Non-native English Speakers are just as Good

There is a fallacy with regards to English-speaking native teachers. In fact, the pertinent question to ask is " Who is a native-speaking English Language teacher?". Also, where can he or she be found?

The sad fact is there are not many genuine English Language speakers left out there. The English Language teachers that is much in demand are those who are native in the first place. Then they must have the pre-requisite certification. You may not need a PhD or a Masters in English to teach in the subject. Unless you want to lecture in the univsersity in such aspects as English pedagogy, phonetics and research into the structural-technical aspects of the language,an Advanced TESOL Diploma is very good indeed and so are those Diplomas and certificates that commensurate with the standard of teaching required be it at the elementary level, pre-intermediate level, intermediate and advanced levels.

I think the international schools may be doing it right at the moment, weeding away native speakers who do not actually speak good English. Teachers from Texas with a drawl as well as those English teachers from Poland, Russia to Wales who speak English anyway they want but the right way, just would not do.

Today, we have more non-native English teachers world-wide then native teachers. As such, it would pay for such countries like China, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam to source such teachers particularly from Malaysia, Singapore, Hongkong and possibly India. They certainly would fill the bill though they will not speak with the native nuances of stressed words or sentences.

The other thing which is important is to ensure these non-native teachers are familiar with English expressions so that they can impart these to their students. This will certainly make these students' lives so much easier when they leave for tertiary education in USA, Australia,NZ and the UK.