Very funny. But I wonder... It is just as believable to me that they get no advice or training, as that they are sent to conference after conference on their weekends and get training: from academic 'authorities' who have not worked with an ALT, cannot speak any second language, have no public speaking skills, but have a long list of Japanese credentials from a 'good university'.
Truth is, they should make the Japanese English teachers sit in the smoking room with the PE teachers who talk with the Gaijin in dirty broken English and Japanese, and at my schools where that happened socially the Japanese English teachers got on well with me, because none of us took it too seriously.
Anyway, JET and ALTs have had only one measurable affect: Japanese and Gaijin fucking more, some making hybrids, and a bit fewer marrying. This is a good thing, not only because hybrids look better, but intermarriage is one method of avoiding a repeat of the nationalist idiocy of the 30s. If they really cared about English language education they'd send over accredited ESL teachers and get the &^%$ out of their way; however, western ideas would get taught too, for better or worse. Can't have that!
And accredited teachers who'd come are older, and though may fuck the locals either can't make hybrids anymore or have got smart enough to know how to avoid it.
Yep, I've been party to some of those ongoing training seminars, and your assumptions are sadly accurate.
As for hiring accredited teachers from abroad, the teachers unions would go nuts. Not without reason, either. They represent perhaps the only even vaguely leftwing organisations in this country with any sort of political weight, so I'm broadly sympathetic. But in this instance it really is shooting themselves in the foot.
Thank you. Got a link to a full version of that paper? Could only find abstracts. I miss my Athens login more than I ever thought I would. Always the way, eh?
Cheers. The thing about journal articles that really confirm my world view is that it'S so much harder to look at them dispassionately and check for faults. Much easier, and more satisfying, to sit there nodding. And occasionally chuckling. And maybe silently weeping.
You have no idea how long it took me to decide exactly how much blank space would be funniest. The fact I gave it any thought at all is slightly concerning...
I fell for it too. Then I thought you were trying to compete with chris for insightful posts of the year with his binary post. You smart guys with your smart posts. I need to learn how to write better.
That time of year. Summer's over and it's finally getting cool enough to actually engage our brains instead of just sitting under the aircon sweating...
The 'native premium' is a related but separate discussion. Suffice to say that's all screwy as well. You'd think that demonstrating an ability to learn the stuff yourself would indicate some kind of competence to help others do the same, but apparently not...
In slightly less developed regions of this great nation, at times, all a person needs to do to be seen as a ネイティブスピーカー (of English) is to be from another country. Looking slightly Western helps, but it is not necessary. And to be an English teacher really doesn't require that a person really speak the language either.
That about sums it up...
ReplyDeleteYep. Sometimes it's just too easy not to go for.
DeleteVery funny. But I wonder... It is just as believable to me that they get no advice or training, as that they are sent to conference after conference on their weekends and get training: from academic 'authorities' who have not worked with an ALT, cannot speak any second language, have no public speaking skills, but have a long list of Japanese credentials from a 'good university'.
ReplyDeleteTruth is, they should make the Japanese English teachers sit in the smoking room with the PE teachers who talk with the Gaijin in dirty broken English and Japanese, and at my schools where that happened socially the Japanese English teachers got on well with me, because none of us took it too seriously.
Anyway, JET and ALTs have had only one measurable affect: Japanese and Gaijin fucking more, some making hybrids, and a bit fewer marrying. This is a good thing, not only because hybrids look better, but intermarriage is one method of avoiding a repeat of the nationalist idiocy of the 30s. If they really cared about English language education they'd send over accredited ESL teachers and get the &^%$ out of their way; however, western ideas would get taught too, for better or worse. Can't have that!
And accredited teachers who'd come are older, and though may fuck the locals either can't make hybrids anymore or have got smart enough to know how to avoid it.
DeleteYep, I've been party to some of those ongoing training seminars, and your assumptions are sadly accurate.
DeleteAs for hiring accredited teachers from abroad, the teachers unions would go nuts. Not without reason, either. They represent perhaps the only even vaguely leftwing organisations in this country with any sort of political weight, so I'm broadly sympathetic. But in this instance it really is shooting themselves in the foot.
Poetic.
ReplyDeleteYou might want to glance at Cave's paper now; the conclusion's a good place to start.
Thank you. Got a link to a full version of that paper? Could only find abstracts. I miss my Athens login more than I ever thought I would. Always the way, eh?
DeleteDidn't realize that the PDF was not readily available anymore...meaning my JSTOR access has been denied.
DeleteRegards.
PS
You may want to check your mail.
Cheers. The thing about journal articles that really confirm my world view is that it'S so much harder to look at them dispassionately and check for faults. Much easier, and more satisfying, to sit there nodding. And occasionally chuckling. And maybe silently weeping.
DeleteI waited and waited and reloaded once...and then my bran activated and all was well.
ReplyDeleteSadly...you nailed it. I think you went on a bit too long actually ;)
You have no idea how long it took me to decide exactly how much blank space would be funniest. The fact I gave it any thought at all is slightly concerning...
DeleteI fell for it too. Then I thought you were trying to compete with chris for insightful posts of the year with his binary post. You smart guys with your smart posts. I need to learn how to write better.
DeleteThat time of year. Summer's over and it's finally getting cool enough to actually engage our brains instead of just sitting under the aircon sweating...
DeleteOk, in that case I'm even more thankful that not being a native speaker in English in any case ruled me out as an English teacher.
ReplyDeleteThe 'native premium' is a related but separate discussion. Suffice to say that's all screwy as well. You'd think that demonstrating an ability to learn the stuff yourself would indicate some kind of competence to help others do the same, but apparently not...
DeleteEither way you probably dodged a bullet ;)
FYI
DeleteIn slightly less developed regions of this great nation, at times, all a person needs to do to be seen as a ネイティブスピーカー (of English) is to be from another country. Looking slightly Western helps, but it is not necessary. And to be an English teacher really doesn't require that a person really speak the language either.
LOL! I kept think there was an error LOL! "Like where's the effing post??" LOL Sorry a little slow sometimes
ReplyDeleteOh, there are errors all right. Just not with this post, is all.
DeleteThanks for stopping back round these parts :)
Cheeky bugger
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteNot wrong though, am I?