It was with resigned amusement that I read an advertisement for a large English-conversation school on the bus the other morning. The sales point was that students were able to select lessons with the teacher of their choice. In fine print, the ad suggested that prospective students might have a preference based on gender or country of origin.
I would agree that paying customers have the right to choose teachers. But on what criteria? In my view this ad speaks volumes about the eikaiwa industry as a whole, and the commodification of foreigners and language teaching in Japan.
lachlan jackson
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