Hello, all.
I was really unsure where to post this because much of it has to do with my experience as a teacher of English. I figured putting it here would at least be some kind of warning of the sensitive nature.
I am a 47 year old male licensed English teacher in the Philippines. In my country, there are literally thousands of schools for teaching English to Korean students. This is one of the boom industries here. (Admittedly, many of these schools are of questionable quality since there are no clear guidelines governing them.)
I taught English conversation in a speech center for six years back in the eighties, then stopped to study for my post-graduate, where I received high grades at a top state university reknowned for its Education grads. In short, I am, modesty aside, very qualified.
Yet, after more than four years of trying, I have been unable to find work in any of the Korean-dedicated language centers. The reason given me (when they bothered to give any at all) was unanimous: I was too old.
Supposedly, Korean students are 'uncomfortable' around male English teachers in their 40s. (They don't seem to have much problem with women, though.) As a result, I am still out of work. At this point, I feel so much despair because I have so much to give, but Korean students (allegedly) do not want it.
I am wondering if any other English teachers out there know anything about this. Some of these schools tell me they sometimes make exceptions if the person is qualified, but this hasn't happened with me, yet. In any case, I am, likewise, 'uncomfortable' with having to handle a class or private tutorial that will include having to wear a student's resistance down so they will not see me as some hideous mutant ior something.
I do not wish to make any disparaging remarks against any people. I merely report what I have experienced.