English and English teachers

So much has been written about the problems of learning and mastering the English language in Indonesia. Teachers of the language talk from experience, while others just present their own feelings on the subject. In some cases, both sides are unreliable and some teachers might lack overseas experience which would make them conversant with the contemporary problems of the language.

In Aloysius Haryono's overview of the problems (Jan. 15) he said: "I think it is the method of teaching the language that is not quite correct and needs reviewing." Let me, with an open mind, critically analyze the teaching method. We should remember that the teaching method itself doesn't speak. Someone has to apply the teaching method if they are qualified to do so. Therefore, we should talk about the manpower needed to apply the proper teaching method.

But first let's examine the important requirements for being an English teacher. Should "nationality" be the only requirement for teaching English? Most English language centers in Indonesia have more interest in the teacher's nationality than anything else.

In other words, anybody from an English speaking Western country can teach English in Indonesia even though they're unqualified to teach the language in their own country. Honestly speaking, native speaker mentality has yielded very little fruit though millions of dollars have already been spent. Undeniable evidence is constant complaints about the very low standard of English in Indonesia.

It is also a fact that there are non-native speakers who have excellent potential to work as language teachers. For example, at the French cultural center in Jakarta there are Indonesians who teach French. Even though they are not native speakers, their competence is recognized by the center.

Some Indonesians must change their attitude to learning in order to achieve the maximum goal. Some of them, for instance, are not interested in an English teacher who is unable to maintain humor and interest throughout the class. The more serious an English teacher is, the less popular they are among students. Similarly, most English students are against using a dictionary in an absolute sense. They solely rely on the teacher for simple vocabularies. Apart from oral English, they have little interest in written English which is vital for academic excellence. Most students and their teachers find it difficult to read English language newspapers, let alone listen to the BBC or VOA news on their radio occasionally.

BUHARI ABDU

Jakarta