English courses

In reply to the letter "Deceitful Courses" on March 5 concerning tourists teaching English in Indonesia, I would like to make the following comment.

The government, through many of its ministries, tries to maintain an acceptable standard of foreign teachers in Indonesia. It is true that some schools bypass the legal process in using unqualified teachers such as tourists. However, even the aforementioned departments can examine qualifications but not performance or effectiveness.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of the language school to guarantee academic quality. Only they can assure that a teacher is not only well trained but also professional, effective, concerned, and friendly. Anyone interested in improving his language skills should carefully examine the available schools and choose wisely, for it is his/her future in the balance.

STEPHEN BILLINGTON

Home of English

South Jakarta