Does being an Expert mean you're Qualified to Teach ESL?

[NancyB]

Does having your MA in English Literature (for example) mean you're qualified to be an ESL educator???

I found this article interesting and wanted to engage the ESL teaching community with it. The article addresses the future of the teaching profession, and what defines a qualified teacher. It mentions two opposing groups: Professionalism Advocates and Deregulation Advocates.
DivineCaroline :: The Future of the Teaching Profession

Can you expand on this? What's your opinion?

[gfell]

Interesting article...

There are some quite valid points in this article, and one that stood out to me was the below:

Originally Posted by TeachersTopic

First, we have a gross misdistribution of qualified teachers which, in effect, denies a portion of our public school students access to a high-quality education.

Rather than a misdistribution, I would tend to think it's more along the lines of gross use of unqualified teachers. This is even more of a problem in the ESL industry abroad as opposed to local teachers in your own country. Often is the case that new teachers with no experience nor teaching qualifications, will head into an ESL classroom to teach.

Time and effort via practical experience and study needs to be expended in order to become a qualified teacher. Being a qualified teacher does not necessarily mean having that piece of paper showing you undertook a TEFL course, but in fact, a qualified teacher is one that CAN teach regardless of any piece of paper which may be held. Just because a new teacher holds an MA in English Literature, does not mean the teacher is equipped to teach an ESL class.

[exported_kiwi]

I often wonder, and have a problem with, how we should define the term "expert" and what, exactly, entitles anybody to claim they're an expert. I could easily claim I'm an expert in drinking a lot of beer and then finding my way home, but does this actually make me an expert. I doubt it because then many of us would be experts in this, which would make us all normal, rather than being an expert, make sense?

I came to China a few years ago, invited by a friend who taught in Jinan, Shandong. His employer needed another teacher and I was asked to be that teacher. I said, ok, why not....not much else to do except go fishing in Aussie anyway. I arrived, and was a totally unqualified teacher with neither experience or TESOL etc. What I found was that I liked the job, it was something I could do and it made the lives of the students fun. I refined the craft as time went by and although I'm by no means an expert, I am good at my job! Part of being good at something is enjoying it and I love doing what I do. As time went by, my experience grew as did my knowledge of what was required as well as the students needs and individuality. Now, after 3 years experience, I'd not consider myself to be an expert now even with this experience I've gained.

Having a degree in any discipline doesn't automatically bestow expert status either, nor does a Masters. My degree is far removed from the teaching field but as gfell said, time and effort expended do come into the equation and it does give one knowledge. I guess that even though I have no formal teaching qualification, I'm far better equipped, right now, to teach than a person with a MA because I'm here and doing it and have been doing so for 3 years. No, this doesn't make me better than you, it doesn't make me an expert either, but it does give me more knowledge in teaching ESL abroad, specific to this country. I'd not, for one minute think, that my experience here would qualify me to teach in another country because each country has it's own culture and the students are different.....or at least, I'd think so!

I'm just a teacher, an ESL teacher. I'm damn good at what I do, I get paid well which reflects the time and effort I've expended, to date, to achieve this level but there's always going to be room for improvement. Having a MA or whatever Masters qualification doesn't make one an expert, experience and the knowledge that we can never know everything is a good beginning though!

Hope this makes sense, I've typed it between classes. Nuff said, peace y'all!

[LizHobart]

I always wondered about that! Can't wait to check out the link and see what the deal is!

[waixingren]

Being a qualified EFL teacher really depends on what qualifications the school wants. I consider myself to be qualified as I know the English language quite well and have seen vast improvements in many of my students' abilities. However, there are a lot of schools here that simply want a white-faced foreigner to dance around the classroom and be foreign. I am certainly not qualified for such unprofessional jobs.