Undervalued
Native English Speaker as teachers of English always have the advantage of better pay and benefits that goes along with it compared to Non-Native Speakers, they are held in a pedestal like status by schools and parents. White skin, blue eyes and blond hair would be enough to pass as a teacher in many countries in South East Asian nations.
Backpackers many years back had the habit of working as teachers of English in government schools hired directly or employed by an agency with the soul purpose of extending their trips. As the month end comes schools are left with classrooms minus their English teachers.
International Schools source their teachers directly from the UK or US, educated and trained professionals familiar with the curriculum offered. But what about those government/public schools that requires English teachers how do they source their foreign teachers?
Language schools or agencies to some hires foreign nationals to work "for" them as teachers. They bind these people through contracts with clause prohibiting existing employees applying directly at schools they are working with.
Agencies prepare their portfolio like a scout heading out to sell cookies. They weave their districts presenting their homemade curriculum and pictures of handsome men and good looking women to entice unsuspecting school coordinator. Whether they can teach or not agencies get their share.
Fast forward and language schools are everywhere.
The Battle Begins
Tourists are literally offered jobs as esl teachers by language reps scouting tourist areas even enticing those who might know somebody who have any interest in working as an esl teacher with monetary bonuses for every people hired. The desirable prospects are Americans, New Zealander, Australian and the Brit's.
What happens when those well sought after people ran out of supply? International Schools not affected by this situation only those private schools and public schools who source their teachers via agencies.
Business opportunity appears on the horizon. Local universities started offering international programs for foreigners who wish to achieve a bachelor's degree and they were flocked by teachers needing a degree to qualify to work in schools who offer bigger salaries and benefits placing agencies in dire situation of loosing their milking goat.
When native speakers jumped ships for bigger pay agencies are left with no choice but to hire and build image to their next best nationals. White non-native speakers.
