Let's face it, English teachers in China don't have a great reputation. Often described as LBH (Losers Back Home) by fellow expats, they seem to be caught between the stereotypes of "teacher" and being an entrepreneur or engineer - despite their job requiring them to spend years learning about conjugating verbs and debating Shakespeare's merits; however it seems there is more than meets the eye. It’s like walking into a room where everyone has put on signs that read “I’m not your average globetrotter.” Picture this: someone who spent years refining English, only ending up in classrooms hearing nothing but "What about ‘the’?”. It's hard to ignore when being categorized as having an undesirable occupation - which isn’t just a job – it’s also been the punchline of every joke.
The term LBH is what happens after combining humor and harshness like punching someone with your left hand, while you're holding something in your right; then imagine if they called out careers based on "I'm not your average teacher". What does teaching English mean to those career paths? Should we recognize that expats' contributions are more than just 'filling a position', or is it merely about getting the job done?
For someone like Sarah who left their corporate job and built an English tutoring business - they aren't any "loser" but rather entrepreneurs turning passion into successful careers. They may have spent years learning to conjugate verbs, yet still end up in classrooms hearing nothing more than “I love noodles.”
There is a misperception about what constitutes being part of the LBH label and whether it's based on 'the job' itself - or something else entirely; however this does not seem like an issue that can be solved overnight. There are teachers who go to class with no housing, yet there also those struggling connecting locally.
1 *The Blurred Lines Between Work And Life*.
2 **A Complex Culture With High Expectations**.
In truth what is driving these misperceptions about teaching English in China - and should we acknowledge the value of expats' contributions towards Chinese education?
For someone like Sarah, who chose to leave their job for this career path – it demands adaptability. It’s more than just a way that requires flexibility; however there are teachers caught between 'the lines'. What does being an English teacher in China mean - and how can we recognize the value of expats' contributions towards Chinese education?
If teaching were not merely about educating others, but rather changing our very own perspectives – wouldn’t it be time to re-evaluate what success really means; or are you one who believes that "LBH" is more than a label - perhaps even an experience. Or do these expats share traits with engineers and other entrepreneurs in terms of the way they ‘see’ their job description?
Or, isn't there something about Chinese culture which causes this difference between what's been achieved versus just being another teacher from somewhere else – who happens to be 'more than' a mere English language instructor?
As you can see - teaching is more than merely providing an education: it’s based on understanding that the “losers” label does not apply, and isn't about recognizing any kind of ‘dying breed’ where they are trying "not just" but actually being something entirely different from what's been previously recognized as a 'teacher'.
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