- When we start thinking about learning a foreign language, we often face a dilemma - is it better to be taught by a native speaker or a non-native one? Is a native speaker always better than a non-native teacher? Is it true that only a native speaker can help you achieve fluency in English? We'll try to answer these questions in our article.
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Who is a “native speaker"?
- A native speaker is a speaker of a particular language who has spoken that language since birth and uses it in their everyday communication. For example, if you are a Greek who had lived in Greece and then studied at a university in America for 5 years, you are not a native English speaker. Therefore, people do not automatically become native speakers after living in an English-speaking country for a period of time.
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Advantages of native English-speaking teacher
- Studying English with a native speaker has its pros and cons:
- 1. A native speaker speaks English fluently and has a feel for nuances of language usage in different situations. They instinctively use idioms (such as, get butterflies in the stomach – meaning: to feel nervous, or be under the weather – meaning: to be sick) and phrasal verbs (a combination of a verb and a particle, like look up to or look for) in their speech.
- 2. They know the culture of the country from the inside out and they have that specific way of thinking reflected in the language. Understanding the cultural mentality of the country whose language you are studying is important in achieving fluency in English. It will also make you feel confident when placed in that language environment.
- 3. A native speaker’s pronunciation and absence of a foreign accent give them an advantage over a non-native English teacher.
- On the other hand, under certain conditions, lessons with a native English speaker can become non-productive or even ineffective. What do you need to take into consideration while making your choice?
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5 tips to help you choose the best teacher
- 1. Your level of English proficiency. It can be difficult to have lessons with a native speaker if your level of English is rather low because you can have problems understanding the teacher. As a result, your progress may be slow. At the same time, a non-native local language-speaking English teacher is always able to help you with grammar difficulties or new vocabulary items explaining them in your mother tongue.
- Additionally, the majority of learners experience a certain difficulty, the so-called "language barrier", when using English in oral communication - they have reached an intermediate level, have rich vocabulary and do not experience any problems with grammar exercises, but cannot communicate in real life situations. Most students admit to being able to overcome the language barrier after having lessons with native English speakers. A native speaker can supplement the knowledge you have gained from a non-native English teacher by providing you with improved oral practice.
"The perfect option is to have lessons with both a non-native teacher and a native speaker alternatively."
- 2. Learning objectives. It is important to distinguish your learning objectives (why you want to study English) when making your decision. If the purpose of your study is to undertake a written test or examination and/or to improve your grammar, a non-native teacher who has experience in preparing for exams may be the most appropriate. Their main advantage is that they speak your language and are aware of the difficulties you might have while learning English. They have an ability to anticipate your linguistic problems and help you to overcome them by tailoring your learning curriculum accordingly. On the other hand, lessons with a native speaker can be a better alternative for those who are going to take an oral examination or need to prepare for a job interview in English.
- 3. Students’ typical mistakes. Unfortunately, a native speaker would not always understand the nature of the typical mistakes which local language-speaking students make. That is why it can be more difficult for them to help you correct those mistakes so that you don’t make them in the future. On the other hand, a non-native English teacher has experience of studying English as a second language and has developed awareness of the differences between the two languages. This helps them to have better understanding of the needs of their students, so they help them overcome their problems during the learning process.
- 4. Teacher’s education. Always take into consideration your teacher’s qualifications and teaching experience since you can often meet native speakers who are “pseudo-teachers”. They have not been trained to be a teacher or do not have any certification that allows them to teach English as a second language (ESL). To speak English naturally and be able to teach it is not the same thing.
- A native speaker speaks his/her language instinctively and often experiences difficulties when asked to explain why they say something one way and not the other. That is why it is important to use certain teaching methods, for example, how to present new language material, how to help students to increase their vocabulary, how to learn phrases and grammar structures through drills, etc.
- 5. The country of origin. In some countries, such as India, Pakistan, Malta, Nigeria or the Philippines, English is one of the official languages. The citizens of those countries will have a particular accent and, of course, they are not real representatives of an English-speaking culture. Nowadays you can meet many foreigners who have lived in an English-speaking country and pretend to be native speakers of English, which they are certainly not. If you have decided on a native English-speaking teacher, think about which variant of English you require based on your learning objectives. However, it is always better to find a native speaker who speaks regular English and can teach you the nuances of language usage in different English-speaking countries.
"People do not automatically become native speakers after living in an English-speaking country for a period of time."
- What can we conclude from the above?
- 1. It is better to start learning English with a local language-speaking English teacher. They will be able to explain all the rules and are better equipped to understand your problems as they have learned this language before, in the same way you will be learning it.
- 2. A native speaker will be able to show you different nuances of language usage and pronunciation as well as real English. The best idea is to have lessons with a non-native teacher and practice communication with a native speaker at the same time, for example, at a language club. Also, you can have lessons with both a non-native teacher and a native speaker alternatively.
- 3. Don’t forget your motivation. Unless you have a goal and are ready to overcome all the difficulties you may face during your learning process, not even the best teacher, native or non-native, will be able to help you. But if you really know what you want, an experienced teacher will make the process of learning English easier and more exciting.