The future of English teaching

[Spitfire]

Just interested to hear what people think about how it's going to pan-out in the future. Reason I ask is because when I reflect over how it's changed in the last ten years when I first got involved in it and how different it was and where it will be 5-10 years down the line.

I remember working for a private catholic school in the northeast about 10 years ago any its policy was just employ anyone they could convince to turn up, mainly wayward retirees that drank too much, even remember the school official waking one up from a bench late morning. In those days no-one had a work permit, we were all on tourist visas, and sent every 3 months to Laos to renew and to BBK to extend.

Those days are long gone and now it's much more serious in most places anyhow, thankfully for the students, with TEFLs/CELTAS etc needed now, degree requirement enforced much more now, and a much wider spectrum of possible employees due to the exodus of westerners from their home countries in the last 8-10 years. Even these fashionable EP course etc are a fairly new thing but seem to be having a huge impact and are growing quickly in popularity, not to mention the fashionable aspect.

I often wonder which direction it will head in or whether it will stagnate due to the local education institutional priorities. I know there are a fair few on the forum that know what they're talking about when it comes to these subjects.

Any thoughts welcome.

[charlesh]

Being an ex chalkie and having visited the LOS for over 20 years the level of English here is POOR! Reminds me of Spain. Interestingly I see Portugal as being better (than Spain) and mark my words, Cambodia WILL be better than LOS in the not too distant future.
So s/fire my prediction is stagnation!!! It has little to do with the quality of the presenters and their "qualies" IMO and much to do with a national and individual will.

[johnnyk]

Pay peanuts and you get monkeys. They need to tighten up qualifications and pay competitively. But there is still a deep pool of drunks and party animals who will "work" for peanuts in the private "schools and keep wages down.

[Bamboo Grove]

The first thing that needs to be thrown out of the window is the "native speaker" syndrome. Anyone who can claim to be one and show their passport will get a job. Teachers need to be qualified, just as any other profession (doctors, engineers, nurses etc) need to be. Would you be happy in the hands of a doctor whose father was one but he/she isn't? That's where the root of the problem is, IMHO. Then the backpacker teachers will eventually disappear.

[Korkenzieher]

I have (though friends) some experience of the language market in Frankfurt, and it suprised me but frequently even in Germany, 'native' status is enough to get you a job teaching English. That is even more the case if you have some specific background of interest to a school (business language, technical language) that they have a need to supply. I also took my elementary German lessons there from a German guy whose ability to teach was nil. This in an internationally known 'brand name' language school. He was simply there to deliver their prepared materials. Friends of mine used to moonlight in Japan on the same basis - the only requirement was that they deliver the material, and were native speakers. It isn't a specifically Thai problem or issue - if there is the demand, or a qualifed teacher supply shortage - then qualifactions aren't an issue. I do agree though with your basic point, that people should have some minimum standard qualification for teaching but I fear, looking at recent news from teaching standards in the UK (specifically Scotland), that the situation isn't getting any better. However, one thing that is pretty clear - Thailand isn't paying enough to attract people to want to do much more than a gap-year stint, unless the individual has already made a commitment to stay in Thailand. Hong Kong, Singapore, KL all pay more.

[johnnyk]

VietNam pays more, too, and it is a much poorer country than Thailand.
IMO, Thais outside the upper classes don't care too much about education like the Chinese do for e.g.
In the end Somchai will be given a job because someone owes his family a favour.

[PeteC]

......Thailand isn't paying enough to attract people to want to do much more than a gap-year stint, unless the individual has already made a commitment to stay in Thailand. Hong Kong, Singapore, KL all pay more.

I would think at least two of the three other places listed have to pay considerably more as the cost of housing alone is astronomical. Food and transport is also considerably more expensive. I would guess KL is close in cost to Bangkok, but much more than outlying regions of Thailand.

However, perhaps HK and Singapore provide teacher dormitories, wouldn't be surprised if that was a necessity. Pete

[Vital Spark]

I agree with Charlish in his comment that 'stagnation' probably sums up the situation here now.

For my first job here at a Catholic school (in 1998) I had to do a demo lesson. I thankfully managed to pass the ordeal - despite being stared at by a ferocious note-taking Sister. I then had to write lesson plans for every lesson - usually a couple of pages long. If you didn't cut the mustard, you were out. I managed to survive a year before getting a job at a university. The Catholic school was hell, but it did teach me to think about the aims of my lessons, possible problems, and methodology. Something that I continue to do in my head.

The introduction of English Programmes, and the requirement for far more native speakers, hasn't raised the bar at all. It's just allowed more dross to get a job teaching kids.

I've worked with people who have Degrees, MAs, and PhDs - some have been good teachers - others couldn't teach a fish to swim. Yes, you do need to have a good grounding in grammar - but that doesn't come from studying at a Western university. A 24 year-old graduate from a Western university doesn't necessarily have better skills than say a 50 year-old who hasn't got a degree.

