Filipino Teachers

Post by **Bamboo Grove** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:30 pm

As long as English remains a global language, students should learn to understand different kinds of accents. This includes also those outside the Anglo world.

Post by **alleykat** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:26 pm

HHTel, don't tell me to "shut up" regarding Filipino/ Filipina teachers.
I have worked at four schools in Thailand in the past. Three out of four of these schools had teachers from the Phillipines. A high proportion of them are just not good teachers. Most of them teach by rote, and a lot of them do not speak using the correct English grammar.
They are NOT native English speakers, their native language is Tagalog.
I would happily sit any English test, written, spoken, grammar, whatever, against any native of the Phillipines! Can you set it up?

This was the complete PM that I sent to HHTel, after he told me on another thread to SHUTUP about Filipina/ Filpino teachers, and he implied that I didn't know what I was talking about, and that these teachers would beat me in an English contest. He also said in that thread that they were Native English speakers.

Post by **lomuamart** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:54 pm

alleycat,
I don't want to get involved in this debate, but maybe publishing PMs is not a good idea?
Take a look at the privacy policy on the T&Cs.

Post by **GLCQuantum** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:16 pm

AlleyKat said...

Quote:
HHTel, don't tell me to "shut up" regarding Filipino/ Filipina teachers.
I have worked at four schools in Thailand in the past. Three out of four of these schools had teachers from the Phillipines. A high proportion of them are just not good teachers. Most of them teach by rote, and a lot of them do not speak using the correct English grammar.
They are NOT native English speakers, their native language is Tagalog.
I would happily sit any English test, written, spoken, grammar, whatever, against any native of the Phillipines! Can you set it up?

This was the complete PM that I sent to HHTel, after he told me on another thread to SHUTUP about Filipina/ Filpino teachers, and he implied that I didn't know what I was talking about, and that these teachers would beat me in an English contest. He also said in that thread that they were Native English speakers.

Down Pussy Pussy Pussy, Down.

Post by **GLCQuantum** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:20 pm

I've been working with filipino teachers for 4 years and they are no different to working with farang teachers. In fact the amount of absolute Riff Raff that passed through the school sometimes was unbelievable, lasted about a month. All white farangs, couldn't teach for shit.

The filipinos I have worked with are generally consistent teachers, which is a far cry from the backpacking farang with a degree coming to teach!

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:39 pm

Why blame the 'backpacker/teacher' for trying to get a job, WHO is employing them if they're not upto scratch ?

SJ

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:52 pm

Good point SJ, maybe the problem is with the Thai MoE. It's a bit of a leviathan that resembles a T-Rex on steroids from the jurassic period. Change is slower than evolution.

Post by **Norseman** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:07 pm

Alleykat and GLCQuantum; this is your last warning.
The two of you behave like children in a sandpit and if you don't stop beating each other to death this thread will be locked.

Post by **HHTel** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:25 pm

I'm sorry but I've tried to be constructive in this and the other thread. Seems some are determined to bring it into the gutter.

I'll not comment any further on this which I thought was an interesting debate.

So for me, the subject is closed.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:24 pm

Edited: Post removed by me as OP has put me right re: the PM, apologies Tel.

SJ

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:41 pm

Back to topic, which is actually quite interesting, I'd rather have a sincere and qualified Filipino teaching my kids English than either a random backpacker or, sadly, most Thai English teachers.

When Thai kids are taught to put the vocabulary they are spoonfed into comprehensible sentences and are able to have a simple conversation, then you can start worrying about grammar and different accents.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:13 pm

I'd rather have a sincere and qualified Filipino teaching my kids English than either a random backpacker or, sadly, most Thai English teachers.

Me too, as I said earlier in the thread I've worked with Filipino's/a's and rate them highly, more conscientous and hardworking than many of us farangs in HK were.

If what you hear is true though, why is it hard for Somtawin to find good teachers? Lack of offering decent salaries ?
Can't the parents 'force' the school to up the salaries or even meet the school half-way. Surely an extra 10k/month per Farang teacher won't tax the school and parents that much, an extra 500B/month per kid? Or an accomodation provided system, even cheaper option?
I don't want my son to grow up thick like his papa

SJ

Post by **lomuamart** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:40 pm

What's the ratio of Thai to farang at Somawin?

Post by **DawnHRD** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:17 pm

Am I wrong? I thought that Salesian employed more Filipinas as English Language teachers & Somtawin employed more native English Language speakers?

Post by **DawnHRD** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:28 pm

dtaai-maai wrote: I'd rather have a sincere and qualified Filipino teaching my kids English than either a random backpacker

Surely those days are pretty much gone? With the crackdown on foreign teachers, aren't they legally required to have a wp (meaning they MUST have a degree), TEFL certificate etc? I've heard the Thai authorities now do background checks on teachers' degrees now, meaning a KSR special just won't wash.
Of course, a degree doth not a teacher make - but I'd imagine it cuts out the 'random backpackers'.

As for 'qualified', what does that mean? Both of my live in maids in HK had degrees from Filipino Unis. I wouldn't have put their language skills anywhere near the level I would think required for teaching, though.

When Thai kids are taught to put the vocabulary they are spoonfed into comprehensible sentences and are able to have a simple conversation, then you can start worrying about grammar and different accents.

In many Thai schools, that isn't an issue. They are taught English by Thais who can't string an English sentence together, either.

But, sorry, dtaii-mai, I do worry about grammar and how my son speaks. Now his English is becoming fluent, I correct him all the time. Why settle for 'same-same' English, when he has the ability & the potential to speak fluently & correctly? If a child can learn the correct way, they should be taught the correct way, IMO.