Chapter 12. Context is everything: Qualifications, training and the myth of the untrained eikaiwa teacher by Luke Lawrence
Abstract
In this chapter, Luke Lawrence takes the reader through his experiences of training in eikaiwa and problematises prevalent perceptions of eikaiwa teachers being ineffective due to the fact that they commonly lack standardised teaching qualifications. He also describes the substantial role that he perceives eikaiwa to have had in his development as an educator over a ten-year career in Japan. In this chapter, he scrutinises a number of widely-held assumptions about the superior utility and relevance of Western-centric qualifications such as CELTA and TESOL as opposed to in-house training grounded in the local realities of the eikaiwa classroom.
About the Contributor
Luke has been teaching in Japan since 2002. During this time he has taught in a wide variety of contexts, including five years at a major eikaiwa chain as both an instructor and manager. He is currently teaching at Yokohama City University and his research interests include issues pertaining to teacher identity, native-speakerism, whole-class group dynamics, use of L1 in the classroom and a range of critical issues in ELT.
Citation
Lawrence, L.(2020). Context is everything: Qualifications, training and the myth of the untrained eikaiwa teacher In D. Hooper & N. Hashimoto (Eds.), Teacher narratives from the Eikaiwa classroom: Moving beyond “McEnglish.” (pp. 132-138). Candlin & Mynard. https://doi.org/10.47908/13/12
In this chapter, Luke Lawrence takes the reader through his experiences of training in eikaiwa and problematises prevalent perceptions of eikaiwa teachers being ineffective due to the fact that they commonly lack standardised teaching qualifications. He also describes the substantial role that he perceives eikaiwa to have had in his development as an educator over a ten-year career in Japan. In this chapter, he scrutinises a number of widely-held assumptions about the superior utility and relevance of Western-centric qualifications such as CELTA and TESOL as opposed to in-house training grounded in the local realities of the eikaiwa classroom.
About the Contributor
Luke has been teaching in Japan since 2002. During this time he has taught in a wide variety of contexts, including five years at a major eikaiwa chain as both an instructor and manager. He is currently teaching at Yokohama City University and his research interests include issues pertaining to teacher identity, native-speakerism, whole-class group dynamics, use of L1 in the classroom and a range of critical issues in ELT.
Citation
Lawrence, L.(2020). Context is everything: Qualifications, training and the myth of the untrained eikaiwa teacher In D. Hooper & N. Hashimoto (Eds.), Teacher narratives from the Eikaiwa classroom: Moving beyond “McEnglish.” (pp. 132-138). Candlin & Mynard. https://doi.org/10.47908/13/12
Information About the Book
Title: Teacher Narratives from the Eikaiwa Classroom: Moving Beyond “McEnglish”
Editors: Daniel Hooper and Natasha Hashimoto
Publication date: February 2020
Read more...
Title: Teacher Narratives from the Eikaiwa Classroom: Moving Beyond “McEnglish”
Editors: Daniel Hooper and Natasha Hashimoto
Publication date: February 2020
Read more...