A lift in standards?

[Dr. Gonzo]

An interesting article. Compulsory for our members, actually.

news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-05/15/content_4546817.htm

[Newbs]

Most of it fair enough, in so far as it goes, but ...

"Schools now know that not every foreigner with white skin and blue eyes is qualified to teach English," said Cindy Mi, director of the ABC English Training Center Shanghai.

Now, wait a minute. Might it not just be possible that someone who has dark skin and dark eyes might actually be qualified to teach English?

[Dragonsaver]

Ok, but what are they really saying?

They only want people with English Education degrees and teaching experience??

How many of us does this exclude?

[Dr. Gonzo]

I think its saying that a few schools in a few cities are requiring the sort of creds many other EFL countries demand as standard.
The idea of this ever applying across China is laughable though.

[MK]

Some teachers even turned out to be tourists who taught part time. They had no interest in teaching, but just wanted to earn money to continue traveling.

Oh, those poor Chinese schools, duped by the evil foreign so-called teachers!

As a qualified, experienced EFL teacher who has not had his contract renewed TWICE (presumably 'cos the school thought they could get someone FOTB cheaper - they never explained), I find this article somewhat hypocritical!

(Yes, I have considered the fact that my contracts weren't renewed because I am a pooty teacher and/or an asshole, but I have dismissed these thoughts as impossible, or at least unlikely.)