| Need is greater than ever before | | | | correspondence. That gives you time to present |
| ELT forums like , blogs and web pages like across the | | | | yourself in a very appealing way." |
| internet almost continually post comments, advice and | | | | Be Honest With Yourself |
| varying opinions on the viability of native vs. non-native | | | | "As far as non-native speakers teaching ESL/EFL, |
| TESOL, EFL / ESL English language teachers. Native | | | | especially in an English-speaking country, it is important |
| English-speaking teachers couldn't begin to fill the | | | | to be brutally honest with yourself.", comments another |
| myriad of TEFL English teaching positions continuing to | | | | ELT professional. Ask yourself these questions |
| develop worldwide. The need for competent, | | | | responds another ELT forum commenter:o Do you |
| non-native speaking English teachers is greater than | | | | speak English intelligibly with little or no mother-tongue |
| ever before. Let's follow some commentary that | | | | (L1) accent?o Can you speak and write grammatically |
| identifies some typical problems and their possible | | | | correctly? Remember, you are your students' model. If |
| solutions. | | | | you cannot pronounce the words they need to learn |
| There are some problems | | | | correctly, how can you expect them to?o If you |
| "Be wary of errors, not mistakes.", I always tell my EFL | | | | don´t speak and write grammatically correctly, |
| students in business and university classes. But either | | | | how can you expect them to? |
| can cost the non-native English teacher seeking a | | | | These are drawbacks for any non-native speaker |
| position. Note this ELT forum comment. A non-native | | | | teaching in another language. |
| speaking English teacher "may have stellar qualities | | | | A Bit of a Sticky Wicket |
| regarding their teaching abilities and they may be | | | | Culture is an integral part of English or any other |
| charismatic mentors to their students. However their | | | | foreign language teaching. What about those language, |
| first impression to a prospective employer, in most | | | | cultural and idiom situations which come up in class? |
| cases an email or other written form of | | | | Questions about local sayings, events and customs? |
| communication, can determine the employer's decision | | | | How do you handle these? One commenter noted, "...I |
| to consider you or not to consider you for the job." So, | | | | have taught all different levels and I have found that |
| the first thing I would do, is to improve my written | | | | students have questions that I know a non-native |
| grammar skills. Minimize the reasons the employer may | | | | teacher would not be able to answer." |
| have to NOT consider you. | | | | He continues making this point, "...I have come into |
| Other commentary advises non-native English | | | | contact with some awesome non-native teachers, but |
| speaking EFL English teachers to emphasize your | | | | in general the native speakers were just better... I |
| knowledge of the cultures of the many | | | | listened to some of the teachers ask me questions |
| English-speaking countries. That may include personal | | | | that were just obvious and use idioms incorrectly in an |
| experiences, interesting anecdotes, including the origin | | | | attempt to sound like they were better than they |
| of a word or phrase. "I also feel that employers, | | | | were." |
| parents and students want the "whole package." So | | | | While the need for competent non-native |
| non-native English speakers need to maximize the | | | | English-speaking TESOL English teachers will continue |
| reasons the employer has to hire you." | | | | to outstrip the supply, teachers do need to careful in |
| Another commenter indicates that "...you don't have to | | | | putting their best foot forward. For further ideas, |
| be a blue-eyed, blonde-haired, "white" person (or pink | | | | information and commentary be sure to read the |
| person) to get the job. The employer is not going to | | | | companion article, "Do EFL English Schools Really |
| see you anyway as they read your first | | | | Need Native English Speaking Teachers? |