Dear Editor,

Being multilingual is incredibly beneficial in today’s globalised world, particularly for countries in which two official languages are spoken and a third is still up for disputation.

With Jamaica being one of the most influential countries in the Caribbean, where linguistic diversity may both serve as a bridge and a barrier to social, cultural, and economic interactions, there is an urgent need to address the matter of modern language teachers in Jamaica being underappreciated and underpaid, despite their clear versatility. These teachers are in great demand since they are rare and play a crucial role in developing the linguistic and cultural competencies of our country. It’s time for us to offer them a special remuneration package in appreciation of their distinctive contributions.

Being multilingual in today’s society opens doors to opportunities around the globe. Given its advantageous geographical location in the Caribbean, Jamaica would greatly benefit from having a multilingual population. By providing pupils with the necessary skills to succeed in a multicultural, multilingual global environment, modern language teachers are at the forefront of this linguistic empowerment movement.

In Jamaica, modern language teachers are a rare breed despite their vital significance. Deep dedication and specialised training are necessary to meet the demands of learning and teaching languages like Spanish, French, and increasingly Mandarin. Regrettably, there are not many people with this particular skill set. Furthermore, the scarcity of qualified modern language teachers in Jamaica exacerbates the pressure on those currently in the education system, making them a scarce commodity.

In Jamaica, there’s a burgeoning for proficiency in modern languages. Communication across language barriers is becoming more and more important to business, tourism, international relations, and education sectors. Encouraging students to be ready for the linguistic problems of the future is the primary responsibility of modern language teachers.

The salary, however, does not adequately match their value, expertise, or the urgent need for their skills. The disparity between the value of the services offered by modern language teachers and their current compensation package is stark. To allure and retain these valuable educators, it is imperative to offer a special compensation package; otherwise, there will be a high divorce rate of linguistic specialists from the profession. Unquestionably, this package should include salaries that emphasise the specialised skills and high demand for modern language teachers, making the profession monetarily practical and appealing.

The inclusion of performance-based bonuses and additional benefits — such as paid sabbaticals for further language study or subsidies immersion or coordinated effort with international language institutions for exchange programmes and workshops — can also broaden teachers’ perspectives and methodologies. Such incentives would not only recognise the specialised nature of their work but also stimulate continuous professional growth and excellence.

Lennox Bogle

Modern language educator

lennoxbogle@gmail.com