Mon, Dec 16, 2002 - Page 3 News List

Positive message brought victory to political novice

FRESH FACE At 27, Lu Ying-ying is the youngest city councilor in the nation's history, and high on her agenda is a plan to certify the qualifications of foreign English teachers

By Chang Yun-Ping  /  STAFF REPORTER

Teacher certification

After she assumes her post on Dec. 25, Lu plans to propose a mechanism to scrutinize and certify the qualifications of foreign English teachers, considering the current poor management of foreigners who teach English in Taipei.

"This the very first thing I want to do, to set up a training center for foreign English teachers. Foreign laborers have to undergo strict regulations before working in Taiwan, so should foreigners who wish to teach English in Taiwan," Lu said.

According to Lu, the training center would provide courses for foreigners to learn about children's psychology and teaching methods. Foreigners would have to submit documentation to the center for scrutiny.

Regulators would then issue certificates to qualified teachers, who would then be entitled to gain employment. The city government's Bureau of Education could also re-examine the validity of the certificate on a regular basis.

"Taiwanese English teachers have to take exams to get a teachers' certificate with slim chances of passing the exams. Why shouldn't foreign teachers do the same?" the councilor-elect said.

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