# Do I need to look really "white" to teach English? **URL:** \ **Category:** Teaching English in Taiwan\ **Created:** [December 28, 2005, 8:12am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/do-i-need-to-look-really-white-to-teach-english/24137 "2005-12-28T08:12:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 1
**Author:** ![UltimateMeiMei](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@UltimateMeiMei](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/UltimateMeiMei)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 8:12am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/do-i-need-to-look-really-white-to-teach-english/24137/1 "2005-12-28T08:12:59Z")
Hello all, first time posting, long time lurker. I’m here in Taipei on vacation with my mom, and we stopped at a buxiban (Uncle Sam’s) after seeing an ad online that they were looking for English teachers. We walked into the place and were greeted by some lady who looked confused. I wasn’t prepared with my resume or anything, I just stopped by to maybe talk about what it’s like to be a buxiban teacher. After enquiring about teaching English to her (in English), the woman looked at me and said in Chinese to my mom that they want “waiguoren” to teach, and that first and foremost, they want people who speak English as their 1st language. Of course I understood, so I responsed “I am American! English IS my first language!” and she looked confused and got another woman who hurriedly told me that they already had enough teachers. I’m half Chinese, but I don’t look at ALL Asian. Granted, I was standing next to my mom (who is Taiwanese) but people can’t tell we’re even related. I have light skin, lightish colored hair and a fair (or “white”) complexion. If anything, people think I’m 100% Caucasian or part South American and are surprised to find out that I’m hapa. I’m confused…in general, are people looking for blonde hair/blue eyed people to teach English? :s Thanks! --- _[View the full topic](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/do-i-need-to-look-really-white-to-teach-english/24137)._