[Hypiereon]

How can you get a job teaching English if you're not from America, Australia, Canada, or Great Britain? How can you overcome the bias of a possible employer?

This is a very hard question to answer, because no matter what response I give, there are always exceptions. More often than not, schools looking for teachers are looking for a "FACE" to advertise the fact that they have foreign teachers. Foreigners will be shown off like trophies, the local paper will take pictures, the school will put the foreingers face in advertisments for the school (even long after the foreigner is gone), and there is a whole lot of milage a school gets out of having that foreign "FACE" at the school.

This is extremely difficult for someone with an Asian face to overcome, even if they are better qualified to teach English. You have to understand what it is a prospective employer is looking for, and provide the answer to their problem. You cannot go in with the attitude of "You should hire me because I'm qualified" but rather go in with the mindset that "I am am the answer to your problem of finding a qualified teacher."

The best way to do this is to get to know your potential employer and let them get to know you before their bias kicks in. A way to do this is to explain your qualifications and ask if they are looking for someone like you. If they ask to see a picture, decline to provide any more information until they are sure they are looking for someone like you - in other words, get them to admit that you are at least qualified for the position.

Next, get a telephone number to call them. Ask for a phone number because you have "additional questions and would like to speak to someone over the phone if possible - e-mails are so impersonal aren't they?" Say whatever you have to in order to arrange a telephone call with the person who will choose whether or not to hire you. Don't waste your time and money calling someone who can't make a decision. The first rule of bargaining is to never accept the answer "No" from someone who can't say "Yes."

If your English ablity is fluent, native level, and has no discernable accent, this is what you are trying to show them by way of the phone call. They need to hear the sound of your voice. This will not prevent them from saying no, but if your English ability is really impressive, then it will impress. A white face is what they tend to look for first, no discernable accent second, and qualifications are what they look at third. Not a good way to do business, but I don't make the rules.

If you hit points two and three, talk in e-mails and telephone conversations about the importance of qualifications over ethnicity and see how the conversation flows. If they seem receptive, and you are talking contract details, then by all means go ahead and send your picture in at that time. If, however, they are hard to read or things are not going your way. Back off. Tell them you are not sure you are really interested in their school. Say, "it's not the contract details, but I just really need to be more confident that you need someone like me before I committ." This kind of talk will usually have them start working to persuade you to come, and once they tell you how bad they need you, it'll be real hard on their pride to back off of it - they can still manage it, but it will be hard for them to say "We don't need you" if they've just spent a few e-mails and phone calls telling you why they do.

In ALL cases, you need to disclose by way of a picture your true ethnicity and background. All this will come up eventually, and it would be rude to show up on their doorstep expecting them to take you in if you lied or never told them your true background. They really need to make an informed decision, and things will work out better for you in the end if they do.

What you really want to do is help them focus on what's really important - Qualifications and Ability - and downplay what they think is so important, such as a White face or being from a certain country.

If you're looking for places to work in, the best places to look for jobs teaching English is not in the public schools. They usually have no leeway to hire anyone other than what the job advertisment specifies. However, private companies and crash schools have the power to make decisions that are in the best interest of their company, and can change policy virtually at will. Public schools are rigid and inflexible, but private institutions can usually be persuaded to act in their own best interest when it means more money in their pocket.

Be the answer to their problem. Show them how hiring you is a better move that will help them make money in the long run. Show them how you are the solution to their search for a good qualified teacher. Don't thump your chest and whine. It's more work if you're not from the "prefered list" of countries, but it is possible if you're willing to put in the extra effort and diplomacy required.