Interview with a Marxist TEFLer/ TEFLing Marxist

Interview done by email rather than talking to a Zapatista-style balaclavaed bandit in the jungle (which would’ve been nice), but the results are just as interesting as the always thought provoking Marxist TEFL Group blog, I think you’ll find:

“Why define yourself as a Marxist rather than just borrowing ideas from Marxism?

A good first question Alex. One might put a similar question to a cosmologist, “Are you a Copernican or are simply borrowing from his ideas?”, or to a palaeontologist, “Are you a Darwinist or are simply borrowing from his ideas?” For we social theorists, Marx represents the same. Like Copernicus or Darwin, there is no bible, there are many questions, there is much research to be done, but a set of basic principles have been established which presently seem the most reasonable starting point for our enquiries (the most positive heuristic). In the case of Marxism, it is that human beings make their own history but not out of the conditions of their own choosing. That being determines consciousness not vice-versa. That whilst all hitherto societies were class societies, capitalism has created the conditions for a classless society. Moreover, that whilst capitalism has changed much since Marx’s day, his basic analysis of the contradictions of capitalism seem pretty much intact. So, yes we are Marxists, as we are Copernicans and Darwinists. This does not mean that we can find the answers to all the world’s problems by meditating on the every word of these great men.

Are there any bits of Marxism you don’t agree with?

We would disagree with plenty of Marxists, but not necessarily with any part of Marxism

Are you aligned with any particular Marxist group?

We write from the State Capitalist perspective, i.e. those Marxists who are particularly interested in the role the state (and the competition between states) has with the inception, reproduction and expansion of capitalism. In such an analysis there is no possibility of socialism in one country and we see Stalin’s Russia and Mao’s China etc, as one other form of capitalism, not that much different from a nationalised industry. The abolition of capital requires bringing production under democratic control where production serves the satisfaction of human need and not blind accumulation driven by endless anarchic and destructive competition. No workers’ state could survive for long, however, under the military and economic competition of other more powerful states (producing for competition and domination rather than need). The revolution must be international if it is to finally succeed.

Remember, Macmillan Publishers (and therefore www.onestopenglish.com) may flog English but they are still owned by a German company who speak German in the boardroom. Berlitz are owned by a Japanese company (benesse) who are staunchly patriotic. Both these companies show a loyalty to their respective nation states. David Graddol’s work for the British Council is aimed at making sure British interests are served by English and not “foreign interests”. Language learning is not some innocent endeavour delivering world peace but a site of competition between competing capitals and ultimately a matter of class struggle. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the continued rise of English as a global language, nuclear weapons continue to proliferate as does the risk of a nuclear Armageddon. Language Learning is not (in its current form) empowering us but enslaving us to the needs of capital accumulation. The same capital accumulation which is threatening the very existence of the human race through war and environmental destruction.

But, to answer your question, we are not affiliated to any one particular group.

What does Marxist TEFL mean, e.g. Marxism as a criticism of what we’ve got, or actually as a viable alternative plan?

Most definitely a critique and not a blueprint for change. We can hint at more human and liberating possibilities in teaching and try to avoid oppressive structures but without a massive change in society, a truly emancipated teaching is not possible

Can we achieve anything within the capitalist system we are in?

It’s like asking if can we be happy under capitalism. Can we be happy, even though our jobs are insecure and our pay isn’t exactly great? Of course, we can. We will try and live our lives as best as possible, like we will try to find the best teaching options in the circumstances available. This should never make us complacent, however, and we should fight for change. For ourselves and for our students.

Do you think you’ve managed to achieve anything with your blog so far?

We never thought that our blog would generate so much interest. We are delighted it continues to do so.

Have TEFL blogs generally achieved anything? Are they likely to in the future?

We have our reservations about blogging. It is a great way to raise ideas but that does not necessarily translate into action. Blogging tends towards individual activity rather than collective action. We would much rather see people using their talents to provide local forums for other teachers (NESTS/non-NESTS) and students (sharing knowledge on trade unions, the law, social security, health etc). That said the original TEFL blacklist was excellent as was the campaign against Paul Lowe. We would love to see an internet guide for gays and lesbians thinking of “teaching abroad”

TEFL blacklisting- pointless?

No- very useful.

Rather than TEFLers writing about Marxism, should we get more left wing writers writing about TEFL?

