Page 22 - ELG1801 Jan Issue 453

COMMENT .

Point

of View

Varinder
Unlu

Some like to say:

‘what happens at

conferences, stays

at conferences’

Varinder Unlu explores why the ELT industry needs qualification as no checks are carried out on
to take a long hard look at itself in the wake of the their background and suitability to work with
vulnerable people when they apply to take a
Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal Celta or Trinity Cert Tesol course.
While the large majority of people who work
in ELT are generally safe to employ, there are
n recent months we have seen several adults’ by the safeguarding authorities, and those who will take advantage of the situation.
high-profile cases of sexual harassment and training is provided to staff in schools on how Very often the lack of language knowledge by
violence: Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, to spot harassment and abuse and what to do in the victim is used to the harasser’s benefit.
Iseveral members of parliament in the UK to these situations. And it’s not just students who are affected.
name a few. Anyone in the UK working with young Teachers, especially those outside the home
Resignations and arrests, denials and people and vulnerable adults also has to have a countries, are also victims of sexual harassment
justifications, admissions and shame followed. It DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check, by colleagues and even students.
seems that no industry is unaffected. Abuse does which gives a background history of the person’s Outside the classroom at public events such
not differentiate whether you’re a lawyer, doctor, suitability. as conferences, incidents that occur are spoken
actor, nurse, student or teacher. It’s so endemic about in whispers between people and closed
and widespread, and the recent #metoo social People warn each groups. People warn each other about certain
media campaign showed just how many people men in the industry who have a reputation for
have been affected by it. other about certain inappropriate behaviour. Nothing is reported
But why are the victims sometimes treated men in the industry who and, if it is, nothing is done.
like troublemakers or liars and attention- There are those who have the “what
seekers? Why is the perpetrator believed over have a reputation of happens at conferences, stay at conferences”
the victim? Is this the reason why so many view and some would rather just turn a blind eye
victims of harassment, especially of the sexual inappropriate behaviour. as it’s too unpleasant and difficult to deal with.
kind, are reluctant to come forward in the first We know who they are, yet we allow the
instance? In some cultures, victims could be put Nothing is reported behaviour to continue by making excuses and
off by the shame and dishonour attached to it. and if it is, nothing is trying to justify why it happens. Comments
So what happens in the world of ELT? How like: ‘He’s always been a bit “over-friendly”’ or
do we deal with sexual misconduct, and do we done ‘It’s no big deal, you’re just blowing this out of
have the mechanisms to report these incidents proportion’ are common.
when they occur – whether that is between The situation is very different outside the So why do we do this? Well, for one
teaching colleagues, between teachers and their UK. Many countries do not have this kind thing there is no one who will listen and take
students or among students themselves? of training, awareness-raising or measures in action within the industry. This is the exact
In ELT, a largely unregulated industry, there place to protect the vulnerable. Teachers and same situation with bullying. When anything
are issues of duty of care towards people who trainers are employed on their qualifications and is reported, the victim is branded as the
are considered to be vulnerable. In the UK, experience alone and a lot of trust and respect troublemaker and things become worse instead
language learners are classed as ‘vulnerable is given to them. Anyone can get a teaching of better for them.
40 December / January 2018