I'm digging all the answers in here, but I'd offer an alternative. Get out. America sucks ass and the world is a huge place. I moved to Vietnam in September, and I hope I never have to go back. Housing/good/healthcare are all affordable, it's safe, the people are so kind, the food is amazing, and you're in close proximity to many other countries/cultures. My partner and I aren't ballin' out here or anything, but our needs are met with some left over with both of us working 20/hr weeks. Living in a country trying to establish a legitimate floor for its people and then slowly raising that floor is honestly incredible.
I lived in Seattle and saw 'progressives' persecute the people in society with the absolute least day in and day out. Read up on King County Jail right now and its mountain of extrajudicial deaths in the past year. Local politics is completely owned by big capital so even the local,grassroots organizing is a burnout machine.I paid 2.5k/mo in rent. My partner was barely treading water at work while putting in 60+ hour weeks. The cheapest meals were still 20-25 dollars for the two of us. And even considering all of this it was still better than Dallas. Seriously, America is garbage.
but our needs are met with some left over with both of us working 20/hr weeks.
Love it when first worlders move to the global south to live easy lives that aren't open to 99% of local people because those locals don't get to enjoy Western privilege.
If you're going to a colonized country, then yes. Vietnam and China are run by workers, however, and they are inviting westerners to teach them English, so I don't think it's as much of an issue. A more viable IMO argument I've seen against this is that, since we live in the imperial core, it's our duty to stay here and destroy it rather than run away. That being said, I have been trying for quite some time to get a decent job in China, mostly because, AFAIK, a successful workers' revolution has never taken place inside the imperial core. I almost think there's a better chance of China inventing some kind of ICBM-disabling device and blockading the imperial core rather than workers rising up and overthrowing the bourgeoisie here.
they are inviting westerners to teach them English, so I don’t think it’s as much of an issue
English teaching as an industry is extremely worthy of criticism.
First of all, a large proportion, maybe even a majority of English teachers in the global south are not hired by universities or schools, but by private, for-profit "schools". This should already set off alarm bells in the heads of most leftists, so add onto the fact that most of these "schools" are extremely poorly regulated and don't follow any sort of set curriculum.
Second, the vast majority of English "teachers" in the global south are not qualified university or even school level teachers. Teaching is a skilled job that, in most counties, requires a teacher to have qualifications in either the subject they're teaching, or in education. If Vietnam or China or Cuba were importing a bunch of Americans to teach math and those americans only had a high school math educstion under their belt, most of us would be criticizing that as hugely irrational.
Add those two factors together and what kind of positive educational outcomes can we expect? Well we really can't say for certain because most of these English "schools" are almost completely unregulated and don't do any sort of academically useful testing or reporting. Parents put their kids in these places because those same privately owned "schools" have sold parents a vision of their kids becoming fluent English speakers (and in all my time living in various places in Asia I have yet to meet a single person who became fluent or even proficient through private "school").
So okay, English schools might as well be Amway or some scummy snake oil bullshit, but no ethical consumption under capitalism, etc etc?
What if I told you that many private English "schools" in Asia deliberately trade on perpetuating white supremacy? It is a pretty open secret that most schools will hire a white native English speaker first, above most PoC native speakers. What you may not know is that many of these places will prefer to hire white non-native speakers over PoC native speakers. Anecdotally, I've known a Belgian who spoke with a thick accent and wonky grammar teaching English, as well as a Russian who barely spoke English at all doing it. Not only that, but I also know a Western born Asian with a masters degree from a western university who got passed over in favor of these white Euros.
So yeah, Xi was right to crack the fuck down on these English "schools" a while back and it sounds like Vietnam needs to follow suit.
I don't mind actually as a resident of one of these countries, just so long as they don't try to change stuff. If it develops the economy and they're respectful, it can work well. I don't understand why any first worlders would come to South Africa in its current state anyways, we have fuck all electricity lmao. Even solar power and generators isn't enough when all the supply chains break down.
But if they're assholes that come in with a superiority complex, then yeah go back to Yankeeland or Euroland.
I've been on the receiving end of too many lectures from Western Leftists about what the CPC is doing wrong to have any faith that they won't come in and just agitate to change things to fit them.
Like yeah, I'm sure the CPC and its whole university faculties dedicated to studying Marxism and Socialism just need the advice of one unqualified English teacher to achieve Communism.
Well fuck me - guess we should just suck it up in the imperial core then? I get that teaching English is an inherently colonial act, but specifically framing it as colonial when the opportunity arises in the classroom helps.
We're also not out here living it up. We have a small apartment in a normal-ass community. I didn't move to the expat area in town intentionally. We don't have any luxuries like a cleaning service or valet or whatever the hell else white folks get in foreign countries. We're working on learning the language so we don't have to rely on translate apps. I honestly don't think we're taking advantage of anything here. We're just trying to live somewhat comfortable lives while very much minding our own business. When I engage with locals it's so I can learn from them and their experiences not try to push mine. Your comment was super hostile without knowing me at all.
I did for years and it amounted to shit-all so I wanted to try living somewhere that is doing the actual ideology for a change. I really don't think it's that outrageous a concept.
Every single refugee I know living in the West is working full time, overtime, or desperately trying to look for full time work, while also trying to learn English, overcome whatever traumatic event caused them to become refugees in the first place, and often raise a family.
How many Vietnamese people do you think can afford a small apartment in a normal neighborhood working 20 hours a week?
You are in the global south exploiting white/Western privilege and encouraging others to do the same. I have very little sympathy.
