier to find a teaching job since I will already have a place to stay and won't need the free accommodations offered by most places?