Job Discussion Forums

emmanuelle · Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

Hi,

I have noticed that a few job ads stipulate that they will only accept applications from native English speakers.
I am French but I lived and worked in England for 10 years and have a CELTA and teaching experience.

Has any non-native English teachers experienced problems finding jobs in Latin America?

Thank you in anticipation.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

There are many non-native speakers teaching in Mexico that I've met over the years...many Swiss, French, Germans, Quebecois, etc, etc. If you are qualified and have a strong command of English, you shouldn't have any trouble I should think.

RyanS · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 356

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

If you have 10 years in England, that'll help you out a lot. Here at my school we have non-native teachers. Some places prefer native speakers, others will hire non-native one, it's hard to stereotype.

dan_lawrence · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 50 Location: FLORIDA USA

"Has any non-native English teachers experienced problems finding jobs in Latin America? "

After 10 years in England. I would have hoped that you would have learned subject/verb agreement.

There is no substitute for the real thing.

RyanS · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 356

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Guys, let's get back to the topic and stop nit-picking. Remember the Thumper rule? If you can't say something nice, don't say it at all.

dan_lawrence · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 50 Location: FLORIDA USA

"After 30+ years in the field of being a human being. I would have hoped you would have learned that no one likes grammar nazis like you. "

RyanS obviously missed the point.

Would you hire a NATIVE speaker of English who did not know basic grammar?

Much less a non-native speaker?

How could such teachers recognise their students' errors?

Calling oneself a human being and then using the nazi jab is indeed oxymoronic, or perhaps in this case just moronic.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject:

Hey, can you guys play nice?

The following question has been done to death on this forum.

"Does the fact that a poster makes a spelling or grammatical error here on this forum mean that the poster would make the same error in class?"

And the answer is...inconclusive. We've never come to an agreement, and we ain't gonna.

So, to avoid having to rehash it here, might we just respond to the OP's question?

There are many strong, and some weak, non-native speakers teaching in Ecuador. The fact that you're not truly native probably won't be much of an impediment. (THough some of the dodgier schools will ask you to tell people that you're from England. I'd skip those, if I were you.)

Best,
Justin

emmanuelle · Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

Thank you all for your advice and comments, even Dan.

John Hall