Is primary the best age level when teaching English overseas?

Posted 26 Feb 2010

The question as to what is the best age level when teaching English overseas has been raised again this week by i-to-i Chalkboard user davidparkes23.

Writing in his blog, the Beijing resident – who is about to take up his placement at a kindergarten in China’s capital city – said that he had heard "primary and upwards" is the ideal level, "as before that, they have no understanding of English what so ever and sadly, no interest".

However, his comments appear to contrast those made by bex, a reader of Literacy News, earlier this week.

Herself a teacher of English in Korea and Japan, she stated that any level below that of university is a "waste of your education and skills", with tutors effectively performing the role of "glorified babysitter" for a disinterested audience.

Zhenzou in Henan was initially designated the site of davidparkes23’s placement, but he is now set to remain in Beijing instead.

Category: Teaching and Learning