Is Technology Going to Make me Redundant?

Member Voices

by Dan – Local 1

I have been teaching in the lucrative ESL (English as a Second Language) market in Vancouver for 9 years. Each year over 1,000,000 ESL students come to Vancouver to take classes. I often wonder if ESL classes will still be popular in 10 or 20 years. Online learning has become increasingly popular and available. Will my job disappear because I have become redundant and unnecessary as an English teacher? ESL is a growing industry in Vancouver, and I don’t believe online course will replace ESL classrooms in the foreseeable future. That is because ESL is more than just about learning English skills like vocabulary and listening.

When the UK launched its first MOOC (massive open online courses) program, FutureLearn, 20 000 students signed up for it in the first 24 hours. Programs like FutureLearn are certainly cheaper and more accessible to international students than taking classes abroad. They are also optimized for use on desktop and mobile devices. However, MOOC doesn’t have ESL classes. The kinds of classes that have proven successful online are usually Master’s programs or specialized classes done in the students’ own language. Learning another language is different. The important face-to-face interactions between students and with the teacher are much more important than when learning an academic subject.

ESL students have become more serious and career-focused. Some of them do turn to online courses to complete their studies. However, students also go abroad for the cultural experience of living in another country. The value of that cultural experience can’t be overstated. Foreign students make friendships and develop relationships that last a lifetime. Students also like going out with their new friends which in turn improves their English. It’s true that many students who don’t have the financial means to fly to a new country to take English classes can certainly benefit from online classes. However, students who have the financial means (like the kind who come to Vancouver) prefer to take traditional classes.

Additionally, the nature of learning a language is certainly based on engagement and motivation. Students who have to live their daily lives in English and take English classes can access that motivation more easily than students who simply use an online course. Being in a new city and being immersed in a new language brings all kinds of opportunities to engage in English in and out of the classroom. There are interactions with real teachers and students, presentations and discussions all taking place in real time. Online courses using discussions and lectures are good for some kinds of courses – namely courses that have a specialized focus like Biology or Math. Studying English, on the other hand, is more experiential, involving complex features like culture, humour, and misunderstanding.

Of course I may be wrong that the ESL teaching market will stay strong and vibrant in Vancouver. Perhaps my job will evaporate and I will be replaced by an online program or a robot. The ESL market is very competitive and there are certainly no guarantees, but from where I stand Vancouver is a growing, healthy ESL market that will continue to flourish into the future.

Restore Public Funding to English as a Second Language Training

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Since last summer the Vancouver Community College Faculty Association (FPSE Local 15) and the students at VCC have been campaigning to force the BC Liberal government to continue financing an important English training program that the government plans to axe on December 17th. Over the last several decades, each academic year has seen some 5,700 new Canadians, many recent immigrants, and others already citizens, receive English language skill upgrades from some 150 top-level ESL teachers. The government’s cutting of funding will leave no place for the students to go, and will result in the layoff of 150 top English teaching professionals.

The ETEA is in strong support of our colleagues at VCC and all other public sector institutions that are affected by the loss of funding. The language training programs at VCC are standard bearers for all of us who work in language training. If the BC government wants to ensure the principles of quality within the private education sector, it falls on it to set the example of what quality means. This does not happen by removing funding and losing quality programs. This happens by maintaining quality programs such as the ones at VCC, which serve as an example for the rest of the industry to strive for. ETEA adds our voice to call on the government to restore funding for post-secondary English as a Second Language programs.

Welcome to the ETEA Homepage

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ETEA is a union representing  around 200 private sector teachers in Metro Vancouver and Victoria. We have been representing ESL teachers since 1995. Through our organizing and collective bargaining work, we are establishing the best possible working conditions and salaries for our teachers. We believe that teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions.

New ETEA President

What's New

Kevin Drager was voted the new President of ETEA at the last annual general meeting in May. Kevin brings a wealth of leadership and experience to the ETEA from his work at Local 6 (KGIC) and on the organizing committee. Kevin has a clear vision moving forward in 2014-2015: to consolidate and strengthen ETEA after its recent fast growth with the addition of locals 8, 9 and 10. Kevin won the election in ETEA’s first ever contested election for President.

Upcoming Round Table Discussions and Social Event on October 30th at the YWCA

What's New

On October 30th the ETEA will host a series of round table discussions and a social for ESL teachers from across Vancouver.  The event will run from 3:45 to 7:00 pm at the YWCA (535 Hornby Street) in Welch Room 1, on the fourth floor.  All ESL teachers in the public, non-profit and private sectors are invited to attend and take part in discussions and enjoy some food and beverages.  Where is the ESL industry going and how will this affect teachers?  Can ESL teaching be a long-term career or will we always be stuck with part-time and temporary work?  Do teachers have the working conditions they need to deliver high quality education?  These are some of the questions that will be discussed.  We look forward to seeing you there.