ESL Lesson Plan

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Hello Carol Rueckert,

My name is Dom. I have been in China nearly six years now teaching English, to all ages, publicly, and privately. What is your opinion of the way China does things? I mean doesn't it seem rather ridiculous that students can only get their English in class? They meet once or twice a week if lucky, maybe have an English Corner on the weekend, and that's it. Once they leave the class it is nothing but the Chinese world. There is no reinforcement of English on the outside of class in China. Seems rather bleak to me to say the least. They just study to pass the exam to enter the university. There is no real motive to use English in China. China television has very few English channels.

To me this is problem. Why study English if it is not going to be used in Society? Why should chinese study English when they are happy with their own language? My wife is Chinese and she really has no interest in learning English, instead she teaches me chinese. I think it is great to learn chinese, but how does this English learning actually help China, when in fact they will never implement it into their society as a means of social communication?

I have known English all my life. I am nearly 50 years old, and I don't have an English degree, or ESL certificate. Do you honestly think having advanced English degrees to teach in China or any Asian culture is necessary? To me it is like using a flame thrower to light a cigarette, or using a ball and chain to kill a fly. The culture divide is so huge, and the average student has such a difficult time remembering. Granted I have had some good students who catch on right away, but the majority are just entwined in their chinese ways.

So I think if a person wants to teach in China or somewhere in Asia it is not necessary to have these higher degrees. Most people who get higher education degrees would rather stay in the States than venture out especially to a communist country. Look at S.Korea. Who in their right mind wants to go there to teach knowing the riff with N. Korea's nuclear acquisition? Isn't that why there are so many positions available in S. Korea now?

I dare say an AA degree from the States is worth about 2 of their BA credential chinese degrees, while also considering the reasons for currency differences. What is your opinion on this?

Hi Dominic,

I guess that overall, I had a different experience than you did in China. In Beijing, they had street signs, menus, radio shows, tv shows, books, newspapers, magazines...etc. all in English. While English is not an official language in China (and I never really expect it to be), it is used on a daily basis for many people in Beijing. In other cities, it may be a different story.

The fact that English is not spoken as a first language or as a second official language is the reason why EFL teachers have jobs there, isn't it?

You're right in the fact that many Asian countries do not require advanced degrees. However, Asian countries are beginning to require BA degrees and a TEFL or CELTA certificate. For those wanting to get into publishing, curriculum design, or management, there are plenty of opportunities out there now (in Asia as well) and an advanced degree is sometimes necessary for that.

Personally, I sought out further education in ESL because I became very interested in what I was doing in China. I had answers about teaching and language acquisition that I wanted to research. I don't think everyone needs to get a Masters or Phd in ESL, just like I don't think everyone needs Masters or Phd in Education in America. But if you're interested in the field, go for it. It might help Chinese students; it definitely won't hurt them.

Thanks for your comments.

Warm regards,

Carol Rueckert
Writer, ESL Lesson Plan

Thank You