Thursday, September 23, 2010

CRISIS...in education???


I have been thinking a lot these last days - I know that I've said that this blog will remain for new projects and lesson ideas, but this concerns my job although it doesn't have to do with lesson plans.
I don't want to complain about the situation all the time, but I can't keep it to myself anymore...
We're talking about financial crisis in Greece, salary cuts, new taxes, people getting fired, people trying to get by on less and less money...
This has happened in the education field as well...
Parents have stopped investing in learning a second foreign language. For me (as a German teacher) means unemployment.
As an English teacher... well ...
Private Language school owners prefer people with little or no experience just to pay less...
The strange thing is that tuition fees get higher and higher.
I am asking the parents... Do you really know who teaches your children? Do they know what they are doing? Have they studied teaching different ages? Have they practised it?
Of course there are young people with the talent and the will to find out more about teaching and do their best... But from what I see the majority just wants to get some pocket money not caring about YOUR kids...
It is not enough to be kind and friendly to the kids... You have to know what you are doing...
CHEAP is not always the BEST.

Private lessons? School owners claim that these kind of tutors are not always qualified... Sometimes this is true. But some owners hire 19 year olds without even a teaching licence to teach pre-juniors ( which I find one of the most difficult levels BTW)

From what you people can imagine I am out of work... I have 16 years of experience in teaching, trying to be up-to-date all the time. Going to conventions and buying methodology books with my own expenses. Communicating with collegues around the world to exchange ideas. Beacause I want to and not because I am obliged to.

I didn't want to teach at a public school mailny because I would have to move places and this is a high price to pay especially for my family

So I do "steal" students from language schools ! And I am happy to show my qualifications to anyone who wants to see them. - After all I have to make a living somehow...

I know that what I am saying may not be pleasant to hear... But it IS the truth!

Please be careful who you trust with your children!

A re-post in Greek at CELT ATHENS BLOG

5 comments:

Henrick Oprea said...

Hi Theodora,

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation, and I totally understand your point of view. It seems that parents are less and less concerned about who is teaching their children. Unfortunately, this seems to be the case all over the world and for any subject - not only Language Teaching. It seems to me that all that matters is having a certificate, and learning is not the most importan thing anymore.

What a shame!! Perhaps it's time educators start spreading the word to other people, and not only to other educators. I have been talking to many people I know about my concerns regarding the future of education and who is going to teach our children and grandchildren. It's only if the rest of the world understands that there is a gulf between true educators and people who do it just in order to have some pocket money and don't mind being paid very little as they've got no training whatsoever. Perhaps if people understand there's a difference between teachers and those who simply walk into a classroom with no knowledge of what he or she is doing, they'll realise that teaching a foreign language is a profession that requires good professionals, just like medicine, law, accountancy, or engineering. Or so I hope...

Cheers from Brazil,

Henrick Oprea

PS: In case you're interested, I blogged about this concern I have here: http://hoprea.wordpress.com/2010/04/27/who-will-teach-our-children-and-grandchildren/

Theodora Papapanagiotou said...

Thank you so much for reading and responding... This situation seems to be "international"
I do hope that you can do something about it though...

Marisa Constantinides said...

Dear Theodora,

This is such an important post and so few school owners or parents likely to read it!

I invite you to write this as a guest post in my Greek blog and hope you will accept.

Marisa

Theodora Papapanagiotou said...

I'd be honoured Ms MArisa! I'll contact you for details!

sharon said...

Theodora,

I take my hat off to you for taking the time to write what you think! I agree with you, it's time we wished the parents could change their point of view. I totally understand. I am a native speaker, trying to study for a DELTA here in Greece,Parents and frontistiria don't care about the fact I am trying to improve myself. They would rather pay for an 18 yr old with proficiency as it is cheaper when their kids are young. Then, a year before exams they call me!!! How can we change this attitude???
I think you as a person matters, you know you are positively trying to enhance the teaching in thew EFL world here..you know inside yourself you are trying and that is what matters... DONT LET YHE SYSTEM GET TO YOU - THERE IS TIME FOR CHANGE AND YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS WILL BENEFIT.

\Keep strong and positive.
Sharon

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