scholarly journals NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS VERSUS NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS: THE IMPACT OF LANGUAGE TEACHERS ON EFL LEARNER'S ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Tariq Elyas ◽  
Noor Motlaq Alghofaili

In the field of TESOL, the perception that Native English Speaking Teachers (NESTs) are better than Non-Native English Speaking Teachers (NNESTs) has influenced language schools, recruitment policies and institutional leadership practices. The tendency to recruit more NESTs and achieve improved learning outcomes can be seen in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) contexts. This paper aims to investigate whether NESTs or NNESTs have any impact on the EFL learners� language proficiency in Saudi EFL context. This quantitative study adopts pretest-posttest experimental and ex post facto designs to determine students� achievement in two language skills, namely speaking and listening. The two groups of participants are EFL students in a foundation year program at a Saudi Arabian University. One group was taught by a NEST and the other by a NNEST. The quantitative data were analyzed by using SPSS. The findings indicated that teachers� nativeness and backgrounds have no significant effects on the Saudi EFL learners� speaking and listening skills. Here, Saudi EFL learners can equally perform in classes taught by NESTs or NNESTs. In the light of the findings, the study suggests that recruitment policy should not be influenced by the employers� belief that NESTs possess better teaching skills than NNESTs.��

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-24
Author(s):  
Adina Mannes ◽  
Yaacov J Katz

The current study quantitatively examines the professional identity of 150 EFL teachers in the Israeli educational system. Findings indicate that native English-speaking teachers (“NESTs”) rate themselves higher than non-native English-speaking teachers. Still, fewer differences between the groups were found than predicted. While the results of this study support the idea of considering native English proficiency to be advantageous, the global situation of English use suggests that a different direction should be adopted. Taking advantage of the strengths of each group by embracing cooperation between teachers from different linguistic backgrounds could contribute to a stronger professional identity for language teachers, thus reducing the dichotomy between native English speakers and those who do not speak English natively.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-35
Author(s):  
Haneen Saad Al Muabdi

Motivation is one of the crucial aspects of second language acquisition. Students’ motivation can be influenced by their teachers. The present study aims to investigate the impact of the two types of teachers on EFL learners’ motivations to learn English. These are NESTs (Native English-speaking teachers) and NNESTs (native English-speaking teachers). Hence, it examines learners’ attitudes and perceptions towards the two types of teachers. This study employed a mixed method by distributing a questionnaire contains quantitative and qualitative tools. It consists of twenty items of Likert scales and two open-ended questions. The present study subjects are 31 female students at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The results of the study demonstrate that learners have a positive attitude toward NESTs and NNESTs. Despite that, the tendency to learn with NNESTs is higher than NESTs. The findings also show that both types of teachers motivate students to learn English. Moreover, it suggests that the methodology and teachers’ personalities are more important than the teachers’ nativeness.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid AL HARIRI

This article explores the attitudes of English language teacher trainers (ELTTs) toward how Non-Native English Speaking Teachers (NNESTs) should be prepared to succeed in teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL). A number of ELTTs were surveyed to share their opinions on the strengths and weaknesses of NNEST Trainees in respect of language, culture, and the use of modern teaching methodology. Then, the trainers compared and contrasted some aspects between native and non-native English-speaking teacher trainees. Finally, the results indicate certain aspects that NNESTs need to be more aware of and that native English speakers must also be trained before entering the EFL world.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haneen Saad Al Muabdi

Motivation is one of the crucial aspects of second language acquisition. Students’ motivation can be influenced by their teachers. The present study aims to investigate the impact of the two types of teachers on EFL learners’ motivations to learn English. These are NESTs (Native English-speaking teachers) and NNESTs (native English-speaking teachers). Hence, it examines learners’ attitudes and perceptions towards the two types of teachers. This study employed a mixed method by distributing a questionnaire contains quantitative and qualitative tools. It consists of twenty items of Likert scales and two open-ended questions. The present study subjects are 31 female students at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The results of the study demonstrate that learners have a positive attitude toward NESTs and NNESTs. Despite that, the tendency to learn with NNESTs is higher than NESTs. The findings also show that both types of teachers motivate students to learn English. Moreover, it suggests that the methodology and teachers’ personalities are more important than the teachers’ nativeness.


