Experience of asian teachers - the good & the bad

[newborn_doe]

Hi peeps. I'm heading to Nagoya (or somewhere around there) next year to teach in an Eikawa. I am a Chinese-Australian, so I can pretty much blend into Japanese society (visually). I can't speak Japanese, still struggling to learn Hiragana and Katakana, ignoring Kanji until I'm desperate

Comments

[korpsy]

Well I'm a half-Japanese English teacher and I have had few to no problems teaching here. Granted, I look less Asian than you probably do, but there have been times where somebody (on a bus or something) starts blabbering to me in Japanese until I turn to face them. They usually just say 'Oh, excuse me!' when they see that I'm not Japanese/don't understand.

I think it really depends on where you are living. I'm in Kyoto and there are so many foreigners here (Chinese, Korean, Thai Asians too!) that I don't see how it would be unusual or a problem to be a non-Japanese Asian.

I really think you have nothing to worry about :o)

[newborn_doe]

Haha, it's good that they can realise themselves that you are not Japanese. But do they stop talking to you then, meaning, being intimidated by a less foreign looking person?

Thanks, it's good to know that non-Japanese asian teachers are not rare :)

[korpsy]

If I make a wide-eyed face like I don't understand, they will stop talking to me simply because they get that I don't understand. But I'm sure that if I responded in Japanese and wanted to talk with them they would be thrilled to do so.

I've only worked in Japan for a year and a bit, and at several different schools I've met a Chinese-American, two other half-Japanese, and a Korean. Definitely not rare!

[zenhansei]

I'm Korean-American and had the same worries as you before I took my job

[newborn_doe]

Phew, seems like there won't be much trouble with young students.

Ooh, your case can take quite long to explain. I can understand why you find it annoying. It seems like a natural thing for people to ask you about Korea if they didn't hear the whole story. :D

Thanks for sharing your experiences with me. I feel less worried now. Cross my fingers and hope where I'm going has a understanding community.

[zenhansei]

The little kids especially don't find me intimidating and I love going to the preschools and kindergartens and playing with them. The downside is that they assume that you can speak Japanese (and understand them perfectly) but hey, they're 4-5 years old. They're not being mean about it.

[newborn_doe]

Ah kids, they are less complicated than adults. At least if they like you they will show it, and vice versa if they dislike you. Not like adults who will put on a polite facade and hide their real thoughts behind their masks.

And kids don't ask a lot of questions about your parentage and what nots! Good simple kids! :)

no need for "stupid gaijin" card

[aimegami]

even at the bank when you show your gaijin card, people seem to disbelieve that you can't really speak that much Japanese

Re: no need for "stupid gaijin" card

[newborn_doe]

Ah crap, and I thought flipping out my gaijin card would be my sure way of saying 'I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!' in all situations.

Haha, the managers would assume WRONG about me. But getting more students (even if they are kids) would be a definite plus! I can already imagine myself now: No, kiddies, I DON'T understand Japanese. I really don't! Go away or I'll kick you!!

I agree a lot will depend on the place and people I am in contact with. But it's good to hear that they won't quit your class just because they expect a blond babe teaching them :D

[roque]

I knew a Chinese-Australian girl who worked for my eikaiwa. the kids loved her and she loved it here. so there ya go.

[newborn_doe]

Thanks for sharing that info. From what I've gathered, kids don't really care about your lineage/looks compared to adults.

[atashida]

I have a Japanese-American friend who did JET and had a great time. There are definitely some.

It *could* be that people will mistake you for Japanese and try to talk to you in Japanese...I had a Korean-American friend who pretty much looked like he was Japanese to everyone. If that happens, you just gotta shrug, or pull out some accented "sumimasen, wakarimasen." Unless they're obnoxious, they'll get it - and there are obnoxious people everywhere.

[newborn_doe]

Yes, I can see that happening to me all the time. Now all I have to do is practice that phrase in many different accents, I'll wakarimasen their butts off if they don't leave me alone - this could be fun! XD