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Years ago, one of my Canadian professors at the Faculty ofEducation used to say that English is a commodity. In many parts ofthe world, people rush to take lessons and learn English in order to create more jobopportunities for themselves. This phenomenon has generated such a strong demand forEnglish (ESL) teachers. Recently, my sister-in-law, like manyparents in Taiwan (or shall we say in Asia), paid big bucks to sendmy two nephews to an English Learning Centre afterschool. The centre, run by a Taiwanese wife and her Canadianhusband, is very reputable for its strict discipline and stringentprogram. EVERY parent in the neighborhood wants their child to getin, so I was told, and they all have to pay registration fee toreserve a spot in advance. It is like the lottery draw for gettinginto a private school.
I used to teach in a few of those so called language schools eonago. I was surprised to find out that this particular centrerequires a large sum of non-refundable registration fee up front aswell as fees for books, backpack and tuition. In additional to theadmission test, children will have to wear a uniform. Uniform? Isthis money gouging or is it truly necessary? Maybe I have been awayfrom Taiwan for too long. I know you buy outfits for Karate, TaeKwon Do, Ju-Do, or Kung Fu lessons. You need to wear a swimmingsuit for swimming lessons, but you don’t need a uniform for takinga piano or art lesson. So, why do they need to wear auniform to learn English at a language centre? Hey, wait a minute!We don’t even have uniforms for the regular public schoolshere.
Does wearing a uniform make a better student in learning English?Or, is it going too far in the scheme of English language business?I am not against uniform even though I hated mine when I was injunior and senior high schools. (Correction: I hated the uniformedhaircut above the ear lobes the most, not the uniform!) I wouldagree with having uniforms in a public school because of the largesize of a Taiwanese public school. The sheer numbers of children ata public school are usually into the hundreds and sometimesthousands, so for safety concerns, I am all for it. But, come on,you don’t need to wear a uniform to go to a language centre for twoor three hours. As far as I know, many parents have already paidtop dollars to send their children to these extra curricularactivities.
I remember the ill-treatment and embarrassment I received when my parents could not afford to pay monthly Bu-Si Fei (fee for supplementary program after school) to my Grade 5 (and Grade 6) public school homeroom teacher. I did not go to my teacher's house after school for extra"enrichment" like most of my classmates did. (Nowadays, that is called“conflict of interest”. Teachers could lose their jobs for doingjust that.) I did not fall behind my class academically, but I definitely feltleft out in my miserable little mind. I worked hard and eventuallyturned out to be all right. A little seed, however, was planted inme; I would NEVER put any of my students in that position. I woulddo free remedial or enrichment programs for my students if I haveto. My heart also goes out to those parents who are pressured to pay for all these little fees for what is considered the best for their children.
I believe it is important to learn a second language. I have heardthat English is already added to the new elementary curriculum. Idon’t know much about the content of the new elementary curriculumthough. I am just feeling very sorry for many young parents who are in terrible financial stretch because of “the trend” or “the policy”of many language centers. The whole charade of private Englisheducation in Taiwan, as I see it, is really “supply and demand”;parents want the best education for their child (or for the dream they failed to fulfill, or the status for themselves), the student wants good grade for theirfuture (or for their parents), and the language business wants toplease their clients (or to make more money for themselves).Unfortunately, this creates a perfect triad for this relationalcomplex existing in our society that is fuelled by praises and the pursuing of foreign imports. So a business operation like thisparticular language centre, a VERY reputable one from I’veheard, can demand whatever they see fit.
Maybe I am getting a little too edgy (or grumpy, ha.ha.ha) here. I guessthe bottom line is, as long as parents (Su$$ERS) are willing topay for the uniforms, who am I to judge! I am just a teacher whowas made in Taiwan and exported out of the country.
Post Note: My hubby likes to joke about this saying to prove he's right; “Foreign monkschant louder.” Isn’t this belief rooted deeply in many of us? (But, in my house, I am always right.)
I used to teach in a few of those so called language schools eonago. I was surprised to find out that this particular centrerequires a large sum of non-refundable registration fee up front aswell as fees for books, backpack and tuition. In additional to theadmission test, children will have to wear a uniform. Uniform? Isthis money gouging or is it truly necessary? Maybe I have been awayfrom Taiwan for too long. I know you buy outfits for Karate, TaeKwon Do, Ju-Do, or Kung Fu lessons. You need to wear a swimmingsuit for swimming lessons, but you don’t need a uniform for takinga piano or art lesson. So, why do they need to wear auniform to learn English at a language centre? Hey, wait a minute!We don’t even have uniforms for the regular public schoolshere.
Does wearing a uniform make a better student in learning English?Or, is it going too far in the scheme of English language business?I am not against uniform even though I hated mine when I was injunior and senior high schools. (Correction: I hated the uniformedhaircut above the ear lobes the most, not the uniform!) I wouldagree with having uniforms in a public school because of the largesize of a Taiwanese public school. The sheer numbers of children ata public school are usually into the hundreds and sometimesthousands, so for safety concerns, I am all for it. But, come on,you don’t need to wear a uniform to go to a language centre for twoor three hours. As far as I know, many parents have already paidtop dollars to send their children to these extra curricularactivities.
I remember the ill-treatment and embarrassment I received when my parents could not afford to pay monthly Bu-Si Fei (fee for supplementary program after school) to my Grade 5 (and Grade 6) public school homeroom teacher. I did not go to my teacher's house after school for extra"enrichment" like most of my classmates did. (Nowadays, that is called“conflict of interest”. Teachers could lose their jobs for doingjust that.) I did not fall behind my class academically, but I definitely feltleft out in my miserable little mind. I worked hard and eventuallyturned out to be all right. A little seed, however, was planted inme; I would NEVER put any of my students in that position. I woulddo free remedial or enrichment programs for my students if I haveto. My heart also goes out to those parents who are pressured to pay for all these little fees for what is considered the best for their children.
I believe it is important to learn a second language. I have heardthat English is already added to the new elementary curriculum. Idon’t know much about the content of the new elementary curriculumthough. I am just feeling very sorry for many young parents who are in terrible financial stretch because of “the trend” or “the policy”of many language centers. The whole charade of private Englisheducation in Taiwan, as I see it, is really “supply and demand”;parents want the best education for their child (or for the dream they failed to fulfill, or the status for themselves), the student wants good grade for theirfuture (or for their parents), and the language business wants toplease their clients (or to make more money for themselves).Unfortunately, this creates a perfect triad for this relationalcomplex existing in our society that is fuelled by praises and the pursuing of foreign imports. So a business operation like thisparticular language centre, a VERY reputable one from I’veheard, can demand whatever they see fit.
Maybe I am getting a little too edgy (or grumpy, ha.ha.ha) here. I guessthe bottom line is, as long as parents (Su$$ERS) are willing topay for the uniforms, who am I to judge! I am just a teacher whowas made in Taiwan and exported out of the country.
Post Note: My hubby likes to joke about this saying to prove he's right; “Foreign monkschant louder.” Isn’t this belief rooted deeply in many of us? (But, in my house, I am always right.)
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