Yes, the landscape is changing. Marxist TEFL seemed to have surprised a lot of people. Now a few more people are linking their socialism/anarchism to their teaching. It would be great to have a progressive alternative collaboration. An editorial board, carefully structured debates, interviews etc…. This does not mean, however, there isn’t a role for a specifically Marxist blog, banging on about the wonders of Marxist analysis.

Alternatively, maybe you’d be better getting your views in more mainstream places like Lindsay’s sixthings (Six Things Marxism Can Teach Us About TEFL?), EL Gazette, etc. Views?

We would like to be part of something broader but not mainstream

Any particular TEFL heroes or villains you’d like to point out?

You Alex (hero), without you the TEFL blogosphere would probably have degenerated into that semi-human, hard-of-thinking monstrosity they call Dave’s ESL café (villains).

Are there any positive models for what the TEFL world could be more like?

Maybe this will surprise some people, but we believe that there is something special about existing good ELT (well detailed in Rose M Senior’s The Experience of Language Teaching) which is a positive model for other aspects of life. A concern for the group, a willingness to try new things, the centrality of humour and pleasure in learning. These things exist and, in arguing for change, we would not want to lose these precious aspects of current good quality ELT.

Any reasons for optimism about TEFL?

Ditto

Are any teaching methodologies more Marxist than others?

Around Marxist-Leninist circles we often joke/joked that in the democratic-centralist parties we belong/belonged to there is/was much centralism but not much democracy. In suggesting, Marxist TEFL promote principled eclecticism we would note that currently there is a whole deal of eclecticism and very little principle. The industry is obsessed with techniques and worksheets, and, to us, Dogme is just one more technique. It seems to us that if a group of people or an individual can come together and grow as people, both inside and outside the classroom, developing the language on their own terms, then most techniques are valid. Of course, certain techniques have a more humanistic notion of self and community at their core but there remains a whole range of appropriate styles and approaches

How should a Marxist TEFLer choose their country and job, or how should your principles affect those choices more generally?

We have been developing a critique of TEFL adventurism so naturally we are opposed to the marketing of TEFL in this manner. We note that Cactus are now working in partnership with Global Vision International to promote volunteering abroad. Basically, not only will you pay for your TEFL Certificate but you will also pay for the experience of teaching kids in a remote South American village. It seems that everyone must have “this experience”. We would argue, however, that before travelling to another country you should seriously ask yourself why (for the experience seems a little unsatisfactory as does to improve my CV). The people who are pushing this idea are making money. Such an approach is not in the interests of the teacher or the students. TEFL training has to involve some critical reflection on the reasons for travelling abroad and preparation (i.e language skills/learning about the culture); in addition to a longer teacher training course.

Why have you chosen to keep your identity secret? Because of that, do you feel you have to be careful about what you say about people who interact online with their real names?

We have a policy of anonymity because we feel better able to challenge entrenched powers. We have most definitely encountered a general climate of fear and those who use their real names are often unable to express themselves fully for fear of recriminations. It clearly has its disadvantages, though, and prevents us from sharing our experiences with others in a more human manner.

Any regrets about what you’ve written about or how you’ve written about it so far?

Yes, the tone we used with Sean Banville and the fact it was the third time we had picked on him was most definitely an error on our part. In view of the recent hot tempered disputes on the blogosphere, we must say Sean behaved incredibly well and generously. A true TEFL professional

I don’t think I’ve seen you commenting on other people’s blogs. Any particular reason?

Yes, we should contribute more. But we should also tidy up some articles retrospectively, both in the clarity of the ideas and our manner of expressing them. We also have a long list of unfinished but important theoretical articles to complete. It’s a matter of priorities and limited resources.

Any less obvious blogs worth following, books worth reading etc?

The Tesla Coil looks a really new exciting blog, recommendations of various books for various different but non-obvious reasons would be anything by Richard Sennett, Love’s Executioner by Irvin Yalom and, as already mentioned, Rose M Senior’s, The Experience of Language Teaching.

If you could change just one thing about TEFL in the UK, what would it be?

Nationalise (Internationalise) Cambridge Assessments and put it under the direct control of a directly elected group of international students and teachers.”

Any more questions for the Marxist ELF? Any more suggestions or volunteers for interviews? Comments below or emails via the Contact Me button please.

Tags: Interviews

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 16th, 2010 at 11:10 pm and is filed under Berlitz, Cactus TEFL, Dogme, EFL exams, EL Gazette, ELT publishing, Experience of Language Teaching, Macmillan, Onestopenglish, Teaching English Abroad, TEFL, TEFL blacklist, TEFL blogs, TESLA Coil. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.