The term 'LBH' often gets thrown around in expat circles, usually preceded by a knowing nod or a weary sigh. At its core, it usually implies one thing: these expats found work in China because they couldn't find *good* work, or *any* work, back home. It paints a picture of someone lacking options, perhaps someone whose chosen career path back in the West didn't quite work out, or maybe someone who simply missed the cut-off for more desirable jobs. The underlying assumption is that teaching English in China, while perhaps lucrative enough to cover rent in some major cities, isn't a *real* achievement, or a *real* job, for those who could do better elsewhere. It's the perceived default setting.
But let's unpack this a bit. If you're an English teacher in China, especially one flying in from a developed country, you're often not in the vast majority. The overwhelming number of English students here want to learn the language, largely because China places a huge value on English proficiency for global connectivity and career advancement. The sheer number of students dwarfs the number of native English speakers, so you're not *really* the go-to source for nuanced English, unless you're specifically teaching phonetics or creative writing at an advanced level. Most of the time, you're just a slightly more interesting version of the standard textbook delivery.
So, why the stigma? Some see English teaching as a 'funny money' profession, something easy to slide into, especially for non-native speakers. And while it's true that many international schools value experience, the perception of it being an easy or less demanding path can linger. Plus, the fact that you can often get by with just a basic, often non-standard, TEFL certification and still command a decent salary can make the job feel less like a professional achievement and more like a gap year extension. It’s not exactly rocket science, even if you *are* an ex-astronaut or something.
The comparison is the killer. Back home, teaching English might be seen as a passion project, perhaps something done between stable jobs, or maybe you're a dedicated high school English teacher who's stuck in the system. But here in China, the expectation is often different. You're teaching kids who might not have chosen the path, driven by parental pressure and the national obsession with English. The goals are different – it's about passing standardized tests, getting into good universities, not necessarily about fostering a lifelong love of literature or understanding complex cultural nuances. This disconnect can make the job feel... well, fundamentally different, perhaps less purposeful to some.
And then there's the 'useful idiot' angle. This one’s a bit sharper. The idea is that English teachers are sometimes perceived as easily manipulated, especially in the early days of the industry. They’re seen as people who, for whatever reason (unemployability, disillusionment, wanderlust), are here to facilitate China’s rapid adoption of English, perhaps without fully understanding the local context or the potential downsides. It’s a subtle form of 'LBH,' suggesting they chose this path because they couldn’t or wouldn’t stand up for better opportunities.
But wait, is that fair? Can't some people be the 'useful idiots'? Of course, maybe. But not everyone. Many teachers are genuinely passionate, finding immense joy in sharing the language and culture. Others might have faced burnout in corporate jobs, or perhaps a career-ending injury, or maybe they just wanted to see the world and teaching was the most straightforward way. Does that automatically make them losers? Not necessarily. Sometimes, 'loser' is just a label for someone who found a different kind of success.
The 'unemployable' argument is often the stickiest. But what defines employability? If you're qualified for a job that requires specific skills, industry experience, or education that China doesn't readily offer, then you *are* unemployable in certain traditional roles. Maybe you left a career in finance after the dot-com bubble burst, or you're an academic specialist who can barely get a lecture position in your home university. Teaching English *can* be a viable, even necessary, career option for those individuals in China, perhaps more than they realize.
And let's not forget the sheer numbers. There are thousands upon thousands of English teachers in China, many expats, many Chinese. They range from the overqualified and slightly depressed to the genuinely enthusiastic and the ones who are just happy to be here. Trying to label an entire diverse group as 'losers' feels a bit reductive, doesn't it? It’s like calling all chefs 'pizza delivery guys' just because some might be less skilled.
Ultimately, the 'LBH' perception is a complex beast, born from a mix of legitimate observations and a certain degree of expat self-deprecating humor. It highlights the differences between the teaching environment here and back home, the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the job, and the occasional sense of irony that comes with choosing a path perceived as easier simply because other options felt... harder.
**The Final Word:**
So, are English teachers in China 'losers back home'? Maybe the term itself is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Expats might use it to cope, to find a shared experience in a strange land, or perhaps just to poke fun at a situation that's uniquely weird. It’s a label that often comes from a place of misunderstanding or different priorities. The reality for many is quite different: it's a job that allows them to live, explore, and share, even if it doesn't align with their original career dreams back home. Perhaps 'LBH' isn't quite right. Maybe it's 'Liberated By... something?' It's certainly not 'Lovingly Befriended Humanity'.
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