I'm digging all the answers in here, but I'd offer an alternative. Get out. America sucks ass and the world is a huge place. I moved to Vietnam in September, and I hope I never have to go back. Housing/good/healthcare are all affordable, it's safe, the people are so kind, the food is amazing, and you're in close proximity to many other countries/cultures. My partner and I aren't ballin' out here or anything, but our needs are met with some left over with both of us working 20/hr weeks. Living in a country trying to establish a legitimate floor for its people and then slowly raising that floor is honestly incredible.
I lived in Seattle and saw 'progressives' persecute the people in society with the absolute least day in and day out. Read up on King County Jail right now and its mountain of extrajudicial deaths in the past year. Local politics is completely owned by big capital so even the local,grassroots organizing is a burnout machine.I paid 2.5k/mo in rent. My partner was barely treading water at work while putting in 60+ hour weeks. The cheapest meals were still 20-25 dollars for the two of us. And even considering all of this it was still better than Dallas. Seriously, America is garbage.
Love it when first worlders move to the global south to live easy lives that aren't open to 99% of local people because those locals don't get to enjoy Western privilege.
Nothing colonial about this at all.
If you're going to a colonized country, then yes. Vietnam and China are run by workers, however, and they are inviting westerners to teach them English, so I don't think it's as much of an issue. A more viable IMO argument I've seen against this is that, since we live in the imperial core, it's our duty to stay here and destroy it rather than run away. That being said, I have been trying for quite some time to get a decent job in China, mostly because, AFAIK, a successful workers' revolution has never taken place inside the imperial core. I almost think there's a better chance of China inventing some kind of ICBM-disabling device and blockading the imperial core rather than workers rising up and overthrowing the bourgeoisie here.
English teaching as an industry is extremely worthy of criticism.
First of all, a large proportion, maybe even a majority of English teachers in the global south are not hired by universities or schools, but by private, for-profit "schools". This should already set off alarm bells in the heads of most leftists, so add onto the fact that most of these "schools" are extremely poorly regulated and don't follow any sort of set curriculum.
Second, the vast majority of English "teachers" in the global south are not qualified university or even school level teachers. Teaching is a skilled job that, in most counties, requires a teacher to have qualifications in either the subject they're teaching, or in education. If Vietnam or China or Cuba were importing a bunch of Americans to teach math and those americans only had a high school math educstion under their belt, most of us would be criticizing that as hugely irrational.
Add those two factors together and what kind of positive educational outcomes can we expect? Well we really can't say for certain because most of these English "schools" are almost completely unregulated and don't do any sort of academically useful testing or reporting. Parents put their kids in these places because those same privately owned "schools" have sold parents a vision of their kids becoming fluent English speakers (and in all my time living in various places in Asia I have yet to meet a single person who became fluent or even proficient through private "school").
So okay, English schools might as well be Amway or some scummy snake oil bullshit, but no ethical consumption under capitalism, etc etc?
What if I told you that many private English "schools" in Asia deliberately trade on perpetuating white supremacy? It is a pretty open secret that most schools will hire a white native English speaker first, above most PoC native speakers. What you may not know is that many of these places will prefer to hire white non-native speakers over PoC native speakers. Anecdotally, I've known a Belgian who spoke with a thick accent and wonky grammar teaching English, as well as a Russian who barely spoke English at all doing it. Not only that, but I also know a Western born Asian with a masters degree from a western university who got passed over in favor of these white Euros.
So yeah, Xi was right to crack the fuck down on these English "schools" a while back and it sounds like Vietnam needs to follow suit.
It's literally international gentrification lmao.
I don't mind actually as a resident of one of these countries, just so long as they don't try to change stuff. If it develops the economy and they're respectful, it can work well. I don't understand why any first worlders would come to South Africa in its current state anyways, we have fuck all electricity lmao. Even solar power and generators isn't enough when all the supply chains break down.
But if they're assholes that come in with a superiority complex, then yeah go back to Yankeeland or Euroland.
I've been on the receiving end of too many lectures from Western Leftists about what the CPC is doing wrong to have any faith that they won't come in and just agitate to change things to fit them.
Like yeah, I'm sure the CPC and its whole university faculties dedicated to studying Marxism and Socialism just need the advice of one unqualified English teacher to achieve Communism.
if they aren't pricing locals out or ruining the already existing community it seems like there's enough difference to me.
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Well fuck me - guess we should just suck it up in the imperial core then? I get that teaching English is an inherently colonial act, but specifically framing it as colonial when the opportunity arises in the classroom helps.
We're also not out here living it up. We have a small apartment in a normal-ass community. I didn't move to the expat area in town intentionally. We don't have any luxuries like a cleaning service or valet or whatever the hell else white folks get in foreign countries. We're working on learning the language so we don't have to rely on translate apps. I honestly don't think we're taking advantage of anything here. We're just trying to live somewhat comfortable lives while very much minding our own business. When I engage with locals it's so I can learn from them and their experiences not try to push mine. Your comment was super hostile without knowing me at all.
Yes lmao. Get off your asses and do something you don't personally want to. You chose this ideology.
I did for years and it amounted to shit-all so I wanted to try living somewhere that is doing the actual ideology for a change. I really don't think it's that outrageous a concept.
Every single refugee I know living in the West is working full time, overtime, or desperately trying to look for full time work, while also trying to learn English, overcome whatever traumatic event caused them to become refugees in the first place, and often raise a family.
How many Vietnamese people do you think can afford a small apartment in a normal neighborhood working 20 hours a week?
You are in the global south exploiting white/Western privilege and encouraging others to do the same. I have very little sympathy.
Fortunately I need no sympathy. I'm encouraging others to get out of Amerikkka. I don't think that's a bad thing.
Any tips for moving to Vietnam? What kind of education or resources would one need?
All you need is a BA and a pulse: https://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/international
But seriously am I SOL without a bachelors degree?
smh that's discrimination against the undead