TEACHING English as a foreign language (TEFL) has become more popular in the UK. One TEFL advice website reported a 30 percent increase in people downloading course applications in the last two months alone. Traditionally, TEFL was a popular path for graduates wanting to travel before settling down in a “proper job”. Now, it also holds appeal for those pondering a midlife career change. According to the report, the main appeal of TEFL is that teaching abroad gives one the opportunity to live in a country, not as a visitor, but as part of the community, learning all about a new culture.
US Supreme Court weighs ELL funding
美高院审理亚利桑那州英语教育预算案
THE US Supreme Court recently heard arguments on whether Arizona was providing enough English-language learning under federal law. The case stemmed from a lawsuit filed by parents of Spanish-speaking students against Arizona for allegedly violating the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974, which provides that every educational agency must take appropriate action to overcome language barriers. Failure to do that constitutes a denial of equal educational opportunities. The state defended itself, claiming to have doubled the amount of schools that handle non-English speaking students. The ruling is expected to come within two months.
Foreign languages needed in job market
韩国调查雇主对应聘者外语技能要求
ACCORDING to Incruit, a human resources company in South Korea, there were 58,111 job postings offering extra incentives to English speakers during 2008, a drop of 23.9 percent from the 76,378 in 2006. In contrast, more than 18,700 job postings in 2008 revealed a preference for French speakers, showing a growth of more than 1,400 percent from the 1,217 postings in 2006. Incruit said the decline does not mean English is no longer needed in the job market, as the language has become the essential requirement for all job seekers, which means companies no longer have to offer extra incentives.
