In response to (Message Deleted by Poster) (JN)

Yes, Mr. Sun has pointed to a glaring problem that needs to be addressed. Where I'm currently employed, a college that is growing rapidly, I've seen the number of Foreign "teachers" jump from 9 to 25 in only three years. The year before I came on board there were only three. A few years back, when I still had the Dean's ear (I don't anymore because of my outspoken advocacy for the rights and well being of our students), I tried to get him to explain how he chose teachers for particular assignments. I never got far with that discussion, no matter how diplomatically I approached it, so I would leave the office convinced that he made use of the "dart board method;" that is, I felt he must be putting the names of teachers on a dart board and then choosing a class from a hat full of class names and then closing his eyes and throwing the dart at the board. In other words, it seemed quite random.

Last year, the Dean began asking returning teachers what they wanted to teach and in some cases asked the new teachers. Some teachers who said they didn't want to teach writing ended up teaching writing, and some who said they wanted to teach writing ended up not teaching writing. It would seem, then, that he was just being polite and in fact got so much enjoyment out of his dartboard method that he couldn't change.

At the beginning of this term a new Associate Dean was hired. Since her office was right next to mine, I popped in on occasion to welcome her and to get an idea of what her duties would be. After she'd been there for a few weeks, I finally asked her outright what her specific duties were. She stated that from now on she would be in charge of the foreign teachers. Seizing the opportunity to revisit the issue of who was teaching what and why, I asked her if she had looked at resumes and CVs. She replied that she hadn't had time to do so. I left her office wondering what she had had time to do.

Clearly, Mr Sun has hit the nail on the head. A screening process is needed. A screening process, that is, that not only addresses the suitability of a teacher beyond the fact that they can walk upright...lol..... but also how they would be best utilized as teachers. A quick read of resumes and CVs would help, but obviously a more in depth interview process is needed also; one that would at least allow for an educated guess as to where a teacher should be placed. Of course, we have to also look at the problem of administrators often being ill suited for their jobs. For example, is the Dean of our college actually qualified for the position? I would say no. He refuses to listen to the complaints of students when a teacher is obviously misplaced. Examples: Writing teachers that couldn't write their way out of a paper bag and who spend their time in the classroom pleased with the sound of their own voice as they lecture on and on and rarely give the students the opportunity to write and have their writing evaluated. Communication teachers who make their students write despite their pleas for a more communicative approach. Americans with totally unrelated degrees teaching British Literature. Brits teaching American culture.

What the hell is going on? These, by the way, are only a few examples, and it should be noted that out of this staff of 25 teachers only about five of us have had prior teaching experience in our home countries and in China. Only two of us have had specific training related to second and/or foreign language acquisition. Many of these teachers are still hung up on the old "talk and chalk" method. Few of them are interested in perfecting their craft. Most just put in their time.

Lately I've been feeling the guilt by association syndrome, so I've decided to move on. Next year I'll be at a different college at this same university. They have a reputation based on their professionalism; moreover, they staff only five FTs and have a rigid screening process. They seem content with keeping their enrollment at a certain level and are known for addressing the needs of students. This doesn't mean they're perfect. I'm sure I'll find problems with them and they'll find some deficiencies with me as well, but at least we will all be doing our best to serve the students.

I guess I need to add that since this is mostly about Mr. Sun's assertions I have written little about the glaring problems on the Chinese side. Lest I be accused of being an FT basher, I better add that I'm well aware of the many problems associated with the Chinese side. However, as this industry is growing extremely fast and because their is no shortage of foreigners applying for positions as teachers, the need to develop a more serious screening process is a good starting point.