Is A Foreign Language Required For An Matefl International Program?

[Rhys]

A friend of my called and told me her story... She is American did an MATEFL at a Thai University at an International program. She processed all her required documents, black book (The Thesis) all signed off by the graduation committee. She submitted her paper work to the graduate office and was told she would received her confirment on the transcripts on FEB 2013..

She was just informed by the her English Chair she needs to take a Thai language test as her language requirement?

She checked her orginal application it does not require that foreign langauge requirement. At my program in the states we did.

However, the unfairness of this decision is that it comes at the very end and there is no English written document from this International Program, outlining the requirement. She has her orientation packet and their is not booklet of any sort. Also she says, she was never informed by anyone, her advisor(s) or the staff of the Graduate office reqarding this requirement.

The foreign langauge requirement of course is for English comptency.. she is a native speaker.. To her disbelief, she was told she could take the Tefl or ilets test and use the score to satisfy the requirements. It just seem there is a bias or misguided standard, we did you do it, among the powers at be that the Thais have to take an English test, so should the Native English speakers...

What course of action should she follow: Take the Thai Test or Take the complaint to another level? If so how? Yet in the end, it is a delay and a possible longer drawn out affair... Suing does will not help, going to the ombudsman, in-effective... She would welcome all comments.. She has to wait again another 2 months for the committee to meet...

.

Edited December 21, 2012 by Rhys

[richard10365]

Care to name the university?

[Loaded]

Have other foreign students been asked to do the same?

I know that some universities in some countries don't necessarily accept a passport from a native-speaking country as evidence of native-speaking English competency. For example, in the UK there are UK passport holders who can barely communicate in English. Was your friend born in the USA? This may be a reason for the request.

Please name the university.

[Rhys]

Have other foreign students been asked to do the same?

I know that some universities in some countries don't necessarily accept a passport from a native-speaking country as evidence of native-speaking English competency. For example, in the UK there are UK passport holders who can barely communicate in English. Was your friend born in the USA? This may be a reason for the request.

Please name the university.

Yes, she was born in the states.. West Coast infact... also, cannot name the uni but can say in is not is Bangkok to in far region. She is of Asian decesent and of course looks Thai.

[Rhys]

She asked that I not..but it is not in Bangkok..

[richard10365]

It sounds really unusual. I'm at Payap University and we don't have that requirement in order to graduate from a masters level program. I would be curious to know if they are offering a way around this requirement by paying a little extra "tea" money.

[Rhys]

It sounds really unusual. I'm at Payap University and we don't have that requirement in order to graduate from a masters level program. I would be curious to know if they are offering a way around this requirement by paying a little extra "tea" money.

Be merry and have good cheer Richard,

Well Down south...hint.. It is not the Tea Money, really..... It is blindly following a MOE University Council Requirement for graduation. "If the L-1 is English, the student must be tested in something else, thus Thai" Regardless, if it is NOT stated on the the Admission Requirements, and only stated that Thai students need to pass the TEFL test of 500 plus. Additionally, it does not matter if no one in your program or in Adminstrative Curriculum Staff did not inform you.

Clearly, as stated by some of the Thai Ajaans, and profs...Bias, Absurdity, and ultra-nationalism gone wrong in Education.

Edited December 27, 2012 by Rhys