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hentaigaijin
Joined: 05 Oct 2006
Posts: 104
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 Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 1:22 pm Post subject: Re: perceptions |
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| shuize wrote: |
The version I've heard goes like this:
"Those who can't do, teach."
"Those who can't teach, teach ESL."
Again, not that I think there's anything to be ashamed of, but it really isn't that hard a job. Those who seem to think it is, or expect others to be impressed by their newly won "sensei" title, have a very inflated sense of self-importance, in my opinion. |
i think that part of the reason teachers are not given the same respect in the west as they are given in many asian countries (and perhaps that translates also into how one dresses for work) is because people come out with dumbsh*t phrases, such as "those who can't do, teach."
teachers are rightly revered and i do not understand why we in the west often have such a negative limited image of what a teacher is. many of my all-time heroes were teachers - just because you are an esl teacher that makes you a fake? no way. the potential is still there to shape minds and lives and to do good things.
in terms of required subject knowledge, etc. it really isn't that hard a field, you are right there. but subject knowledge is only one aspect of teaching. it is language teaching and i do not make a distinction between mfls and esl. i fail to see any real difference between someone who teaches their mother toungue or a foreign language they have learnt. i certainly never looked down on my japanese tutor at university just because she was teaching her mother toungue; i totally admired her because she was a great teacher.
i think a teacher has to be proud of the job they are doing and teachers deserve respect. if an expat feels honoured to be called "sensei" then that is a good thing in my opinion (within reason). the best teachers always possess important qualities such as humility anyway (Christ washed his students' feet, for example).
it is the same in thailand where i am: teachers are called "ajarn" (or "kru") and given a lot of respect. but some work at daft schools and aren't given too much respect or may feel that their life is a charade. that means they have to realise that being a teacher is what you make it - do we only want education to be alive and well in the prestigious schools? there is respect and there is self-respect. there is also "fast-food education" but it doesn't necessarily need to be like that and some of the perceptions i hear bandied about concern me.
what i like about thailand generally is that although many people have to do "sh*t jobs", the thais appear to be content to have a job and don't read so much into it. i really don't appreciate the big "I AM" career obsession of the west. "i am assistant deputy manager of the logistics dept. of giorgio armani.. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH". who really gives a sh*t.
people just need to be happy to be alive and stop being so vain. the work of teachers is special and vital and can never be overestimated.
Last edited by hentaigaijin on Fri May 25, 2007 3:18 pm; edited 4 times in total |
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hentaigaijin
Joined: 05 Oct 2006
Posts: 104
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 1:25 pm Post subject: Re: Japanese perception of EFL teachers |
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| G Cthulhu wrote: |
| Japan takes what it gets, so I'd say it's the fault of the places churning out "teachers". IMO it's simply an example of what you get when you let the free market involve itself in education without any external standards being set: the vast majority of "qualifications" are garbage and the "teachers" are little better. |
sounds interesting. can you be more specific? |
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Vince
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 559
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 1:40 pm Post subject: Re: perceptions |
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| shuize wrote: |
| Vince wrote: |
| shuize wrote: |
| In my opinion, teaching English is not hard. |
Have you taught EFL professionally? |
Yes, I have. I've also worked in other fields. EFL is the easiest by far. |
That's certainly possible. As I said earlier, I don't consider TEFL rocket science. On the other hand, it isn't necessarily child's play. Proper lesson planning and application of pedagogy tempered with experience requires significant skill.
Last edited by Vince on Fri May 25, 2007 2:19 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Vince
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 559
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 1:51 pm Post subject: Re: Japanese perception of EFL teachers |
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| G Cthulhu wrote: |
| ...and the Japanese themselves don't tend to recognise the distinction. |
You just answered the question.
| Quote: |
| Japan takes what it gets, so I'd say it's the fault of the places churning out "teachers". IMO it's simply an example of what you get when you let the free market involve itself in education without any external standards being set: the vast majority of "qualifications" are garbage and the "teachers" are little better. |
No, many of these companies hire based on what they're willing to pay, and from there look for edutainment potential.
Go to a TESOL conference, then come back and tell us more about the quality of the field.
If you think the vast majority of EFL qualifications and teachers are garbage, why do you associate yourself with this forum when there are so many non-EFL-specific fora for foreigners in Japan? |
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hentaigaijin
Joined: 05 Oct 2006
Posts: 104
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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why do so many people want to/ agree to teach esl anywayz? ask yourselves this important question.
an over supply of teachers = low pay/ few opportunities.
why is this? i don't believe all teachers out there do it because it is their calling or because they even like it very much.
is it:
(1) an explosion in HE that has resulted in there being too many graduates
(2) disaffection with the rat-race
(3) sheer laziness
(4) the quest for exotic sex
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nonsmoker
Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Posts: 352
Location: Exactly here and now.
