[etni] Re: Native Speaker Teacher
- From: "Adele Raemer and Laurie Levy" <raemer@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <VSLARRY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 08:29:28 +0300
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Personally, I believe that having a non-native English speaking teacher who
is sufficiently proficient to teach native speakers (and that SHOULD be
ascertained before hiring the teacher, of course) serves as a much better
role model than having only someone who is a native English speaker.
As it has been mentioned before, many of the kids in these "native speaker"
classes are not really native English speakers, rather - either excellent
language learners or kids who happened to spend significant school-year time
in an English speaking country (or both). Therefore, the message we give
them when the teacher is native English speaking is: "Aim for this, though
you can never achieve it due to circumstances of birth." On the other hand,
by having a proficient, intelligent and well qualified non-native English
speaker teaching them (and I know quite a few of these) we are setting up an
excellent role model for them.
I know that, from personal experience, when I have come across such teachers
in higher learning - I have had a very special admiration for them (yes-
even envy) since these people are more proficient in English (as well as
their L1) than I, as an immigrant to Israel, am in Hebrew!
In short - (IMHO) it can swing either way. Each case should be judged by the
merits of the teacher being hired and the needs of class to be taught. If we
limit the applicants to only native English speakers, we are going to run
the risk of losing out (and I do NOT mean only by being politically
incorrect!).
As ever,
Adele
> And, by the way, don't you think that for such a class (and only such a
class)
> a teacher who is a native speaker is preferable?
> Just a question of reading comprehension.
> Rhea Israel
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