Foreign Teachers

by Sam Wade

Westerners Andy Dutton and Danny Cole teach English in China. Despite being unqualified, and because of the passports they carry, they have high salaries and special social statuses. These undue privileges have corrupted both of them. They show signs of cultural superiority, drink excessively and visit brothels.

The school where they work has a reputation for being a fake. The principal, Peter Li, wants to transform the school into one with an elite global reputation. His plan involves getting the school accredited by the International Diploma Organization. To meet accreditation requirements, he begins the process of replacing the likes of Andy and Danny with real professional teachers, like Glenn Whitman.

Glenn, however, turns out to be troublesome. He draws attention to academic malpractices at the school and demands reform, or else threatens to jeopardize the school’s accreditation by the IDO.

150 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Sam Wade was born in Memphis,Tennessee. At the age of 16, he dropped out of high school. Now he's a high school teacher.

Reviews

[F.E. Beyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foreign Teachers deals with miscreant foreign teachers at a private school in Guangzhou, China in 2014. Riddled by censorship, plagiarism, and fake grades, the school’s designed to funnel monetarily rich but academically poor students into prestigious Western universities. Having experience of this kind of scene, I know the satire here isn’t overblown

I'll give most novels or memoirs set in China by a member of the maligned English teaching tribe a go. Foreign Teachers made me laugh out loud a couple of times, hence the five stars.

Teachers Andy and Danny are unqualified drunks and feel threatened when Glenn, a Stanford graduate, gets hired by Peter Li, the golf playing, wine sipping, head of the school. American Andy and Mancunian Danny fear their own kind won’t have jobs for long.

At first the Chinese fawn over the handsome, well-qualified Glenn. But his American saviour complex begins to work against him when he calls out the school’s failings as it tries to get International Diploma accreditation.

Glenn has a surprise for us near the end. The surprise showed the author changed his mind about who Glenn was at some point, but then didn’t go back to cover his tracks. I didn’t find Glenn a believable character.

Before the novel’s denouement, Andy, our narrator and stand-in for author Sam Wade, takes a long holiday to the Philippines and Thailand. Andy has money for all the booze and hookers he wants—but can’t enjoy himself because of the existential dread his emptiness and loneliness create. You could say this section had nothing to do with the plot, but I liked the depth it gave the character.

Foreign Teachers compares well with other favourites about crazy English teachers in China, such as An American Bum in China and The Seven Year Laowai.

[Aisling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start

This has a rocky start but slowly evolves into something thoughtful. I'd like to see Mr. Wade's future books. This one relies a bit much on racist tropes and shock value which isn't necessary (or at all entertaining to read) to get to his message. But I see real potential.

[Nancy Gilreath · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 3.5. I won Foreign Teachers in a Goodreads Giveaway, and wasn’t aware of it before that. A well-written satire, the book explores facades and truth, and when and whether a false front is as good as the real thing. Andy is an American teacher at a third rate school in China. He is unqualified, lazy and enjoying the many school breaks to take advantage of the status that being a foreigner gives him - a relatively hefty salary, lots of drink and access to girls. He isn’t satisfied in the big picture, but temporarily content in the status quo. A new teacher, Glenn, is hired as the school looks to polish its image to obtain a critical international qualification that will provide legitimacy. Glenn’s sterling looks, impeccable resume and relevant experience signal that the old guard may soon be replaced. To the chagrin of the administration, however, Glenn is the one willing to call out the emperor’s new clothes, but all is not what it seems. The scenes satirizing school bureaucracy, and exposing the veneer of everything from the dish names on menus to the sex trade are very funny. Nothing can be trusted to be what it claims to be. I longed for more introspection from the main character and a stronger denouement, but Foreign Teachers was an enjoyable, short read. I look forward to the author’s next work.

[Sabinus · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a teacher, I found the book "Foreign Teachers" very compelling as it delves into the intricate web of globalized education, focusing on the impact of cultural clashes, ethical dilemmas, & and the pervasive issue of native speakerism that unfold within the educational landscape.

-The book provides a thought-provoking commentary on the consequences of unchecked privilege.

-The book prompts readers to consider the ethical dimensions of education in a globalized world.

-The book challenges the assumption that being a native English speaker equates on being an effective teacher.

-The book reflects the challenges & contradictions inherent in the pursuit of global educational standards.

This book is a must-read for those seeking an understanding of the challenges embedded within the world of international education.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book I started twice before I really got into. It became interesting for me when it began to focus more on the foreign culture and methods of handling procedures than these expats posing as teachers. It makes me wonder how much of this is accurate and where things are actually headed in China. For me … lots of questions and a more skeptical attitude.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Emîly En · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foreign teacher is a book full of insight about teachers living in abroad and especially in China. It was easy to read with and interesting story line. I found some of the characters familiar as I work in same type of school, though in different country.

[Dania F · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author has some talent for very atmospheric writing and I suppose many teachers abroad will recognize the described context. For me there was just too much vulgarity and unnecessary shock value descriptions. There was also simply no real plot.

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was just weird. if it is true this is bonkers.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up in a bookstore while visiting Tbilisi last week and was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed this book and wanted to add my own perspective in response to some of the other reviews.

Having also spent time in SE Asia, I don't think Wade intentionally created shock value. To me, the writing accurately depicts the reality Andy lives in. Seeing the sex-work scene first-hand can be inherently shocking, so those descriptive elements felt very necessary to the story rather than added for effect. And the sex itself is never actually detailed.

And while sometimes I do read for a plot, it was refreshing that this was simply a window into Andy’s life. It felt true to his character.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.