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I have taught ESL for2 years in Oman and Science for3 years in United States. Additionally, I have taught ESL and Science in India for years. When I apply for ESL or Science teaching job, I don't get any response at all and sometimes, I get a polite reply mentioning that we employ only native speakers of English.
You want the cold honest answer? You are not UK or AUS or US citizen, you are not a foreigner that these people can pride themselves with. Yup,racism at it's finest, it sounds a bit different when you boast amongst your colleagues that you have3 people from the UK teaching rather than some random guy from India does it not?
It is as simple as that, forget the complicated and convoluted answers you might get, I got them too about teaching English. It's about prestige, about preferential treatment, you can be a highschool dropout from the US and they will instantly hire you to teach English in Saudi Arabia, Jordan,Qatar,Oman or other places and be an expert English teacher but not be a native speaker and no one will hire you.
This is how the system works, I remember in Jordan some big shot said that I was not qualified to teach that I needed to take the IELTS ACADEMIC test, I prepared only3 days for it and got7.5, I know I could have easily gotten an8....you think he cared? He just wanted a native speaker, no matter of his or her skill,teaching experience, or pedagogical touch,as long as you are a native speaker you are instantly hired.
I am sorry that you are having a hard time getting hired, you seem like a nice person, and my reply might come off as being crass,but this is how I think it actually is, behind the lies and the facade, and I think you sir....you know the truth as well.
Each individual has his specialty to ensure accuracy and effectiveness
No, It depends on the personal identity. So, I beleive that for university education , the sense should be driven for the no-native speakers.
I think it is just about being professional and following the orgnization policies; although - in my opinion - it would be better for non-native to teach the language speacially for the non-native.
As Joseph stated earlier, it's nothing more than feeling proud to be with a westerner particularly white. Being in China ESL market, I have seen worst where job descriptions even clearly says ' Only White'. All you need to do is to prepare yourself well to coup with situations like this and present yourself well. Chinese have not yet discovered from my spoken English whether I am native or non-native unless I disclose it to them.
One more thing, from my observation as an ESL teacher in China nothing has helped Chinese learners of English when it comes to accents. Their articulates are too stiff to acquire the natural fluency no matter they are taught by native speakers English or non-native English speaker.
Certainly not.
Organizations need to make sure English only is used in the classroom.
Students benefit from the accent of native speakers
NON NATIVE SPEAKER HAVE THE TALENT AND QUALIFICATION. BUT ENGLISH IS WORLD WIDE LANGUAGE, THAT'S WHY EVERY ORGANISATION PREFER TO TEACH IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
It's a bitter fact. A considerable chunk of non-native English speakers perform better than native-English speakers, when it comes to teaching. Most of the employers across the world understand it but they feel comfortable to pay a native instead of a non native English speaker. This complex is deeper in Asian brains and shallow in English speaking countries.
