Curse of the white face
I’m not a teacher.
I never trained to be one, I never planned to be one.
Because I was born in Australia, I have an automatic ticket to teach English in various places around the globe. This gives me an excellent opportunity to live in places like Hefei and Tokyo without having to do any real hard work, which I am glad for, but I don’t want to actually BE a teacher.
I get stopped in the street and asked to teach people’s children, which is somewhat reasonable, but I have also had strangers appear at my apartment door pushing their rather reluctant children into my home… not quite so reasonable.
I don’t dislike teaching in itself, although it is probably at the bottom of my list of jobs I would wish to do again. I just dislike the assumption that I am white, and in China, so that’s what I do.
I really am much more useful to the world doing what I am qualified to do and actually really enjoy doing… at the moment, I am feeling just a little bit used…
Comments
be positive about it
pple look up to you, cheer up 
Thank-you Xin, I should be more positive, you are right!
Although you are a real teacher, so people will look up to you… me… well, I definitely shouldn’t be respected for my teaching ability! haha
People definitely have good impression of you. If you were really a teacher, imagine you don’t even have to advertise for things like tuition, etc…
They must be a reason for this!:)
I’m confused as I can’t really grasp by what you meant by being used…
Hi Nessa,
The only reason for the people wishing me to teach them is the colour of my skin, it is honestly all it comes down to.
A friend was yesterday telling me how she was unable to get teaching work here despite her Graduate degree from England, teaching qualifications, and ability to speak English AND Chinese perfectly.
The same school that refused her work would take me on in a second, without considering my ability(or willingness) to teach.
This really illustrates the fact that I am just a face to be marketed, and nothing more.
That is what makes me feel used, as it is so obviously only my appearance that matters.
Also it makes me so angry for the real teachers who are being replaced and for the students whose education suffers for it.
Now I understand…
I feel for your friend. These often happen here too (I would say due to prejudice)! ie. he/she is more beautiful, taller, well connected… life is never fair (sometimes)
It would be annoying to have ppl knocking on your door out of the blue & pushing their child to be taught without prior discussion & such.
I reckon you should start a teaching agency, get the qualified teachers to teach while you sit down and “supervise”. Haha.
That is an excellent idea Lisa! hehe.
I will send you a managers fee if I ever decide to start my own agency
Post a comment