CCTV has launched an undercover operation investigating the illegal English teaching industry that is flourishing in China.
The video, shot in Harbin and posted on Youtube, ‘discovered’ that many of the teachers were under-qualified or working on the wrong visa. This is well known to many who have worked in the English teaching industry, however, as the Nanfang pointed out, the recent media interest could be indicative of an upcoming crack down; both the Husi Food Scandal and the June Gaokao Scandal were investigated after TV channels ran undercover documentaries.
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Keywords: CCTV Investigates Illegal English Teaching Industry in China
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If China is really serious about it's English teaching programme then it has to change its present course and stop following the incorrect methods used by its neighbouring countries. A TEFL/ESL teacher is not a competent teacher just because he/she has a degree. There are those without degrees, as Englishuk has pointed out, who are very efficient English teachers and there are those with degrees who are awful teachers. I have a solution to this problem. A committee or panel of judges (3 or 4) of professional Foreign English instructors (not Chinese)should be appointed for each of the major cities around China. When an individual is accepted by the school/training centre then that individual must first perform a demonstration in front of the committee/panel just as if he/she would teach regular students. This could be done via live streaming in that person's own country or in front of the committee/panel of judges if the applicant is already in China. This method might be a little bit more costly but it will result in better English education.
Aug 10, 2016 16:32 Report Abuse
Hehehehe.What do you expect? Anybody with white skin is a native speaker and therefore can be a teacher in China.Teaching any subject has nothing to do with where people come from or how they look.It's all about level of education and knowledge.Or does that mean any Chinese can be a Chinese language teacher just because he/she is chinese? It's high time people here stopped this stereotype culture and stupid thinking and employ teachers who are well educated and qualified and no matter where they come from.The essence of a language is for comunication and it should be taught on that premise.Notfor mimicking an accent!Until people here get it right,underqualified and wrong people shall continue to be employed and thus reduce the quality of ESL teaching.
Sep 10, 2014 21:57 Report Abuse
there is a problem with standards of teaching, but it is wrong to blame the foreign teachers. the schools are to blame for not checking documentation or the quality of teaching. there are many teachers who don't have degrees that are extremely competent and have good experience. and there are many teachers with a degree in any subject that are bad teachers having no real interest in the subject..
Sep 10, 2014 19:25 Report Abuse
I began working in a well-known school in Foshan only to later find out that the school did not have a permit to employ foreign teachers. I had a valid working visa at the time but the school put me in a precarious position by employing me. They were able to employ me by informing the authorities that I worked at their other branch which did have a permit. The school later made a deal with the authorities after the authorities found out about the school. Nevertheless, I was interrogated for 2 hours by the authorities. Soon after that I resigned. I could no longer trust the dishonest behaviour of the school. They had previously lied to me about other things but that event was the icing on the cake.
Sep 04, 2014 12:47 Report Abuse
Although I do agree that the employers should bear the brunt of fines when an institution is busted, I don't agree that those working illegally are always passive victims. Ignorance is no defense, nor is stupidity: if you are going to take the word of an employer over information that is clearly displayed on consulate, embassy and visa service websites then you are either wonderfully dense or know that you are breaking the law. When you apply for your visa, the form and accompanying information are quite clear about the various categories and you are asked directly, and very simply, what your purpose is for visiting China. If you are going there to work and you tick "tourism" then you have knowingly committed fraud. I agree that this has been a common enough practice in the past and that some employers do persuade people that "this is how it works" - but at the end of the day, being asked to lie on an official form should be an obvious red flag and the Chinese government has every right to punish those people who do it.
Sep 04, 2014 08:03 Report Abuse
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