By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: A non-native English speaker cannot teach History in a Chinese International School?
I am a professional teacher with a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in History, I have more than 3 years of experience and to be honest, I am a dam good teacher; however I have a little disadvantage… I am a Mexican.
I had tried again and again but all the “international” schools reject me, even the training schools or the foreign language schools.
I just have one simple question: Is really impossible for me to be a history teacher in China?
I should be contented with a glamorous career in the Chinese kindergartens?
12 years 20 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - Beijing
you have to ask yourslef one question. are you a MexiCan or a MexiCan't?
If you can speak Mandarin, then you got a great chance to be a history teacher in any school in China.
profenieto:
I don’t think the problem can be so easily solved. Even if I speak mandarin, I will still face many legal borders. You have to remember, I am Mexican.
Not in the bigger cites try 2nd or 3rd you might have more luck.The other thing is i never see many History jobs advertised, so they might good to native speakers first.
You might want to try the true international schools (the ones that legally don't allow Chinese nationals). The American school that my boys goes to have credentialed teachers from all ethnic backgrounds.
It may take some time and persistence to find what you want, but if you keep networking and keep positive, you will get what you are looking for eventually.
profenieto:
I totally concur with you about the positive attitude and perseverance. However, I think there is a deeper problem here. When you declare the presence of teachers from “multiethnic” backgrounds, in any school, you have to consider if these teachers are really so “multicultural”. If the school has teachers from India, South Africa, Australia or any other commonwealth nation, then I am not really sure how open to all the nationalities can be those so called “international schools”. I really want to see an international school where the teachers came from Cuba, Israel, Algeria, and of course “México”. Besides, I am not a native speaker and I studied in a university from a non-English speaking country.
crimochina:
you are not in new york city or london, this is china. accept the reality or go to a country that fits your "ideals"
profenieto:
Well, I have to admit it; you are right crimochina, but just in the part of: “accepting the reality”. Who can deny that in London or New York the situation is even worst. Maybe, that’s why you are here.
you need at least masters in history . with a BA you can "settle" for teaching english in public unis. but you should not have an accent
profenieto:
I already finish one in México and I begun another here. Thanks.
You do not need a masters degree in History, you just need to be a native speaker. There are jobs teaching History avaiIable. I was offered a job teaching Canadian History three months ago in a large public school near Shanghai. Strange, because I am Australian.
Even more bizarre was that they claimed they had refused a French Canadian guy with a degree in History. I would have thought the fact he was Canadian would be sufficient. Certainly preferable to an Australian that knows nothing about it. I declined the offer.
It could also depend on what type of History we are talking about. Is it a degree in Mexican History, or something similar that would make it more difficult?
profenieto:
Hahahahaha, that’s the kind of crap that is making me crazy!!! Concerning my major, it’s the Mexican equivalent to a “BA in History”, just like that. Our curriculum includes World History and Mexican History but at the last stages of the college, we are allow to choose some particular thematic (Mexican Colonial History, Art History, etc.) in which we can focus. In my case, I choose: “Contemporary World History”, however, that “specialization” is not stated in our diplomas which only acknowledge you as: “Bachelor of Arts in History”.
you have to ask yourslef one question. are you a MexiCan or a MexiCan't?
I am afraid getting the position is really going to be difficult. I am also trying to find a History teaching position, and I am a PhD in World History with great experience - but no, it just doesn't seem to interest anyone, as long as you are not a native English speaker.
Crazy Chinese so other foreign universities employing non native professors are crazy, right?
This is the sad reality of China - unless you are AP certified. If you are AP-Certified history teacher, finding work with good wages is not a problem. Good luck.
I agree with some of you. Even if you dont have degree or a Master degree in History but as long as you are Caucasian, you get the job teaching in History.
I am Asian American with US Certified License in Single subject in Social Science. The International School would not let teach US history.
Nothing surprises me anymore in China.
I have seen jobs ads going like: "German teacher needed, native speaker from USA, Canada, UK, Australia and NZ only".
Tells you much about the knowledge locals have of the outside world
DrMonkey:
You should screenshot that one, it's amazing ^^ I though only IT industry have such things, like "10 years experience in X", when X is 3 years old. It sounds like typical HR drone, who have no culture about what (s)he the potential recruits are supposed to know...
Native Speaker is term created by the Chinese to mean Caucasians.
Although I am from the US, I am a non native speaker (White). I taught US History, US Constitution & Government, World History, Geography, Western Civilization & Asian History, Math in the US & in the International High Schools in China.
Although most Chinese schools prefer Caucasians to teach History so as to make the history course look legitimate, I do get offers to teach History at International High Schools in China.
Besides being Jesuit Educated, I am also US Certified License teacher in Social Sciences, Accounting & Business & other subject teaching from the California State & Washington State. T teach bote AP Level & A Level.
I do not let the school discriminate me. I showed them I am better. If the Principal is a Foreign or Foreign educated Chinese, I get the teaching job. If the Principal is a local educated Chinese, he prefers a native speakers.
So be confident .
Native Speaker is term created by the Chinese to mean Caucasians.
Although I am from the US, I am a non native speaker (White). I taught US History, US Constitution & Government, World History, Geography, Western Civilization & Asian History, Math in the US & in the International High Schools in China.
Although most Chinese schools prefer Caucasians to teach History so as to make the history course look legitimate, I do get offers to teach History at International High Schools in China.
Besides being Jesuit Educated, I am also US Certified License teacher in Social Sciences, Accounting & Business & other subject teaching from the California State & Washington State. T teach bote AP Level & A Level.
I do not let the school discriminate me. I showed them I am better. If the Principal is a Foreign or Foreign educated Chinese, I get the teaching job. If the Principal is a local educated Chinese, he prefers a native speakers.
So be confident .
Stiggs:
"Native Speaker is term created by the Chinese to mean Caucasians."
Um, I think it's a term created to mean people who speak English as their native language.
I do agree that non- native speaking Caucasians are often passed off as native speakers though.
