[etni] Re: Native speakers
- From: "Lev Abramov" <lev@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <nirenber@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, <ydaleph@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2004 23:07:41 +0200
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The Bolsheviks solved that problem in a truly Stalinist way. After
graduating from the University, every "young specialist" was obliged by law
to work in a rural location set by the authorities, for three full years
following graduation. I got my degree in 1975; I returned home in 1978 after
having served three long years 300 kilometers away.
I sincerely hope this "bold social experiment" will not be repeated here,
despite many similarities I have observed in the way the two states build
their relations with their citizens.
However, I have to agree with Bari: in certain faraway places it is hard to
hire a teacher whose English would be up to par. (In Dimona in 1991, they
even hired *me* - a meager non-native speaker with no pedagogic education
and no formal prior teaching experience!)
I also have to agree with Dan that those who cannot learn a language
sufficiently well should not be teaching others (although I disagree with
him regarding the rest of his claims).
What is the solution?
Ideally, the Ministry should be allocating funds for professional training
which would include language proficiency courses. Every teacher would have
to take oral and written proficiency tests in order to get certified; those
whose English was found lacking would have to take enrichment courses until
they pass the certification.
I'm afraid, however, that this Stalinist solution would probably fail to
achieve any lasting effect.
Bottom line: if there is a colleague who could teach English proficiency
courses that would improve teachers' command of English and help them get
rid of "heavy accents", I will be willing to provide the platform for
putting these courses online, as well as take upon myself all the necessary
steps to obtain an approval for continuing education points ("gmul"). I will
also provide the necessary training in order to help the instructor teach in
an e-learning environment. The candidate should be highly proficient in
English; no requirements regarding "native" aspect will be set.
Any takers?
Lev
-----------
Lev Abramov
The Schiffman Institute
<http://home.schiffman.biz>
-----Original Message-----
From: etni-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:etni-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf
Of Bari Nirenberg
Well, maybe, but if we had to abide by those criteria, I think we'd have a
severe shortage of English teachers and we'd be teaching 60 or 70 kids in a
class. There are a lot of native speakers in Jerusalem, Dan, but have you
been to Beer Sheva lately?
Bari
> -----Original Message-----
> From: etni-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> ---
> non-native speakers who teach English should be at or near proficiency
level without strong foreign accents. I can think a few teachers in
Jerusalem who qualify. Those with heavy accents should not be teaching
English.
>
> Dan
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