Allow me to express my disgust...

[Maharlika]

...regarding the Dark Side of English language education in Thailand.

I have posted my reaction at the website's forum. However, there is a one day delay before my post can be read at the said forum.

And so, allow me to relate what I have written:

"I just read the article at the Learning Post (Oct 8-14) and I couldn't help but feel disgusted with what is truly a reality for us non-WHITE "native speakers" who can COMPETENTLY teach the target language.

Thais (and any other sort of people for that matter) who believe that ONLY caucasians can teach English effectively (grammar, conversational English, accent, etc.) JUST BECAUSE they "look good" (thus it "feels good" having them for teachers like riding a Mercedes Benz) are STUPID, PATHETIC, and IGNORANT FOOLS.

Geez, people, WAKE the freaking UP! Even among the so-called "native speakers" (from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S.A) there are instances wherein they themselves do not understand each other (when they talk among themselves) because of accent! ( --- Mah)

These Thais don't seem to recognize that they are not getting their money's worth when they end up with incompetent caucasian teachers. How would they know in the first place since a number of them are too incompetent with the target language to even realize that they've been had! rolleyes: --- Mah)

I never had a "farang" to teach me my English yet I could give these caucasians a run for their money if we all play the game in a balanced field.

If you want to REALLY LEARN how to use English effectively then go get a teacher WHO IS COMPETENT and qualified REGARDLESS OF SKIN COLOR...

...otherwise IF you go just "for looks," you deserve what you get...

...that is, the kind of English that is PATHETIC, INCOMPETENT and LAUGHABLE...

...just like the people who believe only in "good looks.""

--- Grrrrr....



Fellow mods, I truly believe that I'm not trolling here. Just expressing my hurt feelings. Yes, I'm at an elevated state of emotion right now and if you think that this post is unbecoming of me as a mod, then feel free to edit and do what you must.

Thanks.

[Kameleon]

Originally posted by Maharlika
If you want to REALLY LEARN how to use English effectively then go get a teacher WHO IS COMPETENT and qualified REGARDLESS OF SKIN COLOR...

This is so true: I know several people from my school and elsewhere, who have gone on a gap year before going to University, to a foreign country to teach EFL. Truthfully, I can only think of one who has an equal command of our language to yours, and still they are all more likely to get jobs at schools, simply because they are white. I totally agree with you, this is an outrage of the highest level, not just on the racism front (although I see this as the most serious breach of practise) but also in that it is depriving children of having the best teaching possible. If a native English speaker, with sub-standard teaching skills, or worse yet, who is a lazy grammarian due to having talked in slang all his life, is picked over someone who has learnt English properly, speaks it near-perfectly, and has excellent teaching qualifications, just because of ethnicity or skin colour, to teach very impressionable children, I agree with you in that it is a complete disgrace.

Don't worry, I wouldn't call your post trolling in any way, only a justifiably angry response to what is basically a scandal.

[Eerhardt]

Just read your post and the article too, Mah and I'm with you all the way .

I think there are a lot of caucasian teachers who could learn a thing or two from your obvious dedication to the English language .

[fable]

@Mah, it's an ancient problem; Juvenal complained of how every Greek, regardless of the lowliness of a given individual's station, was considered fit to teach Roman nobles about the Greek language and arts--and this was back in the 2nd century AC.

It never changes; meaning human nature. Want to make a lot of money? All you need to do is learn the language of the most fiscally successful nation. Want to learn it well? Get someone from that nation to teach it to you. You'll be rolling in cash in no time!

[Tybaltus]

Mah, you have every reason to be upset. I believe diversity in schools that I have been to is probably the reason why I like the schools I have been to.

Youre right, Mah, obviously. Its most certainly the qualifications of the job rather than the background. Any person can become a good english teacher regardless of race, hieght, color, hair, gender, whatever, it doesnt matter as long as you qualifications and qualities are there.

You give those people who wrote that article hell, Mah. You give em what they got coming....

[Maharlika]

Thanks, for the understanding and support...

...just had to talk to you guys and share them with you.

I was talking to my aunt (who happens to be married to a Thai) over the phone when she asked me if I read the newspaper. I said no, and so she told me about this article.

She's just as disgusted as I am.

@fable: That far back?

[Scayde]

Mah..this is deplorable...I feel nothing but pain and disgust at this level of biggotry...

Hell, I wish I had had you for a teacher..Then I might know how to spell

I see this in Nursing too... the Philipino nurses I work with are treated very poorly at times by their patients..when if the jerks only know they have one of the best damm nurses in the place...with an average of 3 years more training than their "American" *cough*white*cough* couterparts...it infuriates me on their behalf....


Mah..you have more than every right to be angry...I am angry for you ...*HUG*

[Osiris]

Total support here, Mah.

I would have thought the main priority for a language teacher would be to be bi-lingual, i.e. fluent in the language of those being taught as well as the foreign language being taught.

We had a Japanese native-speaker at our school who was obviously very good at Japanese, but knew almost no English - hence could not explain things he was teaching very well.