Teachers in training relearn to talk again

A university in Shanghai has started offering an elective course in vocalization to help education majors maintain their voices, even after hours of speaking in the classroom, local media reported Monday.

The course aims to help teachers in training learn how to avoid losing their voices, a common ailment among primary and middle school teachers that can evolve into more serious health problems.

Shanghai Normal University launched the course this fall through its Xie Jin Film and Television Art College, according to a report in the Oriental Morning Post.

The goal of the course is to teach students how to speak loudly and clearly for a long time without wearing out their voices, said Qiu Yizhe, assistant dean at the college.

"You can easily tire out your voice if you only use your mouth and throat to speak. The course will teach students how to speak with their diaphragms and gradually improve their speaking habits," Qiu told the Global Times.

Although throat problems are far from life threatening, the college found that they are common among teachers. A college survey that polled 930 teachers from local primary and middle schools found that 71.2 percent of respondents have suffered chronic pharyngitis, or throat inflammation, according to the report. About 55 percent said their voices were often hoarse and 49 percent said they often feel tired while talking.

Although the survey found that a majority of respondents have suffered throat problems, only a minority have sought medical treatment.

According to the survey results, 216 reported that they have gone to the hospital for treatment and 205 said that they have taken medicine to relieve their symptoms, Qiu said. Eleven said they have had surgery to remove throat polyps.

Most teachers don't pay much attention to their throats and only go to the hospital when a serious problem emerges, said Tao Lei, a doctor at the Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University. However, most teachers fail to do so because of their busy work schedules, which can exacerbate their condition.

Doctors typically recommend that patients with throat problems rest their voices, Tao said.

"The first treatment method for any patient with a throat problem is to stop talking," Tao told the Global Times. "After that, we can prescribe medicine for different symptoms, such as vocal cord hyperemia. Surgery is necessary for throat polyps."

Tao said the course is necessary for teachers because the job requires so much talking.