Page 26 - ELG2207 Jul Issue 481

FEATURE .

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK

Ther
e is no up
There is no up

Self-perceptions of ELT teachers in the Republic of Ireland,
by Deborah Tobin

he global expansion of English has led private ELT-school sector in Ireland. An including ELT Ireland, ELT Advocacy and
to an increased international demand online survey examined how they expressed UNITE ELT Branch social media platforms,
for qualified, experienced teachers their position in relation to other principal plus shout-outs for respondents at two ELT
Tfavourably positioning Ireland for stakeholders within the industry, seeking Ireland conferences and in the January 2020
learners seeking English-language instruction. to explore the degree to which variables of edition of the EL Gazette.
Historically, the private Irish ELT sector has age, gender or amount of experience might
been lucrative for schools and school owners, be a factor in how teachers expressed how The study
yet precarious work conditions for teachers, empowered or disempowered they felt in A cross-section of 81 valid responses
including low pay, job insecurity and lack of their workplace and conditions. Findings represented teachers from eight counties, with
benefits have received considerable media reflected a highly skilled, highly qualified and a majority from Dublin-based schools. Twice
coverage since 2016. Despite the international highly motivated Irish-based ELT teacher as many females replied than males, while
education sector’s value of €2.1 billion to the cohort with a strong sense of their own nearly 70% of respondents identified as Irish,
Irish economy, Irish-based ELT teachers have professionalism, which was not, however, with the remainder, interestingly, comprising
not reaped financial rewards on an equitable found to be reflected in many cases in their of 14 different nationalities. In addition,
scale. The government-enforced Covid-19 workplace conditions. almost half of all respondents were in the 31-
closure of all ELT schools led to the furloughing Seventy-five closed questions collected 40 age bracket, debunking the myth of the
of hundreds of teachers, highlighting further quantitative data, while four open-ended young, transient, backpacker and representing
the precarity of this industry in Ireland. questions allowed a qualitative data response. A a more settled, steady, career ELT teacher.
This study, conducted between November link was sent to 85 privately run ACELS/QQI- No respondent was inexperienced, the
2019 and May 2020, aimed to investigate recognised schools across the Irish Republic, majority having taught for an average of 11-
perceptions of ELT teachers within the with subsequent distribution channels 15 years, and almost 70% had worked abroad,
26 July 2022