English rules in China: Opportunity for the USA
Atul Chatterjee
April 30, 2009
Premier Wen Jiabao of China said, in January, that more than 300 million Chinese were learning English. At present there are an estimated 70,000 English language teachers in China mainly from English speaking countries i.e. South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK and the USA.
In early April, Pearson Plc (the owner of Penguin and Financial Times) said it would buy the Wall Street Institute chain of 39 English language schools in 7 Chinese cities. Pearson estimates $70 million in revenue in 2009-10 through this chain which delivers adult education programs and anticipates more in the coming years.
Walt Disney has also sneaked into this market. Exercises introduce Disney books and movies the Chinese government otherwise restricts.
English First SV a Sweden based company has a sprawling network of children's schools in China. It also runs overseas study adult education programs.
These companies only train a fraction, less than 1%, of the students.
Letīs do some figure work. Assume a salary of $ 25,000 a year for a single teacher (a lower limit). If the teacher is in a slightly backward area saving $20,000 is not hard. There is very little to spend upon. In metros and more developed areas teachers would save less because the cost of living would be higher and they could spend more on entertainment.
Now come back to what the US government is doing at present. It is contemplating injecting funds into companies like GM and Chrysler which have been gasping for years. It pumped in $20,000 million, late last year, into Citibank which is nothing but a subsidy though termed a bailout.
What can the US federal government or any state government do with $1 million? By inside the head calculations it can send 40 American singles into China as teachers. At the end of one year they will come back with their pockets jingling with money to be spent in the USA. Some may want to continue another year or two.
Besides this the Chinese would be thankful for having received so many teachers, even now they have a deficit of English language teachers. There are many schools in the hinterland which can ill afford native English speaking teachers.
Look at costs. The cost of their fare has not been factored. The other factor is the cost of training. At present there are online courses from $98 for the full course which certify you to teach ESL i.e. English as a Second Language. Starting from $168 you get a teacher to instruct you as well. And these courses are completed in a few weeks. A two hour orientation also online would acquaint them with cultural differences.
If anyone thinks that it is a joke to send such a teacher, it is not. That is the level of competence required to start. There are completely untrained teachers who have done a good job and others with a over priced qualification from the UK who have muffed it. The rest of learning to teach is on the job training, assists from others and most importantly relating to students.
What are the potential benefits of such a move? A number of Americans would get employment in these dour times. Secondly, Americans would be more exposed to the Chinese who have emerged as a super power. Thirdly, given the innate entrepreneurial spirit of Americans some at least would set up English language schools or other such businesses in China. Fourthly, American English would get a further boost.
To do this some laws of the USA will have to be amended. Possibly the role of the Peace Corp could be redefined. But it is worth it.
The basic lesson is one of opportunity cost. A million dollars spent at one place could be better spent elsewhere.
In early April, Pearson Plc (the owner of Penguin and Financial Times) said it would buy the Wall Street Institute chain of 39 English language schools in 7 Chinese cities. Pearson estimates $70 million in revenue in 2009-10 through this chain which delivers adult education programs and anticipates more in the coming years.
Walt Disney has also sneaked into this market. Exercises introduce Disney books and movies the Chinese government otherwise restricts.
English First SV a Sweden based company has a sprawling network of children's schools in China. It also runs overseas study adult education programs.
These companies only train a fraction, less than 1%, of the students.
Letīs do some figure work. Assume a salary of $ 25,000 a year for a single teacher (a lower limit). If the teacher is in a slightly backward area saving $20,000 is not hard. There is very little to spend upon. In metros and more developed areas teachers would save less because the cost of living would be higher and they could spend more on entertainment.
Now come back to what the US government is doing at present. It is contemplating injecting funds into companies like GM and Chrysler which have been gasping for years. It pumped in $20,000 million, late last year, into Citibank which is nothing but a subsidy though termed a bailout.
What can the US federal government or any state government do with $1 million? By inside the head calculations it can send 40 American singles into China as teachers. At the end of one year they will come back with their pockets jingling with money to be spent in the USA. Some may want to continue another year or two.
Besides this the Chinese would be thankful for having received so many teachers, even now they have a deficit of English language teachers. There are many schools in the hinterland which can ill afford native English speaking teachers.
Look at costs. The cost of their fare has not been factored. The other factor is the cost of training. At present there are online courses from $98 for the full course which certify you to teach ESL i.e. English as a Second Language. Starting from $168 you get a teacher to instruct you as well. And these courses are completed in a few weeks. A two hour orientation also online would acquaint them with cultural differences.
If anyone thinks that it is a joke to send such a teacher, it is not. That is the level of competence required to start. There are completely untrained teachers who have done a good job and others with a over priced qualification from the UK who have muffed it. The rest of learning to teach is on the job training, assists from others and most importantly relating to students.
What are the potential benefits of such a move? A number of Americans would get employment in these dour times. Secondly, Americans would be more exposed to the Chinese who have emerged as a super power. Thirdly, given the innate entrepreneurial spirit of Americans some at least would set up English language schools or other such businesses in China. Fourthly, American English would get a further boost.
To do this some laws of the USA will have to be amended. Possibly the role of the Peace Corp could be redefined. But it is worth it.
The basic lesson is one of opportunity cost. A million dollars spent at one place could be better spent elsewhere.