A question concerning older teachers. Approaching the age of...

John, I am nearing my 62nd birthday, in my first year as a TESOL teacher, working at a college in in China (Zhejiang province). I am hoping that ability, experience, and education trump the arbitrary age requirements! I will keep looking here for any more informative replies ... my best wishes to us both!!!

Hi John: I'm only 51 and I have experienced agism first hand. Many countries are actually not interested in hiring people over 35, or 45. I currently work at an international school, and the principal is constantly making remarks about my age. At least you have the advantage of being a man. As a woman I also discriminated against because of my physical appearance. However, I have heard that Oman will hire older TESOL instructor who have a strong background in teaching ESL. Malaysia's cutoff is 63. Most Universities don't mind older instructors, in fact, they respect more than the regular school system.

Gayla/Michel, Thank you for your replies. Asia has always been discriminatory, it just comes as a shock when it might start to affect us personally! The schools are ever willing, but its the various governments and ever changing employment laws that make the difference between legal and illegal and yes, that remains unpredictable. Upwards and onwards . . . . . Best wishes.

I celebrated my 59th Birthday last month (April 19th). Whilst Chinese Teachers retire at age 60, it seems Schools/Colleges/Universities can hire Foreign 'Expert' Teachers until age 65, I was told by the Foreign Affairs Director at this College I am currently working at. There is a native English Teacher here from New Zealand who is on his 7th year at this college and is 62 years old. So there is proof, that a College can keep hiring after age 60 (or at least renewing a Contract)! In my case I can no longer get my Contract renewed each year until age 65 (My UK State Pension is now age 66, and for those younger it may be age 67 or more. Perhaps China is not aware of these Retirement Date changes?). This is nothing to do with my age, just the Principal of the College, recently deciding to revert back to just 2 x native English Teachers,like they had in 2012! I was told as I have had 2 x FEC's and Resident Permits (Aug 2012-July 2013 in Sichuan, and now to Juy 2014 here in Hunan province, I should be able to keep getting employed, even after I turn 60 in April next year. That is as long as I continue getting 12 month Contracts that continue from the expiry of the previous one. It seems the problem would occur, if I visited the UK (or elsewhere, for a while, after age 60, then tried seeking work in China after a break in employment here, so I was told by one Recruiter? I think it also depends on how much a particular School/College/University wants to hire you (and their 'friendships', or 'connections' as we might say), with the right people in the PSB? I have a potential new Contract, with a University here in Zhuzhou, and they also indicated that they could keep renewing my Contract to age 65. They are only offering CNY5,500pm however, for 16 x 45 min sessions of teaching per week. Had my current College not decided to cut back on Native English Teachers,my new Contract would have been CNY6,000for the same number of Class sessions. They also paid CNY6,000as Airfare Allowance at the start of the 12 month Contract, and will do so again at the end. There was also additional payments not mentioned in the Contract, like CNY500 'load' to 'Canteen Card', every 5 weeks of Term time. There was also some 'cash' payments like for 'Teachers Day', and 'Autumn Festival'(along with 6 x 'Moon Cakes, but I only got 50% of the cash payments as employed for under 6 months at that time), and also Spring Festival (CNY800). I can understand why they decided to cut back, perhaps as some classes have 'Internships', so don't have an Oral English Class during that 1 or 2 week Internship. I was only doing 6 x 45 min sessions for weeks 5-8 of the last half term. I am am to 14 x 45 min sessions from 5th May to 5th July. So it's hardly a lot of work load. I will miss this College and the large well furnished and equipped apartment, only 3 min walk to the Classrooms! The University that has potentially offered me a 12 month Contract starting in August, has their Teacher accommodation in their old campus, yet I will be Teaching at their new campus.

Thank you for that David. As you say, the difference between the ages of 60 and 66 is quite a long time period and a few people I know, as well as myself, are quite worried about it.

I am 68 and I am still teaching in Asia and the Middle East. They hired me as an "English Lecturer" and once in country they always manage to get a visa and local ID and all the benefits that go with it. You need to choose a employer who has some clout Good Luck

Hello everyone! I have begun my venture to seek employment in Asia as an ESL Teacher. I have not received any offers as of yet as I have really just started applying this week. However, with that being said, I did have one interview thus far, and by a few things that were said, I think my age was a factor. I am 45 years in age and while I look very young and am young at heart, employers don't really care about that...they seem to just be focused on "age". Are there countries in Asia any of you would recommend that I apply to, that do not discriminate on a woman 45+ ???

