Who should take the TOEIC test?
There has been a lot of talk about the newly introduced TOEIC-requirement lately. Many teachers are angry because the MOE demands that Irish and South African nationals, who are considered NES teachers, are required to sit that test too. In my opinion the MOE has not taken the matter far enough. All NES teachers should be required to sit that test no matter where they are from. As it is today your passport decides whether you can call yourself a NES teacher or not. But being the holder of an American passport is not the same as being an NES teacher. Being the holder of an American passport makes you an American citizen but that's not the same as having English as your first language. It's estimated that there are around 40 million Hispanics in America. The majority of those people cannot be considered NES teachers although they possess American passports. The same thing is true about French-Canadians and lots of people in the UK (immigrants etc ) The MOE should look into this delicate matter as soon as possible and require that all foreign-teachers sit the TOEIC examination.Only that would be fair.
Jason Carmichael