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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| hentaigaijin wrote: |
| why do so many people want to/ agree to teach esl anywayz? ask yourselves this important question. |
Why? Why? I'll tell you why. Because it's a passion burning within me that is more intense than the flames of Izmir!!! |
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hentaigaijin
Joined: 05 Oct 2006
Posts: 104
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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i actually don't mind teaching efl because i really love the english language and i love being a teacher generally. however, given the choice, i might well be teaching/ doing something else (although still quite possibly in the field of education/ academia). i don't mind doing it when and whenever necessary and as an italian college buddy lamented "you are a lucky f*cker because you will never be hungry."
at the end of the day, esl teaching does have an image problem.
This brief sketch leads me to ask a question: Does teaching English in Japan as an academic profession have an image problem? I wonder what sort of applicants other faculties receive when they advertise a position opening. Do medical faculties receive resumes from those whose expertise is in agriculture? Does the mathematics department have to filter out resumes from Shakespearean scholars? Somehow, I doubt it. Indeed, even though our job posting clearly stated that a doctorate was preferred, many without graduate qualifications applied. Again, this made me think about the image problem. My mind drifted back to those days in the 1980s when native English speakers were swooped up at Narita for high-paying hourly positions despite having no more qualifications than their pulse.
http://www.jalt-publications.org/tlt/articles/2004/10/stapleton
should teachers let that get them down? no, they shouldn't. |
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Vince
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 559
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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| hentaigaijin wrote: |
| i don't believe all teachers out there do it because it is their calling or because they even like it very much. |
No arguments if we're talking about people who are edutaining to finance their party.
If you're talking about people with quality certs or advanced degrees, it varies. As in any profession, some people got into it because it was a means to another end. There are undoubtedly EFL teachers who got their MA TESOL or whatever because it would allow them to see the world, live an alternate lifestyle, etc. That doesn't mean they don't approach their work professionally.
Last edited by Vince on Fri May 25, 2007 2:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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nonsmoker
Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Posts: 352
Location: Exactly here and now.
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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| at the end of the day, esl teaching does have an image problem. |
Yes but that image problem is not really the fault of the teachers. It's the fault of the schools that hire unqualified people in large numbers. Demand initiates supply.
Last edited by nonsmoker on Fri May 25, 2007 2:52 pm; edited 6 times in total |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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| nonsmoker wrote: |
| Does it really matter? One day we'll all be speaking Manderin. |
Seriously, your trolling is really tiresome. Your avatar is in clear violation of the rules. You're not even funny.  |
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hentaigaijin
Joined: 05 Oct 2006
Posts: 104
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Vince wrote: |
| There are undoubtedly EFL teachers who got their MA TESOL or whatever because it would allow them to see the world, live an alternate lifestyle, etc. That doesn't mean they don't approach their work professionally. |
then that means they must enjoy it to some degree, which is all well and good. it doesn't have to be their first-choice. |
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hentaigaijin
Joined: 05 Oct 2006
Posts: 104
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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| nonsmoker wrote: |
| Quote: |
| at the end of the day, esl teaching does have an image problem. |
Yes but that image problem is not really the fault of the teachers. It's the fault of the schools that hire unqualified people in large numbers. Demand initiates supply. |
a one-month tefl course is not going to make you a brilliant teacher but everybody starts somewhere.
i still maintain that it depends a lot on how you view yourself. |
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nonsmoker
Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Posts: 352
Location: Exactly here and now.
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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| hentaigaijin wrote: |
| nonsmoker wrote: |
| Quote: |
| at the end of the day, esl teaching does have an image problem. |
Yes but that image problem is not really the fault of the teachers. It's the fault of the schools that hire unqualified people in large numbers. Demand initiates supply. |
a one-month tefl course is not going to make you a brilliant teacher but everybody starts somewhere.
i still maintain that it depends a lot on how you view yourself. |
This is true. The only limit to your success is the limit that you place on your ambitions. Carpe diem! |
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hentaigaijin
Joined: 05 Oct 2006
Posts: 104
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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what is success?
is it seeing a child smile? i hope so.
if you teach adults at nova, you'll just have to imagine them as children (it's easier to love children). |
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nonsmoker
Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Posts: 352
Location: Exactly here and now.
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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| hentaigaijin wrote: |
what is success?
is it seeing a child smile? i hope so.
if you teach adults at nova, you'll just have to imagine them as children (it's easier to love children). |
True success in life is not about what you have, but how you've lived. It is knowing that you did the best you could with what you had. I'm going to teach in Japan but I only have a B.A. however I will make the most of it! |
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