Red tape, knights on white horses and teaching

[matilda36]

Having spent some of the most enjoyable years of my life as a Civil Servant ( yes I am kinky that way), being wrapped up in red tape stretching between two countries to get my qualifications recognised has been a bit frustrating. Make that a lot frustrating.

And now who comes to my rescue as a Knight on a white horse? My father, who in a day not only offers to come with me on a trip to London at the end of the month (should have known he misses the city as much as i do...) but offers me the services of his lawyer to sort out the red tape and get my teaching qualifications cleared up, hopefully in both Italy and the Uk.

Luckily for me both countries need English teachers. I know Italy desperately needs them. I do see the results of poor teaching everyday in my tutoring work. 

Yesterday I was reading a book on advice for ESOL teachers and it included this little gem:

Note that in some countries, for example Italy, teachers are rarely observed during their whole teaching career and do not always welcome the idea.

The fact is that while there have been great efforts made at political level to improve the teaching of languages in quantity, teaching Unions opposition to any form of quality control makes any effort worthless. Kids start learning English at 6, but there is very little control on what they have been taught and how. 

It is true that tthere is very little help available for teachers wanting to improve their skills, but how can you know what is wrong with the process, if you cannot observe what's going on?

Comments

[matilda36.livejournal.com]

*snuggles*

And they do wonder why it is so dificult to get good teachers.

I hope to become a good one. I have passion for it.

Maybe we can have the Sylum teacher network...