Indonesians, too, in general would love to think they speak alright English. Spoken Indonglish rates somewhat more discernible to the average English native speaker. I do think that it’s generally down to English-language pop culture influences and useof Latin alphabet that makes communicating in English easier for most Indonesians (as opposed to the average Japanese, who would have to overcome vastly different syllabic pronounciation systems AND another writing system to be able to communicate in English.)

As for myself… I’m one of those overprivileged kids who had weekly eikawa lessons with an overseas-educated tutor starting from grade 3 (formal ESL lessons started at grade 7 back in those days), attended about 3 two-hour English language class taught by native speakers every week in junior high, and got sent overseas to study at 14. Even then, I still got a language shock as English changed from “a language I used in classrooms” into “a language I can’t escape from using”.

Encouraging a love of learning and reading will definitely help. Do cram schools use overly formal texts that students seem unable to ‘connect’ and be interested to learn the language? Can students in eikawa lessons relate what they are learning by speaking and listening to what they are reading? If the two types of English language learning (reading/writing v speaking/listening) can be synchronised, maybe students will be able to make better sense of both lessons.

note: I taught English literature to native-speaking students back in my ‘brainy academic’ university days (if that adds up to anything), and found it extremely irritating many of them couldn’t spell properly. I don’t think it’s a second language thing; I do the same with pretty much every other language I communicate in. I guess that makes me pedantic.

note #2: girls may have an easier time because their brains are better predisposed towards learning languages… no gender-based attacks here, just plain ol’ science.

The most popular teacher I worked with would simply come up with a new game, usually based on throwing something, possibly then hitting it and shouting, that he would work through all his classes that week. Then come up with something new the next. Hell, I wanted to be in his class more than my own with reticent OLs biding time before the ikebana class down the hallway…

I wanted to move some of the students to different classes, so they were in classes all of a similar age and learning level, working on the same textbook (god knows when I came here why there were 3 different textbooks in use in the same class). When I explained to the mother about more scaffolded learning and challenging curriculum for her daughter, she threw out the idea, because the two other students in the class were her friends children. She didn’t care about educational outcomes, just wanted to have coffee time with her friends while they were all ‘learning’ English.

So, I studied for 6 years to become a babysitter….

I had a similar experience to you, but from the opposite end. Parents were asking their kids, “what did you learn today Tomo??” “I dunno.” “But what did you do in class?” “We played games…”
So they’d go and complain that their kids were playing too many games, and not learning english. And Buggins here got it in the neck!

“i have some teachers who just do it for the money/no job they are qualified for and they do it without passion.”

I think a large number of ESL teachers are simply here for the experience of living in Asia. Teaching is just what they do to earn their keep and pay for their travels. Of course, during the interview process they’ll claim to be passionate about teaching, some may have even gotten qualified, but only to help them get that job abroad. I just feel sorry for the students.

however, concerning the teaching in english issue, it fascinates me to find a person who is so dedicated in teaching. i have some teachers who just do it for the money/no job they are qualified for and they do it without passion. it doesn’t give a good impression on the subjects they teach, which is vital because i tend to be picky abotu stduying ^_^;; .

anyhow, i’m glad that you’re passionate in your job.

btw, i’m a stranger on the web that has stumbled upon your blog from blogsearchengine.com because i was bored.

oh, and i’m currently doing my foundation, and after this i might be taking TESL. i think your blog is pretty helpful in understanding the workings of a student’s mind. ^_^ hope to see updates often! see ya around. =)