Letters

Locals can teach English

I write in response to the Taipei Times' editorial, "A lot to learn about teaching English," (Jan. 7, page 8) with some thoughts on the Ministry of Education (MOE) plan to recruit foreign teachers to teach English in Taiwan's public schools.

Why foreign teachers? Why not our own people? There is a group of people who live in English-speaking countries, some having been born there, and who speak English as well as any foreigner. Some of them are native English speakers, and, most importantly, they can speak Chinese and/or Taiwanese as their parents emigrated from Taiwan.

Yes, such people do exist. Those born in the US are known as "ABCs," for "American-born Chinese." Some were not born overseas at all, but have simply attained excellence in the English language. Most of them are bright, well-educated and hard-working, characteristics inherited from our Chinese culture and traditions. Personally, I believe they are the best candidates for the job.

I cannot think of any reason to deny them. We have to understand that foreigners are not the only people capable of great proficiency in the English language. We have our own people, some of whom have lived in other parts of the world, who are just as capable. To deny them would be simply to brand them as less good English speakers than foreigners. By bringing them back to our homeland, we can adopt a more permanent solution.

Indeed, Taiwan society would surely benefit significantly by welcoming such an elite group back into the fold. I believe our government should try to create opportunities to encourage their return. Taiwan's public education system really cannot rely on foreigners, either now or in the future. It just cannot. Such a trend would be unwise and must not be initiated.

Su Chun-yen,
College Park, Maryland

Foreign teachers a great idea

The MOE recently decided to recruit 1,000 native English teachers to teach English both in public schools. I think this is a brilliant policy. Some foreign students are trained at their colleges for years and get experience in the US, the UK, Australia and other countries to teach English to students whose native language is not English. Taiwan should officially and widely open its door for them. Most native English teachers currently in Taiwan can only teach in local language centers or institutes.

Why don't we offer them more opportunities to teach English at school during the daytime as well? High salaries ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$90,000 per month will attract more foreign teachers to come to Taiwan to develop their teaching careers and show their commitment to Taiwan. No doubt there will be stiff competition for these jobs in the future. Competent foreign teachers must be welcomed to Taiwan to put their skills to use. They deserve to be well-paid. Every parent and schoolchild should agree to this new policy.

Mel Hsiao
Taipei

Revamp English curriculum

The recent debate over the introduction of native speakers of English into the nation's elementary and junior high schools has been lively and interesting. Throughout the debate, commentators have indicated again and again that the greatest problem facing our students, teachers and educators is not the lack of native speakers with whom to practice English, but outdated methodology and testing. While the Ministry of Education has mandated the use of the "communicative approach" in the nation's English-language classrooms and textbooks, it has yet to provide training to teachers at all levels, especially junior high school. As long as teachers, students and parents are unaware of the implications of a new approach to teaching English, then no number of native speakers of English will make much difference.

Instead of investing so much in the rather dubious -- not to mention expensive -- prospect of hiring native speakers of English, shouldn't further training and resources be devoted to Taiwanese teachers? Instead of 1,000 native speakers of English, couldn't 1,000 Taiwanese teachers be given thorough training through one of the many fine four- or five-week intensive ESL certificate programs around the world? Better yet, couldn't the trainers for a similar program be brought to Taiwan? If these 1,000 Taiwanese teachers were then given the title "master teacher" with corresponding benefits and authority to make changes in a school's curriculum and teaching practice, wouldn't more teachers be willing to invest in the ideas and practices that make for effective English-language teaching?

Taiwanese teachers have served and will continue to serve as the role models for generations of English learners in Taiwan. They should have the training they require and deserve.

Michael Cahill
Taipei