2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Lijuan Ye

Previous research within the field of argumentation has established that argumen- tation plays an important role in a variety of professions. Written argumentation has been extensively explored and investigated to examine its various aspects, in- cluding argument structures and schemes, argumentative strength, the role of au- dience, the evaluation of argument, argumentative persuasiveness and force, and so on. It appears, however, that few studies have been carried out to address the issues of spoken argumentation. To fill the gap, this article attempts to compare elements of the spoken argumentative genre produced by Chinese EFL learners to those in their native English-speaking counterparts. Findings from the study show that the former group generally produced an exposition genre focusing on one side of the argument, whereas the latter group noted two or more sides of the argument in order to balance the issue. In addition, Chinese EFL learners tended to use a formulaic argument structure, whereas native English speakers used a more discursive pattern. Pedagogical implications and potential directions for future studies on spoken English argumentation are suggested in the conclusion.Des recherches antérieures dans le domaine de l’argumentation ont établi que cette capacité joue un rôle important dans diverses professions. L’argumentation par écrit a été intensément explorée et ses divers aspects bien étudiés, y compris la structure et les schémas, la force des arguments, le rôle du public, l’évaluation du raisonnement, le pouvoir de persuasion, et ainsi de suite. Toutefois, il semble que peu de recherches ont porté sur l’argumentation orale. Afin de combler cette lacune, cet article a comme objectif de comparer des éléments de l’argumentation orale d’apprenants chinois d’ALE à ceux de leurs homologues anglophones. Les résultats de l’étude indiquent que les premiers produisaient, de façon générale, un exposé traitant d’un côté de l’argument alors que les deuxièmes en évoquaient deux aspects ou plus de sorte à équilibrer la question. De plus, les apprenants chinois tendaient à employer une structure argumentative basée sur des formules tandis que les anglophones avaient recours à une structure plus discursive. La conclusion de l’article offre des incidences pédagogiques et des orientations pos- sibles pour la recherche portant sur l’argumentation orale en anglais.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald Maraden Silalahi

<p>In the last decade, the development of information technology confirms English as a Lingua Franca used by native English speakers and nonnative English speakers. English in a global context has triggered the emergence of new English variants, resulting from the assimilation of English into a local language known as World Englishes. On the other hand, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEAFL) in Indonesia is still oriented towards the ideology of nativespeakerism which believes that TEAFL should be done by Native English-Speaking Teachers (NEST) because they are believed to have better linguistic competence and contextual understanding than Nonnative English-Speaking Teachers (NNEST). This article is directed to determine the perceptions of English teachers in Indonesia regarding the world Englishes phenomenon. This research is qualitative research with 20 informants consisting of 10 Nonnative English-Speaking Teachers and 10 Native English-Speaking Teachers. Four Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), each consisting of 5 informants, will be conducted to gather as much information as possible related to teachers’ perceptions. This research is expected to provide an overview of foreign language teaching in Indonesia. The results showed that nativespeakerism has a strong correlation with the world Englishes phenomenon. In the Indonesian context, this is shaped by the stigma that forms in society. This research is expected to enrich teaching studies, specifically in teaching foreign languages.</p>


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracye A. Todd ◽  
Terrye A. Stinson ◽  
Thillainatarajan Sivakumaran

Over the past decade, the number of non-native English speaking students in higher education has increased dramatically. Educators at all levels have experienced challenges in meeting the academic needs of these students and continue to seek strategies for addressing these challenges. This paper describes some of this research related to K-12 and suggests ways for applying the results to improve the academic performance of non-native English speaking students in U.S. graduate programs. Educators in higher education can benefit from the research focused on K-12 and should seek ways to replicate the successful strategies in the graduate classroom.


2008 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucie Moussu ◽  
Enric Llurda

Although the majority of English language teachers worldwide are non-native English speakers, no research was conducted on these teachers until recently. After the pioneering work of Robert Phillipson in 1992 and Peter Medgyes in 1994, nearly a decade had to elapse for more research to emerge on the issues relating to non-native English teachers. The publication in 1999 of George Braine's bookNonnative educators in English language teachingappears to have encouraged a number of graduate students and scholars to research this issue, with topics ranging from teachers' perceptions of their own identity to students' views and aspects of teacher education. This article compiles, classifies, and examines research conducted in the last two decades on this topic, placing a special emphasis on World Englishes concerns, methods of investigation, and areas in need of further attention.


Author(s):  
Do Na Chi

<p>In this paper, I investigate the practice of selecting English names of Vietnamese EFL learners at a language center. Although this naming practice is required at the institution for communicative convenience, there are negotiation and exceptions where learners refuse to use English names. Naming is believed to reflect one’s identity, and those learners explicitly indicate numerous reasons their acceptance or refusal of having English names. Observations and interviews with 15 participants in an EFL class were undertaken to explore the attitudes and reasons for their naming practices, and their identity reflection through that practice. The findings reveal that most learners see English names to be more convenient for their native English-speaking teachers and make them feel more westernised, which is in their belief necessary in an EFL setting. On the contrary, some learners would pay such respects to their Vietnamese names which they believe to be meaningful and should be remained. Whether using English names is an act of showing respect or not in EFL settings is also discussed. Also, regardless of genders, the paper reveals the age issue that strongly impacts the naming decision. The paper concludes with suggestions to do proper naming practice among EFL learners not to make this a discontent part in their learning processes.</p>


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