Dear All,

I am from India where people take up teaching because they don't have any other avenues open to them,so what happens after that is a series of trial & error methods, sometimes not even that, teachers (99% of them) are not aware of methodologies, skills, material preparation and the list could continue & in this process teaching is anything but teaching.

Now, whom can one blame - the education system of any country? But I think that's very broad, the basic fault lies with the teacher recruiters who pay less and are satisfed with any sort of teacher, the worst part is that they may not be themselves aware of the developements in methods of teaching.

Secondly, if I talk about second language learning in public schools in India you would be amazed that more importance is given to discipline and maintaining silence in a language classroom than learning itself. I was working in a public school for sometime but my experience was so pathetic that I left the job rather than compromise with quality.

I appreciate your concern for teacher training in all developing countries as that is where the future generation would finally take shape. I am firmly of the oppinion that forums should be built by teachers all over the world to help bring about change in system and more than anything in attitude.