In the dusty classrooms of China, a certain label has emerged to describe those who are struggling with their English teaching careers. It's called "Losers Back Home" or LBH for short. What drives this stigma? The notion that being an expat in China is inherently glamorous comes at odds with the harsh reality of many foreign teachers' lives, particularly when it comes to securing a job. To add insult to injury, many are also struggling financially and emotionally, leaving them feeling isolated and unsupported. You'd be hard-pressed not to chuckle at the term itself – after all, who hasn't been called "loser" in some form or another? However, beneath this joking lies an uncomfortable truth that is surprisingly widespread among expats teaching English in China: many of us have ended up with degrees in hand, but a career in teaching remains elusive. The pressure to constantly produce content and deal with difficult students can be overwhelming at times.
This notion was brought home for me when I first landed my job as an English teacher at a prestigious international school in Beijing – the thought that securing employment would be relatively straightforward given my degree was met with eye-rolling by colleagues who had also graduated from top universities. The realisation hit hard, and it's one of those moments where you think to yourself: "This isn't how I envisioned my career." The pressure comes not just in terms of finding a job but also in securing tenure – something that is all too common for English teachers in China, who often find themselves stuck on probationary contracts. This makes the whole experience even more daunting.
As someone who has had their fair share of struggles with mental health and feelings of inadequacy, I can attest to how this feeling can affect one's relationships and overall well-being – especially when you're isolated from loved ones back home due to visa restrictions or other factors. The pressure also comes in the form of constantly producing content for school websites, blogs or social media platforms. This expectation that teachers must be able to produce high-quality materials on a regular basis can be overwhelming at times. In many cases, this sense of inadequacy is amplified by social media – where expats and locals alike share their seemingly flawless lives as English language instructors.
Their online profiles are filled with happy photos taken during summer trips abroad. The perfect blend of content creators that they seem to have it all together, but little do we know what goes on behind the scenes. But beneath this glossy facade, there's an uncomfortable truth – many teachers in China feel pressured into constantly performing and maintaining their "public image," which can be emotionally taxing. It takes a lot for someone to openly share about struggling with mental health or feeling like they don't quite fit into the expat narrative. To admit that things aren’t always as perfect as it seems requires vulnerability, something many people struggle with.
When you're surrounded by peers who seem effortlessly successful and carefree – and are constantly bombarded with messages telling you to "stay positive" or "follow your passion," there's a high likelihood of feeling overwhelmed. The pressure can also come from parents of students. They expect teachers to be not only knowledgeable but also entertaining, engaging, and effective in promoting their child’s language skills. In reality, though, the job market for English speakers isn't always straightforward – especially when it comes to securing employment opportunities that match one's qualifications or interests.
The truth is many expats teaching English in China find themselves taking on part-time jobs outside of school hours just to make ends meet. Many struggle with finding work-life balance as they juggle multiple roles and responsibilities, leaving them feeling burnt out. It may seem like everyone has it together – but trust me when I say that behind the scenes some people are struggling big time. The reality is much more complex than what's presented online. There’s a stigma attached to being an English teacher in China – not because of any inherent worth or skill, but rather due to societal expectations and pressures from employers, students, parents, and peers who all have their own agendas.
As the Chinese education system continues to evolve, it seems like these feelings won't go away anytime soon. What does this mean for expats teaching English in China? Does having a label attached to one's profession change anything – or is there more work to be done? Will anyone take notice of our struggles and try to create more supportive systems that help teachers thrive – rather than just survive, while still maintaining the illusion of perfection on social media platforms? There are many questions left unanswered as we continue down this journey. For now, all I can do is share my story, hoping it might inspire others or offer some insight into what life looks like behind the scenes of an English teacher in China – even if that means being called a "loser."
Consider this: the LBH label isn’t just a slur; it’s a mirror. Expats often joke about how China’s English teaching scene is a refuge for those who couldn’t land a job back home, but the reality is more complex. A 2019 study by the University of Hong Kong found that 68% of expats in China admitted to feeling "underqualified" in their roles, not because they lacked skills, but because the expectations were so drastically different. It’s like being handed a recipe for a dish you’ve never heard of and told to cook it for a Michelin-starred judge. The Unspoken Challenges of Teaching English in China 1. The Cultural Disconnect Chinese parents often expect their children's English teachers to be more than just instructors – they want mentors, cultural ambassadors, and sometimes even therapists.
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China, English, Teaching, Teachers, Expats, Feeling, Reality,
