Can you please tell me if I have to be a native English speaker to teach with ESL OR TEFL ?
mangofish asked:
Or does schools prefer native speaker. How are my chances to get a job with the same qualifications but none native speaker?
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Or does schools prefer native speaker. How are my chances to get a job with the same qualifications but none native speaker?
March 13th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Anyone who completes the training, native speaker or not, can teach as certified ESL or TEFL.
March 15th, 2009 at 4:43 am
English is a very difficult language. I have a degree and an M.A and I think the English is always the hardest thing to master. If it is not your first language don’t go for it, you will never succeed, I would not dream of teaching another language abroad its hard enough doing your natural language.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
First, you need to define ‘native speaker’ for yourself. A Korean, for example, who moves to Canada at 16 could then return to Korea to teach ESL as a ‘native speaker’. This type of ‘native speaker’ may discover advantages since he/she will probably understand the culture, may be bilingual etc…This person may even be hired because they are of Korean descent. Conversely, this same person may discover that he/she is not treated the same as someone else who fits the more expected stereotypical native speaker teacher; a white, born and raised and educated person from North America (for example). Then there is the native speaker (fitting the previous description) that really should not be teaching at all. Their English is poor and they are not even interested in teaching or in ESL for that matter. Someone like yourself, someone truly interested in teaching, should not be denied a chance to teach.
Second, look at the country you are thinking of being an ESL/EFL teacher in. Each country will have its own ideas and expectations of what a native speaker teacher is.
At the most basic level though, with social politics put aside, there is absolutely no reason that a person with the same qualifications as another should not get a job in ESL. There are a lot of qualified people teaching ESL in Korea that have never lived abroad, nor have they ever been educated abroad. I caution though, that since language is wrapped up in culture knowing the culture of the target language will only help you in your teaching. So, if you do want to work in ESL do some travelling and/or do some studying abroad. Good luck to you.
March 20th, 2009 at 4:49 am
No you don’t have to be. However many schools prefer native speakers and some countries won’t issue work visas to non-native teachers (if you want to work overseas).
March 21st, 2009 at 12:13 pm
No you dont have to be. But developing a neutral accent will aid you. Plus if you get the certificate or diploma offered by Cambridge you will be able to do a quality job