In my previous article on perception of foreign teachers I discussed how they were viewed by other expats and employers. I felt there was a giant hole missing: the perception of foreign teachers by the very people who actually pay for the service, whose m
In my previous article on perception of foreign teachers I discussed how they were viewed by other expats and employers. I felt there was a giant hole missing: the perception of foreign teachers by the very people who actually pay for the service, whose money pumps through this ever-expanding industry. There are now five times as many people learning English in China as there are people in the UK. The ESL education is huge in China and the number of parents who will shell out cash for English lessons is ever increasing.
In my six years of teaching in China and Singapore, I have dealt with hundreds of parents of students which are usually of primary school age. Two things have always stood out for me when it comes to the expectations they have for their child’s English lessons- an expectation of “authenticity” and the wildly differing standards they have of Chinese teachers and foreign teachers.
The Myth Of Osmosis
I was absolutely useless at biology when I was at school, but for some reason the word osmosis always stuck with me. I think it basically describes the process whereby molecules transfer between membranes, but it perfectly sums up how most Chinese parents expect their child to learn English. Many think that simply by putting their child in a room with someone from an English speaking country, their child will simply assimilate English language skills almost without trying.
However, it is almost impossible to create a fully immersive English-language environment in China. Once a child is placed in a class with a native English speaker it is expected that the pieces will fall into place, despite the fact that 1-3 hours per week of English instruction, even if in a totally immersive environment, is not adequate to constitute a real English environment. Once the child steps foot out of the class, their English-language environment disappears.
What Is An “Authentic,” English Speaker?
Chinese adult students or parents of children taking English classes almost always automatically assume that native speakers are the most equipped to teach the language, and that the experience and environment is more “authentic” with a native teacher. A white person from the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand most accurately conforms to the perception that many Chinese people have of what an English speaker is. This partly explains the issues around race and ethnicity that I discussed in my previous article, and why white faces are best for business.
I once taught an eight year old boy who spoke outstanding English. To be honest, his English was so good I had no idea why his mother hired me to tutor him. The reason was simply that he spoken English with his Filipino nanny day in day out since he was a toddler. When I asked about this, her reply was “She was good but her accent wasn’t very authentic”. His accent was absolutely fine, but this is the pervasive attitude amongst many. The fact that people from countries such as India, Philippines and many English-speaking African countries such as Kenya have been speaking English since they were knee-high just seems lost. However, ask yourself this question- if you wake up tomorrow and decide to take Spanish lessons, would you hire someone from the south of the USA who studied Spanish at school or a native speaker from Mexico, Spain, Chile or Argentina?
Fun Classes Vs Grammar Lessons
What is an English teacher in China actually hired to do? Well in the world of the language school owner it is to make money for the school but in the eyes of the parents it is to facilitate an English-language environment. It is felt by all that the best way to do this is to have an upbeat, enjoyable and entertaining class primarily filled with games, interactive activities and humour. This one of the main difficulties in being a foreign teacher in China- the need to be highly entertaining as well as educational. Your popularity with your students is the main parameter by which your performance is measured. This is in sharp contrast to how Chinese teachers are evaluated, which is mostly on their ability to get their students to get high scores in the astonishing amount of tests the students must sit.
The prevalent attitude is that foreign teacher classes are for fun and games whilst the Chinese teacher classes are for serious study, this is usually why the foreign teachers are assigned the “Oral English” lessons and the lessons on grammar, syntax and word usage are almost exclusively delegated to the Chinese teachers. I see this as unlikely to change, as the “good” foreign teachers in China are ones who are popular with their students and keep them coming back, and conform to the expectations of the students and their parents.
It is entirely understandable that most foreign teachers are cautious and simply try to keep their students and their parents happy by giving them what they want. But, as long as this is the case, this perception will not change.
Remember that in the eyes of the student’s parents and school owners or principals foreign teachers are there to facilitate an English-language environment rather than to teach. In my opinion this perception is the main reason that many foreign teachers feel under-appreciated, and why there are so many instances of questionable business practices in the ESL industry. Foreign teachers are then resented for being paid a large salary for doing what is (in the eyes of many) a very simple job.
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