[photopress:teaching_English_in_China.jpg,full,alignright]Shanghai is introducing a language and teaching test to make sure teachers know their subject. The test is organized by the Shanghai Personnel Bureau and is basically for non-native-English speakers who apply for English-teaching positions.
The bureau will ask an English-language expert panel from local universities to test the applicants’ English speaking ability, especially pronunciation and accent.
Bureau officials said that recent education graduates from English-speaking countries must also take a similar test on their teaching skills. People who fail the test will be disqualified from obtaining a foreign expert certificate — the work permit for foreign teachers and foreign professionals in China.
Huang Weimao, director of the bureau’s international exchange division, said, ‘The enthusiasm here for learning English has left many training institutes thirsty for foreign teachers. But that doesn’t mean everybody can be let in.’
Concerns over the suitability of English teachers also surfaced last year. Cindy Mi, director of the ABC English Training Center Shanghai said, ‘Schools now know that not every foreigner with white skin and blue eyes is qualified to teach English.’
Source: China View
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