Job Discussion Forums

[sasha_c]

I realize that being a native speaker is mostly an advantage if one wants to teach English.
But I am pretty curious over what the term 'native speaker' entails as far as esl teaching goes.
I moved to Canada when I was young and as far as written and speaking skills go, English is my strongest language.
However I was born in Eastern Europe and I also speak two other languages, one of them being Bulgarian.
I am unsure as to how this may affect my chances of being able to teach.
It seems that most people are generally hostile to the idea of hiring a teacher born out of the country because some immigrants do not polish their language skills as much as is needed to teach, even after residing in a given country for a while.
I am also considering going back to do my bachelor's at an american school in BG and I think that this will further drive language schools to believe I am not as competent as some born speakers (at the risk of sounding immodest, I am).
I'd like to one day be able to experience other cultures more in-depth , and though I don't plan to teach as a permanent job, I'd really like to know to what degree this this would bias language schools against me, if at all.
I'd like it not to come to the point where I have to somehow omit my other citizenship, particularly since the EU doesn't require member countries to have work visas (I think?) which would make my life loads easier if I decided to teach in some really bureaucratic countryin the EU.
Any thoughts? Anyone in a similar situation?
Sasha

[wildchild]

Native speaker can be ambiguous and it means different things to different folks.

At what age did you move to Canada? If you moved there at a very young age, before 6 and 8 or maybe a little later, then it's probable you sound like a native. Does that make you a native speaker? In your case, when searching for jobs, I would say yes. If there is any discussion, just say that you had an English speaking nanny in Bulgaria.

Closer to puberty and after, non-native accents are harder to hide and folks might consider you a non-native speaker and, as you know, this may be to your disadvantage when looking for a job. Many a folks think that this distinction doesn't really matter and most of the research that I have skimmed over supports this, however, many a folks do prefer to have native speakers, yet, as far as I have noticed, their justification is weak.

If you are serious about teaching English, and it sounds like you are, then it is important that you educate yourself as much as you can about such topics as this. Once you have done that, you can be more confident in your self-presentation when job hunting and ready to defend yourself when you are questioned. I might recommend that you start with Linguistic Imperialism by Robert Phillipson. Among other things, he argues against the notion that "native speakers is best".

And about doing your Bachelor at a school in BG...as you know, this is a big decision and I am sure you have your reasons for doing it in BG, which in the end, may not be such a bad thing; after all, not all students of Volcanism live in a volcano But maybe I am speaking non-sense, maybe you should do it in the U.S., but, again, it may be a matter of how you present youself. Besides, many a students do a BA in English in a foreign country, and yes, perhaps, the more successfull ones go on to do an MA or PhD in an English speaking country. But, then again, who am I kidding? I have heard that even those who disagree with the "native speaker is best" still won't hire a non-native because they do what the students demand.

[Joeldew]

I�m of Asian extraction but lived in Australia since I was three (I�m now in my 30s).

I understand completely your concerns regarding this �native speaker�s� issue.

Some cultures � indeed, some students � still find it very difficult to go pass the veneer and recognise that you can attain �native speaker�s� level of any language. Changing people's perception is a very difficult task.

Some years ago when I was a trainee teacher, my �mentor� suggested that I inform the class of my educational background at the beginning of a semester. I found this suggestion quite odd because it is very uncommon (and very UNAUSTRALIAN) for any educated person to display our �medals�. Indeed, he used to do it all the time. Months later when I was assigned classes of my own, I realised exactly what it is he was unable to inform me directly.

Things are a lot better now. Many students will find it very inspiring that you have been able to attain �native speaker�s� level of a language which is not native to you. Perhaps, it might encourage them to work hard.

I�m now living in France and working VERY hard to learn French. Recently, a shop assistant said to me �WOW, you speak better French than some of the locals� � that was very encouraging.

Personally, I don�t think anyone �owns� a language; it�s there to be shared.

Best regards,

Joel

[Bebsi]

Sadly, many a so-called native speaker is incappable of teaching many a folk English, or even of speaking it very well...or should that be very-a-well?

