TESOL
TESOL/TEFL教师必须是双语教师吗？也就是除了英语她们还需要掌握一门其它的语言！这是一个非常有趣的话题，通常我们了解的是很多英语为非母语国家的人要拿到TESOL/TEFL证书，都是自带属性，本身就会自己的母语，而一些英语为母语国家的人，在教授英语为非母语的人学英语的时候，她们是否要掌握教课对象的母语呢？
细想一下，其实这里面有一些耐人寻味的道理！
TEFL
The Controversy
Often, when prospective TESOL trainees are taking their first TEFL certification course, the question arises, “Do English teachers need to know a foreign language?” Foreign languages are not included in the requisite curriculum of any TEFL certificate course. The idea is to teach in “English only”. This frequently only occurs if the ESL teacher is working where the L1 (first language) is English or classes are multi-cultural as in the USA, Canada or the UK. Aside from some practical issues though, should English TEFL teachers be bi-lingual? That is, have fluency in a language other than English? There is some controversy surrounding this concept.
Why or Why Not?
There are reasons both for and against having bilingual TEFL teachers. These are some key arguments on the PRO side.
Teachers can empathize with language learners
Teachers have developed language learning skills and strategies of their own
Teachers can function locally in the L1 of the country where they live and work
Teachers can plan effective English acquisition strategies based on a knowledge of the learners’ L1
Limited use of the learners’ L1 can be an effective language teaching strategy
There are also some points on the CON side of the ledger:
Teachers may not necessarily work abroad but in their home country
Teachers are tempted to use the learners’ L1 in the classroom
Teachers can have multi-cultural classes requiring several different L1s
Teachers can lose fluency in English after extensive use of an L2 (second language)
Some L2s are exceptionally difficult to acquire even after years of work
Identifying with the Students
People who have had the experience of learning a language other than their mother tongue will be able to identify with their students. Even though many would intuitively agree with such a sentiment, some are not certain that this is true. The language-learning experience can be quite different from one learner to another. The experience can also be radically different in going from one language family to another. On the ELT forum at www.esl-jobs-forum.com participants often expressed conflicting views.
One ELT forum commenter wrote, “I speak two other languages and my learning experiences of each of them were quite different. Learning Spanish was a joy, learning French was an almighty pain in the butt.”
The Importance of a Native Speaker
“I do understand that someone who has learned another language will have more insight into what a student of theirs may be going through.” stated another forum participant. In this point I also happen to agree. Experiencing the rigors and challenges of developing fluency in a foreign tongue provides valuable insight into the psyche of the foreign language learner. I’ve studied three other languages and have acquired a fair level of proficiency in two of them. The perspective of having struggled with foreign language elements is a definite aid to my teaching both directly and indirectly. But while I strongly favor bi-lingualism, there are some caveats.
Some Caveats to Consider
A detailed knowledge of language learning that only comes from immersing yourself in the language learning process, is an infinitely helpful experience. However, many schools absolutely prohibit the use of the learners’ L1 in the English language learning classroom. So if the L2 you’ve acquired happens to be the learners’ L1, you must be careful not to allow it to become a “crutch” in your teaching and interaction with the learners. All too commonly this winds up being the case. After all, if you live and teach in a Spanish L1 speaking country in Latin America for example, fluency in Spanish is helpful and practical.
In Conclusion
Developing fluency in an L2 can be a boon for the TESOL teacher. If you stay in one place for an extended period, you’ll need to develop fluency in the local L1. This aids in developing rapport with your learners and in acclimatizing to the culture. Do not allow your proficiency in the learners’ L1 to creep into your English classes or to erode your English. This will ultimately happen unless you actively work to avoid it. As ELT professionals, the more we can do to develop our skills and grow as individuals in the process, the better English teachers we will become.
What do YOU think?
Prof. Larry M. Lynch
我们提供：
1、培生和纽约城市大学联合认证颁发的TESOL/TEFL证书及认证课程；
2、TKT考试及培训，道业教育是剑桥TKT考试中心，代码：CX150；
3、剑桥CELT系列证书的认证培训，剑桥代码：PM015；
5、提供雅思、托福、PTE、商务英语、托业、KET/PET/FCE、Big English、speak out等教学课程课件系统，一站式解决老师的教学问题；
6、TESOL、TKT、KET/PET/FCE定制化线下师训；
7、剑桥官方雅思教师培训课程；
8、雅思、托福、PTE培训，太原和西安线下教学基地，海外升学规划。
咨询报名请扫码联系官方客服：
TEFL/TESOL认证流程图，从了解到拿到证书的全攻略图解！
