Job Discussion Forums

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

What percentage of FTs in your country are non-native English speakers ?
I had thought that the most basic requirement in ESL/EFL were:
A degree, TEFL cert and a L1 speaker of English.

If you pop over to the "China Job Board" you'll see that China has a significant number of non-native English speakers. I'm running a "Poll" and the percentages of those responding is ...(shockingly?)..high for L2 English teachers.

I had read that Indonesia for example, exclude even the Irish from applying for FT jobs...Continental Europe biased towards UK English...Was that long ago, and now things have changed ?
I've worked with L2 speakers of English who'd be Band 8-9(IELTS) making the same money as Band 5-6...?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

In Japan, there are many routes to being an EFL teacher.

Most are native English speakers, but you don't have to be.

A degree is usually what people hold, but there are common ways for people to get around that. Holding a spouse visa is the most common. No degree needed. Another is working holiday visa.

TEFL certificate? Not needed.

Sorry, but I don't think there is any way people could tell you how many FTers are native vs. non-native English speakers. Rough estimate on my part would be 90% vs. 10%, respectively.

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

I think the percentage might be as high as 70% to 30% native and non-native speakers respectively. Leaving out China for it's size and population, the rest of the world surely cannot be filled with too many native speakers (taking into consideration visa requirements, for example: some say a native speaker, some say EU passport, some say a degree). Besides, many people study English as a foreign language for teaching/translating purposes in their home countries that are not English-speaking countries.

Madame J · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject:

As long as one is fluent in English, surely it does not matter if they are a native speaker? In fact, I'd imagine that being an L2 English speaker can be advantageous in some respects. Unlike L1 speakers who simply acquired the language naturally, L2 teachers have first hand experience of the difficulties of learning English and as such, I'd imagine, would be far better equipped to explain various complex aspects of the language.

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

Few would argue with that, Madame J. The problem is that some school hire native speakers regardless of their qualifications because students expect native speakers to be better than non-native speakers. It's a marketing tool. Surely, I give the credit to those experienced and trained native speakers teachers! We have had a long and painful discussion on this board who makes a better teacher but I think it was locked due to confrontations.

Madame J · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:26 pm Post subject:

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

I thought it was tacit...however..
Roughly 10% of the L2 English teachers I've come across (15 years between China and Thailand,excluding Philippines as it is not really the typical market) would be in the Band 8-9(IELTS), and about 65% are in the 6-7 Band range,and 25% lower than Band 6.
Those 10% are a shinning example, and quite possibly could share the know how and fortitude necessary to benefit foreign learners of English.
Those Band 6 and lower L2 English teachers represent just how seedy ESL actually is.
Many people teaching in ESL haven't a clue between systematic and non-systematic errors.
She is coming their. Systematic error(both Their" and "there" share approximate pronunciation)
She coming there.( NON-systematic absence of verb;meaning L1 English speakers do not drop the verb...Ebonics included)

What makes a better teacher IS off the topic,and is of little value as we could throw that out to doctors,lawyers, politicians and darn well anyone...friends?