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Netminder
Joined: 09 May 2005 Posts: 54
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:35 am Post subject: |
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Thank-you for that thoughtful reply, Zero Hero- it was more in keeping with your usual standard of posts.
Certainly, I have had many years experience with heavy-handed administration, and the very lengthy hiring process has served to familiarize me with the decidedly bureaucratic procedures (no mistake, I believe) of the EMB. I have copies of my work record with me, and I will be showing them to the relevant people who will likely adjust my pay rate.
By no means is the EMB the sole practicioner of questionable policies. The outfit I teach with now rank what are in fact low, medium and high beginners as beginner, intermediate and advanced, and have purloined a "TOEFL" test that they dumb down and administer to their "graduating advanced" class, so the director can boast of the high calibre of his students. The list goes on.
At the end of the day, I am really very enthusiastic about teaching the age group and educational level. At the same time I have no illusions about their motivation, although I will do everything in my power to enhance it. As for global teaching, you could do a lot worse than Hong Kong. |
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once again
Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 9:12 am Post subject: |
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Zero:
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Does it make any sense for example for them to decree that both local primary and local secondary school teachers must undergo the same benchmark exam? That is, that both levels of teacher must attain the same command of English? |
Not sure I agree with you here. Why do you think that primary students should not be taught by as equally competent teachers as secondary? Are you suggesting that primary students deserve less? I really think you are not.
Within the HK system, there are vast differences of abilities. A primary teacher at one school may be dealing with with far more challengning aspects of langauge than at many secondary schools. As you have been in HK long enough to know this, then I guess you will understand that.
The EMB recognise this, and so the LPAT is set accordingly.
The very differining levels of English met by teachers in HK means that all of them should meet the highest possible standards. Something I am sure you are in full support of. |
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once again
Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:29 am Post subject: |
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Zero:
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As it happens, at least one NET I know also failed the benchmark exam, though this was hushed up very efficiently so as not to 'de-motivate' local teachers. |
There were at least three nets who failed the benchmark who were in the newspapers and alot of fuss was made about it. There was no hushing up there. Why on earth the non reporting of a few individual NET teachers not passing the benchmark is considered hushing up seems a little strange. Until a full list of teachers and their L1 is published, then how can it be decided that something has been hidden? The government sponsored NETS on the NET scheme are not required to take the test unless they seek employ outside of the scheme. Perhaps the biggest cover up is that the government NETS do not have to take the benchmark and many of them still employed have no formal teaching qualifiations to teach in their own country. THey are employed only on their experience and short tefl courses. |
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