Are you American?

[Niko]

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:

1. How old are you?
2. Are you an English teacher?
3. 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)

[worldtour]

Phil, seems you are carrying a pretty good sized chip on your shoulder. I do understand your feeling but I would guess that you are fairly new at this thing. Let's face it even those that hate us still embrace many aspects of our culture, case in point, music, film, dance, pop culture, fashion.

Here in Harbin China I am sometimes asked if I am Russian as we have a long history connected to Russia, it doesn't bother me. Many can tell the difference but some can't as we share some similarities. "Don't they realize that other countries speak English", well no, some don't. Many of my students think Australians speak Australian.

Tawain has stronger ties to America than to England, so I feel that is the natural conclusion. Sorry it makes you feel so, slighted! I educate my students in the differences in each way of speaking English and I always say both are correct and choose the one you like. I also inform them which verbage will not be understood, for instance, I put on my jumper. No one knows what that is in the U.S. or take the left at the first turning.

In case you hadn't realized it the whole world isn't beating down your door to get in, something I have no control over. Where we were born is fate, just be happy, you probably will never be accosted because of where you were born, whether you deserve it or not.

worldtour

[Tutor]

My experiences in India "Are you a foreigner?"

They don't differentiate between countries.

[ingramml]

That funny I am American but I am black. I will tell people that i am American and when one of my white friends show up they will turn around and ask them to make sure. It is something I have learned you can force someone out of their own ignorance.

[Baccusboy]

I'm American.

It's interesting to hear that people do that in Taiwan, too. They do it in Korea. I know people from Canada don't like being called American, either.

I've been thinking about having a story about this on my podcasting site:
The Midnight Runner Podcast from Seoul, South Korea

[waixingren]

It's very difficult to answer the repetitive questions honestly any more. I just tell people in China that I come from Foreignland. And when they ask if I like Chinese food, I respond that I used to weigh 300 lbs. (I'm only about 170 now...close to what I was when I arrived).

[exported_kiwi]

Yeah, agreed. The same mindless questions are mind numbingly boring and only illustrate that some teachers only come here to get paid, laid and drunk. The poor students are the big losers here as well as those of us who truly put our best foot forward in our chosen jobs.

[Teaching Supply]

First of all who doesn't take offense at being called American. However you can not really take to much harm from it as almost 50% of teachers in Asia come from the US and the US is the current largest political force in the world.

The Girlfriend question always cracks me up.

[studynz2008]

Maybe it is just a little impression on some people who can speak english can be associated as Americans. (no offense)

I can also speak and write English - But am not an American. =)