Korean Lawmaker Goes After Low Quality English Teachers

Before anybody gets up in arms over this lawmaker’s attempt to go after low quality English teachers, read the article first:

The gist of the contemplated bill, initiated by Rep. Lee Joo-ho of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP), is the “three-out system¿¿ under which English teachers who fail to meet the average score for annual English training three times in five years would be transferred to other jobs.

“Teachers¿ capabilities are a prerequisite for the success of English education,¿¿ Lee, a member of the Assembly¿s Education Committee, said during a debate on English language education in the country at the Assembly last week. “Simply speaking, how are you going to expect students to speak English fluently if their teachers cannot speak English well?¿¿

Lee, however, said those having excellent results would get incentives such as opportunities to study in a foreign nation for a year under the bill, modeled after a teacher¿s licensing system in Japan.

I agree with what the lawmaker is trying to do, instead of complaining about the bad foreign English teachers he is trying to improve the quality of ethnic Korean English teachers.  As expected the Korean

However, many education experts agreed in principle to Lee¿s idea but question the effectiveness of the “three-out system.¿¿

“I think the so-called three-out system is progressive enough to provoke teachers¿ opposition,¿¿ Lee Hye-joo, vice schoolmaster of the Sungkwang Elementary School in South Chungchong Province, said during the debate. Lee also heads an association of English teachers in the provinces.

He said the measure has a problem in terms of fairness if such strict rules apply only to English teachers, adding that it also could significantly hurt English teachers¿ pride and honor.

Ah yes, improving the quality of English education given to students in Korea is not as important as a Korean teachers “honor”.  Anyway it sounds like a good idea, it’s a better plan than declaring a jihad against foreign English teachers.