| The Need for Native English Speakers | | | | language and teaching ability may be better than a lot |
| As the need for proficiency in the English language | | | | of native speakers but I doubt whether administrators |
| continues to explode worldwide, there is an | | | | or recruiters will want anyone other than blue-eyed, |
| ever-increasing need for more and more EFL | | | | blonde Caucasians to parade in front of prospective |
| teachers. All too often however, non-native English | | | | parents and their students." |
| teachers find the phrase "native speakers only" | | | | "As has already been mentioned, the reason people |
| included in adverts and English EFL or ESL | | | | want native speakers is that they want "the whole |
| requirements. But, do schools really need | | | | package". Someone who can talk about odd British |
| native-speaking English teachers? On ELT forums like , | | | | sayings, what Americans eat for breakfast, |
| blogs and web pages across the internet, commentary | | | | differences between UK regional accents; things a |
| flies back and forth at a fast and furious pace. Here | | | | native speaker will know instinctively, things a |
| are some opinions regarding native vs. non-native | | | | non-native speaker may not. Or simply the chance to |
| English speaking EFL / ESL teachers: | | | | talk to "a native speaker." |
| A Problem for Non-Natives | | | | Not Everyone Agrees Native Speakers are "Best" |
| When a prospective non-native English teacher posted | | | | But not all necessarily agree that a native speaker is |
| about his inability to gain an ELT position in his native | | | | always the best option. Consider this alternate opinion |
| country, his error-filled post was responded to as | | | | posting: |
| follows: | | | | "...it's more often than not better for the students if their |
| "...I counted around thirty mistakes in your message. If I | | | | teacher is a non-native speaker (providing of course |
| was a school owner, why should I hire someone | | | | that you CAN use English as good as a native |
| whose written English skills are poor, or who writes so | | | | speaker). That is because you had to learn this |
| sloppily it looks like they couldn't care less? Alright, so | | | | language as well as your students do, so you know |
| some of your mistakes may be due to the way we | | | | exactly which things will be difficult and how to explain |
| have become used to writing on forums, "dumbed | | | | them most efficiently." |
| down" if you like, but if you want to show people you | | | | The Need for EFL / ESL Teachers is HUGE |
| have the skills that you claim to have, then why not | | | | Right now, the need for ESL/EFL teachers is huge. It |
| show them by at least writing in proper English?" | | | | would be foolish to think that only native speakers can |
| The Whole Package | | | | fill all the positions available worldwide. Non-native |
| The ensuing comments give some insight as to why | | | | speakers should look for jobs in less discriminatory |
| schools would "openly" target native English speakers | | | | areas and countries after ensuring that their English |
| only, when they say: | | | | communication and teaching skills are honed to their |
| "Unfortunately, most ESL positions in Asia and | | | | best. Non-native speakers will usually find that their |
| particularly China specify native speakers only, | | | | best allies in their quest the native-speaking English |
| moreover, they want those from certain countries like | | | | language teachers. |
| UK, Australia and the USA. A non-native speaker's | | | | |