Whenever I hire teachers, they all claim to be the best teachers, and so forth, but really, everyone is nothing more than average.  I have yet to meet any teacher who is completely honest with themselves and honestly admit that they are not the “best” teacher, but they are there is stuff they are good at and there is stuff they have to get better at.

If you truly love your profession, a better strategy would be to show me your passion for teaching and to give indication to things you helped master in- and outside of the classroom.

Last week I said that the act of teaching is not difficult, mostly because everyone CAN teach.  I don’t doubt your ability to teach, what I doubt is your effectiveness IN teaching.  This is always overlooked by every single teacher.  How do teachers measure their effectiveness, and here you will slowly realize why I am against how they do it.  Scores.  Teachers effectiveness are measured by the students scores, but there is a problem.  These tests are created by the teacher.  The lesson are prepped by same teacher.  The lessons are given by same teacher.  The test is given by same teacher.  The test is corrected by same teacher.  Anyone with half a brain immediately understands the problem.  Anyone with a smidgen of understanding of HR practices and ethics revolving around test taking knows that this is simply ineffective.

Tests cannot be objective under those circumstances.  OOOO you say, but that is why we have SAT tests and the like.  Generalized tests that are the same for all students and not dependent on the teacher.  Really?  Those tests are made by teachers.  At least, as far as I understand the Education Industry, tests are manufactured by those mostly occupied with the profession of teaching.  Nothing wrong with that.  Everything wrong with that.

Teachers teach to the test, if same said people create the test, they will make it in such a way that it maximizes their utility.  There is no objectivity.  Language tests should not be created by language teachers.  Statisticians, or any other mix of people who understand what is required to properly test the ability to use a language are the people who should develop tests.  Not teachers who want students to learn this or that way, and so makes the test reflect the efficiency of their “techniques” .  Why is grammar and vocab so important in Korea.  Because the people making the tests ONLY KNOW GRAMMAR AND VOCAB.  Which forces the whole country to abide by their POV.  It is ridiculous.

General Tests are scams.  Huge scams with children, an parents, as victims.

I am not sure if I can ever make a dent in this worldwide organized education scam.  Business have already developed excellent ASSESSMENT tools to better judge the real capabilities of individuals.  They don’t require Memorization as a base to do well, they require positive learning habits and behaviors, they require open mindedness, positive characters, and what else business requires in an employee.

I don’t think the Education Industry does what it is supposed to do, mostly because they are using the wrong tools, the wrong mechanics to properly assess a student, and assist that student to maximize their potential, whatever that potential may be.  Teaching is still very much teacher oriented, and thus limited to the limits of the teacher, most will claim otherwise, but they are selling as much BS as any MBA’er trying to sell you their product.

We will only know who is truly a great teacher, once teachers stop evaluating themselves, and start being evaluated by the results they achieved with their students through proper assessment tools.  Until then, the ESL mess we are in will remain unchanged.