Job Discussion Forums

Taishan · Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 110

Here we go again!

Everytime we discuss something that could be hijacked to show some kind of 'elite English teacher' argument it's over-done by Roger, and others.

Yes, you're well qualified, yawn, we know.

So you want all foreigners in China to have an Msc in English teaching, like you possibly do? Could the Chinese market ever be satisfied with only super-qualified professionals? Well, why are really well qualified teachers in China? Why not Japan, Hong Kong, Germany or some other developed place that pays well, where your qualifications really matter and are appreciated? Why not leave developing countries to your developing friends, who have not had the opportunity to go to uni. I also know of many pronunciation teachers in Japan, who are also unqualified.

OK, so let all these under-educated go and get an English teaching degree in China! What a farce! What would happen? Most people would learn nothing and they'd end up being the de-facto lecturer with students and teachers referring hundreds of questions to them. It would prove little.

At the end of the day most middle schools want a pronunciation teacher with a good native accent to learn how to speak better English. Someone without a degree can provide that service. Wasters will not be asked to stay at the end of their contract. I also fully understand the argument that universities should only have qualified teachers, certainly all should have C.E.L.T.A. certs or equivalent. Degrees in fact prove little, unless they are specifically teaching related. How could someone at university teach advanced grammar unless they have studied English at an advanced level? I don't buy the argument that having a regular BA in a random subject qualifies anyone.

In most western countries these days, many people find university too damned expensive. Luckily we have IQ tests and teaching certificates, to prove intelligence and teaching ability.

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

By the way Writpetition you forgot S Africa which makes 6 English speaking nations.

I'm not saying I could not find ANY job in China. 4000 in a city I don't know of (even after 2 years) was no problem. But I couldn't find a location I liked. Or a salary I liked for that matter so I decided to play to my strengths. As a Canadian I get the "God given" right to a 180 day tourist visa here which gives me lots of time.

Good luck!

tofuman · Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 937

Nate, I certainly agree with you on this one. The local English teachers at my school face numerous challenges to fluency. None have ever taken a TOEFL or IELTS, so their English skill is measured by a test that I assume was home grown by individuals who probably never took a TOEFL or IELTS themselves. The emphasis is on difficult grammatical points that are virtually irrelevant to actual communication; consequently, the simplest communications in writing can be virtually indecipherable. Texts prepared by local English experts are absurd in their massacre of the language and make the subject much more difficult than it is.

One of the biggest obstacles is Chinese arrogance and racism that make them unwilling to learn from native English speakers. Greed is probably another factor, since they do not want to pay for competent proofreaders to correct written material. Even highly qualified native English speakers employ editors and proofreaders to look over text, apparently not so here. Signs in airports and other public places have mispelled English words. Look at menus in Chinese restaurants in Chinatown. The same type of spelling mistakes are apparent here in public places.

It's a pity that a government can't implement policies that require signs in public places such as airports and museums to have been vetted by competent proofreaders. Where is totalitarianism when you need it?