Maybe some a folk should become volcanists and study volcanism (or, where I was raised, known as vulcanologists and vulcanology respectively...can also be spelled volcan...).

I think many learners of English...sorry, many a learner, get(s) a raw deal learning from native-speakers, simply because it is quite wrongly assumed that native speakers speak and understand the language better. Not so! There are many people out there teaching English who get by purely on the basis of being native speakers.

Sick people do not automatically make better doctors!!

[SueH]

Interesting thread: I'm having a cup of tea after 2 hours teaching here in Italy. I'm English and was teaching beginners' Italian to an English businessman. My accent is fine but I acquired it when I was an ex-pat brat 40 years ago and learnt Italian on the street but not much study since, though and I've only been here this time since April. I've also had non-native speaker colleagues in EFL and have never had a problem with them, and they can really add interest to a staff room.

Convincing the final customer is sometimes another matter....

[sasha_c]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
No, I don't speak English with any 'foreign' accent at least so I have been told - I lived in CA when I was about 6 for a while and came back at 10 and already spoke some English so i was able to polish it within a couple of months.
But when I decide to send my resume I don't what the fact that I may get my BA at an English speaking university abroad (I am considering not studying in CA) to get language schools to assume otherwise.

[wildchild]

Well...for the moment, Sasha, I am thinking that I have heard worse ideas than studying English in a foreign country. After all, this is the "age of information," it may not matter where you are, we all have access to the same information (I think ) and any serious, well informed, academic and professional institution will recognize this. So later, when you go job hunting, just be honest and tell them your situation, tell them your relevant life story. If they are such an institution as described above then they should accept you, if not, then maybe you wouldn't want to work for them anyway.

Also, while in Bulgaria, you will be able to make connections and network there, so when you do graduate, you might have something lined up. I don't know if you want to stay in BG and work afterward, but if you did, then I would think that it shouldn't be too difficult. After all, you are one of them (kind of), and wouldn't they prefer you over some damn yankee? And while you are there, maybe you could do a semester or year abroad in the States or the UK or wherever. You might look into that to see if your Uni has some sister school in an English speaking country.

To conclude this, I don't think that its such a terrible idea. You're young and you have lived in different places and you have experienced different things and studying in BG could add to that. Just, you know, stay awake in class and do the work, because in the end if you know your stuff, how can anyone argue with you (although I am sure someone will ) ? If they do, then be honest, tell them your story, show them that you know your stuff, and any well informed inst. will accept you, if not, like I said before, then you probably wouldn't want to work for them anyway.

good luck

[Khrystene]

[sasha_c]

thanks again.
Well, my biggest concern is no so much that I will not be able to teach - time and experience will tell if I can or cannot. But rather the fact that while applying for jobs overseas, people will not look past my dual citizenship and assume that I am just someone with a CA citizenship but without the language knowledge and skills of a native. If I apply for a job in Japan while in Canada or BG the empoyer/language school will have no way of knowing if I am right for the job but will immeditaely assume I'm unqualified when they see my resume, university (if it's in BG) and dual citizenship.
Or if I land a job in Italy where I will have to use my EU passport in order to work legally this will, it seems, convince the school I am not a "Native speaker". Unless in most cases you have to be physicially present for a interview before getting the job but that doesn't seem to be too common at all in this line of work- or am I wrong?

[jpvanderwerf2001]

If you have dual citizenship, and have no discernable accent, why not just put the native English-speaking country (Canada, in your case?) on your CV and no one's the wiser? That way, an employer wouldn't suspect you're "non" native, so to speak.

[Bebsi]

Sasha,

The bottom line is that you are a native speaker of English, if it is your strongest language. Take a Romanian baby who went to Ireland as an adopted child when he was a few months old, and now he speaks only English. What does that make him, a native speaker of Romanian? Hardly!!

As the last poster said, simply put it on your CV that you are a native speaker. People will look at that rather than at your name. It's all very easy really!!