Back off! I'm British! Teaching English in Taiwan is fun for the most part. However, it seems to me that all Taiwanese think us English teachers are from America?
Why do they think we are all Americans? Don't they realise that native English speaking teachers do come from other countries too?
At first I put up with it and politely told them that I wasn't American, but in fact British. However after being assumed as an American after the godzillionth time, I now refuse to answer this question within the first 5 minutes of talking to someone.
I turn the question back onto them and ask "Are you Chinese?".
Just be aware, that no matter which country you teach in, EVERYONE will assume you are American.
Other questions I commonly get asked within the first 5 minutes:
- How old are you?
- Are you an English teacher?
- Do you have a Taiwanese girlfriend? (commonly asked by the oldies)
No 3. "Do you have a Taiwanese girlfriend?" is my favourite. Why the hell they ask this questions keeps me baffled. In the UK, we would never ask such a question to someone we just met.
Teaching English abroad sure is a whole new experience!
Phil P.
(TESL Teacher - Keelung, Taiwan)