I’d recommend China, Melissa; you’ll have no problem until you’re much older. The only other country in Asia I’ve worked in is Thailand and they are very age discriminatory. As long as you have the necessary qualifications you should have no problems.

Gayla, how did you get your job? I have been approached by many agencies since posting my resume here (only 4 days ago!) but most won't take applicants over 58, and I'm 62 now. Anyone else care to advise? Thanks!

Hi, John, What you say seems true to me. There is alot of discrimination in Asia against older folks, but there certainly are individuals throughout the world who are not ageist. I am 60 and I feel like I am just getting started! I hear many differing accounts about China. Some foreign-owned (Western-owned) schools allow for teachers over 60 but the current governmental regulations cut off applicants at 60. So, I suppose you do need a school director with CLOUT to circumvent the rules and say they really want to hire you. I was offered a job in China at 60 but I have been inquiring about whether I can continue on for years to come. Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia and Central Europe, and Taiwan are open to older teachers, as is Thailand in the rural areas, but it takes time to find those who hire older teachers. Definitely more homework to do as the recruiters often stop at 50 or 59. I would imagine that schools who really need more foreign teachers are willing to try to hire older teachers. Interested to hear more about your quest.

Hi, what countries in Asia and Middle East? I am 72 and would love to teach again overseas. Am I being unrealistic. I am very young for my age.

Korea has laws that make it difficult (but not quite impossible) to work after your 65th birthday. Saudi Arabia has an age limit (it's either 60 or 65, I can't remember which). Apparently Japan also has a bar at about that age. Mongolia does NOT restrict teachers based on their age. As far as I can tell, Guatemala has no laws restricting older workers. Germany allows rampant age discrimination even by government bodies , but I don't know if it is just custom or a law restricting older teachers etc.

Try Mongolia. I think Kazakhstan is also open to older teachers (but the ads from their usually want an M.A. or teacher's credentials from your home country).

Hi Pamela, I’ve just turned 60 and am in Inner Mongolia; I’ve been here in the same school (public) since the end of 2011, before that in Thailand. Thailand has an age limit working visa cut off at 60, but as far as I’m aware, if you’re already here in China and your health is good, they continue it . . . sometimes, perhaps, maybe - those in China will know what I mean :)? That means every December when I renew my medical, FEC and residency permit, I keep my fingers crossed and one finger on my keyboard to get my resume out there quickly as my residency permit expires in a few weeks if it’s not renewed – which doesn’t give much time. BTW, Inner Mongolia is desperate for teachers in their State schools; under 60, TEFL, record check, verifiable degree and a couple of years’ experience. Not too far from Siberia and winters get a little cold to put it mildly and so it’s not a popular choice, but I love it here. I don’t know if I can post a self-designed article here, but details of conditions are: http://www.academia.edu/11776487/An_English_TEFL_teacher_in_Inner_Mongolia

Thank you John ... for the extra detail link and your contributions I have read so far ... very professional and heart centered.

Thank you for your kind comments Robin.

Gayla and the 49% lol, ...well stated and a very keen observation., look at my post. I could write a book on the subject. Get the parents involved in the ""learning process"'and trust me....no school in China will dismiss you for "'your youthful..yet, knowledgeable approach""I taught in China for five years...Take care,wish you and your the best of the best. GBY...... T.Danny L.Hoff

Pameia, ...great advise. very helpful. Take care. Good luck. Danny

I am honestly shocked at the low salary you are discussing here for 16 teaching hours a week in China. This is like a third of what university teachers get paid, as a minimum. Usually only new teachers get between 13,000 - 16,000 plus relocation expenses. I wonder if it is even possible to live on 5,500 yuan in China? I was shocked to discover recently, something which is very common, and that is non-native speakers teaching kindergarter kids for up to twice the salary of a professional teacher in a university. So, non-natives with no teaching qualification can expect to get a minimum of 25,000 yuan for teaching babies to speak. I think this is indicative of the Chinese attitude towards language learning.