I am a Nigerian, a female. I speak very good English, have a B.Sc degree, teaching experience and presently work in an internationally acclaimed five star hotel. I was very glad when I discovered there were lots of teaching opportunities in Asia and decided to apply to some schools. However, I realized that this issue of being a non-native was really SOMETHING TO CONTEND WITH. I was very amazed and shocked to realize that RACISM is still so much in existence; else, how can you explain “White only” adverts? A native English speaker who is “black or colored” has slim chances of being employed not to mention a non-native speaker. Well, I only felt “so much ado for world peace and unity”. I however have few questions for Asian employers: “Do all natives have teaching ability? How would you feel if people from your country are denied contracts / employment, because of their skin color or nationality? “Is it not right to employ people based on merit?
Chinese, Koreans, Japanese and the likes are always in my country desiring one trade agreement or the other. If Nigerians and other non-native countries should decide not to trade with them because they aren’t “true white” how would they feel? We need each other across the globe; let’s stop making life difficult for one another.