Job Discussion Forums

[tonyjones01]

If I wanted to hire someone to teach me Japanese, I�d hire a Japanese teacher, not a white American who says he�s fluent in Japanese. Like it or not, it�s common sense.

[tefl peasant]

[yogurtpooh]

If the Japanese person can not speak English at all and the learner is at a very beginner level, how can questions be answered? Are the students merely just reciting along vocab? How do you explain grammar and sentence structures and everything else if there's no common language to introduce or correct it? Hiring teachers who know both languages is how it's done in the states, across all high schools and universities. If I wanted to learn Japanese I would have someone who knew English as well to teach me so I would know what he was trying to teach me in the first place.

[tonyjones01]

[Andy123]

This may be over the heads of many of the backpackers but the universally accepted lexical approuch is called the Direct Method.

Google it.

[snollygoster]

A professional ESL teacher needs no recourse to L1. Its a matter of training, and using nothing more than common sense.
If you take a course in teaching ESL, like TESOL or CELTA, all will become clear.
How do you think an ESL teacher with maybe 8-10 different nationalities in class copes? Do you really think he/she can speak 10 different languages to cater to those students "needs".
As I said, a PROFESSIONAL ESL teacher needs no recourse to L1, and neither do the students.

There is a big differemce between a PROFESSIONAL ESL teacher and a backpacker having a go at murdering his/her native language.

To be able to speak a language is a long way from being able to teach it.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Several inappropriate postings have been deleted. If they continue, the thread will not and there will be sanctions of the severe variety.

[haller_79]

The best language teachers are usually multilingual - how else can you understand what the student is going through?

[snollygoster]

Best teachers are multilingual: So right. ESL teachers who never learn another language can never have any idea if what students who try to learn English may be experiencing.
There are so many ESL teachers who can speak only English, and they (often) can not understand why students have some difficulties with it.
I suggest all ESL teachers should learn a foreign language, then we will all understand some of the challenges.
In fact, during professional training courses, would be teachers are expected to produce a lesson entirely in a foreign language-specifically for the purposes of 1. experiencing what a student feels, and 2. recognizing that the methodology he/she is learning is effective without recourse to L1.
Perhaps a second language should be mandatory to be hired as an ESL teacher.

[�mile]

Sorry, for necroing. Like many I've been lurking the forums in order to gain some insights on EFL teaching experiences.

This thread is particularly interesting as it brings to light some racial and discriminatory practices that are found in the field. I would assume these things also reflect a TEFL organization's commitment to advancing English literacy. That is, how can a TEFL organization be genuine in this commitment when their hiring practices are dictated by out-dated and racially discriminatory business practices? Such preferences toward "whites" (whether if theyre NES or not) without emphasis on qualifications are demonstrable of one thing - the bottom line and not the quality of education that a student receives.

I am glad that others have provided contrary information about other quality TEFL organizations that value quality over appearance. Personally, I would prefer a qualified, knowledgeable, and culturally sensitive EFL teacher, regardless of race, over a "native" speaker, who almost solely views the world through the impulses of their inflated ego, anyday!

[LettersAthruZ]

Interesting piece (and Dave is prolly gonna pull it because it is not totally Vietnamese-related), but the point being that this also happens to a very large extent in Viet Nam:

http://behindthewall.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/15/11720584-in-china-english-teaching-is-a-whites-only-club?lite

[�mile]

I almost never touch MSM for obvious reasons. The gross ignorance found in the above article (not of the article itself) actually gave me the LULZ. This leads me to wonder though if there's actual studies done on the effectiveness of EFL teachers, in developing and/or asian countries? What would such indicators include? Could such a study shed some light on the ignorant and grossly racist practices found within this industry?

Please note that i'm not trying to be antagonistic but as a noob, and from a more cultural standpoint, this industry could use some education itself. Or rather the industry could use an education on building a business backbone in order to educate their clients on diversity, communication, and education instead of being dictated by their caprices.

But then again the good ones are almost always about education and diversity while the rotten ones can't see past the fat checks let alone themselves as the springs and cogs of a racially discriminatory propaganda machine.

[mark_in_saigon]

[�mile]

@MarkIS, unfortunately I failed to grasp your entire point as I don't view the world through imaginary borders so am more critical of phrases like, "appeal to some of our guys", because they can be divisive and thwart intercultural learning and progress.

Also, all of my points which uve quoted are not complaints but criticisms about certain aspects of the industry. There is a huge difference between the two (maybe another discussion can cover this subject).

[The Mad Hatter]

Good luck on your mission Emile.

I sincerely hope you can sort out the traffic as well. I'll forever be in your debt.

There's a famous quote: ................................