Anyone who goes for an interview at a school should do a grammar test and a demonstration lesson. I get quite frustrated here sometimes when people are employed by a Thai committee without any consultation with long-standing native speakers. We can usually tell, over a relaxed chat with a cup of coffee, whether or not that person is a suitable teacher.

In answer to your question Spitfire - it's really going nowhere, unless the good native speaking teachers are given more respect and authority, and the dross are not employed.

VS

[Korkenzieher]

Can't speak for specific arrangements in HK, Sing etc., but my friends in Japan (who were moonlighting while doing Geology PhD research in southern Kyushu) were getting £500 a day in the mid 80s. Even in Japan, that is going to get you more than a dormitory. Can't say what level they were teaching at. In Frankfurt now, the guys clear around €2,000 Euro a month but that is usually based on a couple of hours in the morning and a couple of hours in the evening (basically out-of-work-hours stuff for banking and insurance types, rather than school-kids). Adding private work pushes that up, usually at the rate of about €50 an hour. For some reason also, foreign native language teachers don't pay tax on that until they've been there 2 years. Needless to say a lot don't stay that long but friends who have multi year careers there are quite comfortable with that level of income. Obviously some take more private stuff on, and consequently make more.

Clearly, you aren't going to get those rates teaching in a regular school everywhere in the world but if you are qualified and looking at the differences in rate, then you are likely to see Thailand as a quick job for the experience of Asia, or gap year or whatever, rather than being 'a career move'.

On qualifications, as a rule, those guys all have a CELTA of some kind but I personally was offered a job with a language school in the Frankfurt area based on my business and IT background and being able to communicate with their customers in the relevant terms. I never took it up as I was offered IT contract work at roughly the same time. I have since then twice been offered English teaching jobs literally out of the blue, and been told that if I was concerned about the qualifications I could do a TEFL course at the same time either through the school, or online. It has always been sold to me as an easy option to earn a living in some part of the world I wanted to stay in for a while. Some of the professional teachers may resent that, but it is a fact. And in saying that, I certainly don't personally underestimate the skill level of qualified TEFL teachers. I just think some employers don't see it as particularly relevant.

[charlesh]

"Qualies" give you the methodology and structure NOT the knack to teach or impart knowledge. Just look at the LOS and India as examples.
IMO life experience, personality and desire go a long way to "walk the walk". There is an over reliance on "qualies"
PS I have at least 5 in various areas so am not exhibiting a sour grapes response.
I recollect that there was a Grey (Gray) list that warned intending ESL teachers of where to stay away from. Sth. Korea for example did not get a good rating.

[Korkenzieher]

Fully agree with that! Have no capabilities at (class) teaching whatsoever, though I do tend to be quite good at one on one instruction. Did a lot of that in my Uni days in lab & field prac. But up front speaking? Forget it - rabbit in the headlights stuff!

[migrant]

I did a lot of one on one tutoring in high school and university, but never did any class teaching.

About 8 years ago I was approached by a client to teach a business class at the local 4 year university. He was Dean of the business school and had a teacher come up missing.

It surprised me because I don't have the credentials, but as a CPA the subject, auditing, was part of my training, and career. I no longer performed audits, but he was desperate.

OK, I said with indrawn breath. He got me the texts, teachers version and I modified the past lesson plans to my liking.

First class was very nervous, the students were 3rd and 4th year.

Without drawing this out it turned out great, and I taught the next 4 years along with some adult school teaching.

I also got great feedback from the students, so that made me feel good. They all said they could tell I cared about what they learned, unlike some teachers that just taught by rote.

So as mentioned before I think the individual can be successful if they have the desire.

[johnnyk]

A good TEFL or CELTA doesn't make a good teacher but it does provide the bedrock of how to design lessons and proven techniques for teaching grammar points.

But just because someone can speak English fluently doesn't mean they understand the why and the how or can put it across. The delivery skills are something people have or don't have. All the qualis in the world are not much good if you have the personality of a spoon. I've worked with Ph.Ds who couldn't boil water in real life or talk 20 seconds without putting everyone asleep.

The qualis can provide a starting point for staffing officers to do the first tranche and select those who get to do a demo lesson (unfortunately in Thailand the demo too often consists of being caucasian and being able to stand while breathing). Qualis are also just a wee bit of help for anyone facing 20 students and two hours to get through.

[migrant]

I agree that the qualies can help.

The wife, and I, are planning a move to Thailand in 2-3 years. I tentatively plan on teaching, at least part time.

But I also plan on doing a TEFL or CELTA course also.

I'm going to ask, on another thread, which courses people think are best.

[mabubba]

But I also plan on doing a TEFL or CELTA course also.

I'm going to ask, on another thread, which courses people think are best.

Migrant, did your research bear fruit? I am interested to know what you are planning to do.