Native English-speaking Teachers Research Articles

Exploring the effect of students’ language learning strategies on Chinese students' perceptions of native and non-native English speaker teachers

The status of English as the most prominent global lingua franca has increased the need for effective English teachers worldwide. Particularly in China, there is a growing demand for English teachers, with a significant preference for native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) over non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs). This trend, often interpreted as an implicit or explicit endorsement of native-speakerism, has significant effects on Chinese students, and harms the teaching effectiveness and well-being of Chinese English teachers. While previous research has explored the roles of students' demographic characteristics on their views, few studies have delved into complex factors such as language learning strategies and educators' well-being. To address this research gap, this study investigates 470 English-major Chinese students' views on NESTs and NNESTs in relation to the well-being of the NESTs and NNESTs. The findings reveal that students view NESTs and NNESTs as possessing different strengths and weaknesses, which have various impacts on the teachers' well-being. Further, the students’ language learning strategies were positively correlated with their views of both NESTs and NNESTs. These discoveries have the potential to heighten student awareness about native-speakerism and develop potential methods for educators to augment their teaching effectiveness, so that teacher well-being is given adequate attention.

EFL Learners and EFL Teaching in Türkiye: Native English-speaking Teachers’ Views

Many native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) work in Türkiye. NESTs as well as non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs) are the major stakeholders, and thus their views and experiences are worth exploring. Despite the ample research on NNESTs’ views, there is a scarcity of those of NESTs. This qualitative case study with four NESTs working at primary and secondary levels of a private school in Istanbul, aims to provide insights into their experiences with Turkish EFL learners and the EFL teaching and learning context in Türkiye. Data collected through an open-ended questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were analyzed qualitatively using the thematic analysis technique. Findings showed that Turkish EFL students are perceived as motivated, respectful, competitive and product-oriented learners, preferring more conventional practices like memorization and individual study. While oral fluency in English is seen as their strength, accuracy and literacy skills are evaluated as areas in need of development. The overall experience of the NESTs and their views about their work environment and colleagues are positive, yet factors such as the management style of the administrators, attitude of parents and their own incompetence in Turkish affect their views negatively and challenge them.

Teachers’ Views of L1 Use in English Speaking Classes : A Case Study of University Teachers in Korea

This study investigates the views of university English teachers in Korea teaching English speaking classes to develop a greater understanding of how L1 is used and for what reasons and purposes in the classroom. The primary means of data collection included a survey with multiple choice questions and open-ended questions, as well as semi-structured interviews. Thirteen teachers, five native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) and eight Korean English teachers (KETs) responded to the survey, among whom four teachers participated in the interviews. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics or qualitative methods, depending on their types. Findings revealed that teachers attempted to use English as the primary medium of instruction, adhering to class identity and their teaching beliefs. However, the majority also found themselves allowing for the use of Korean to some extent for reasons such as the students’ low English proficiency, course goals, the tense environment, common L1 among students, and the students’ demand, although some differences were observed in the way that Korean was used between NESTs and KETs. Teachers also showed more leniency towards the students’ Korean use as opposed to their own use of it and employed Korean for different purposes in each case. Discrepancies were found between NESTs and KETs in their purposes. For instance, NESTs focused their use of Korean on social purposes while KETs focused on managerial purposes. NESTs permitted students to use Korean for various purposes, whereas KETs focused mainly on affective and social purposes. However, both groups seldom considered the students’ use of Korean for linguistic purposes. Further discussions on implications for teachers, education administrators, and researchers are provided.

Discriminatory Practices Against Non-Native English Speaker Teachers in Colombia’s Language Centers: A Multimodal Study

This multimodal/multimedia discourse analysis explored institutional practices regarding native and non-native English speaker teachers in five language centers in Medellín, Colombia, as reflected in interviews with coordinators and teachers, language centers’ websites, social media, and recruitment materials. Data were analyzed using content and multimodal discourse analysis. Findings unveiled that, in general, these language centers favor native English speaker teachers and discriminate against non-native English speaker teachers in multiple ways, as the former are privileged in job searches, are asked fewer hiring requirements, have more room for negotiation, earn higher salaries, and enjoy more perks.

Teacher well-being matters: The case of students’ motivation on their own perceptions of native and non-native English speaker teachers

Teacher well-being matters: The case of students’ motivation on their own perceptions of native and non-native English speaker teachers

Narratives from NESTs: Pedagogical insights from Communication Skills Teaching

This research delved into how the viewpoints and teaching philosophies of native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) influence their unique teaching methods and the broader consequences that arise from their practical teaching experiences. The study involved three educators—Dick, Anne, and Sam—currently working at different universities. These instructors brought their distinct personal and educational backgrounds to the research. Employing a qualitative case study approach, the data collection spanned nearly a year, covering the duration of 2020. Various techniques, including surveys, interviews, email correspondences, and classroom observations, were employed to gather data. The collected information underwent analysis using the constant comparison method and coding techniques, revealing significant themes within individual cases and across cases: defined roles of NESTs; pedagogical approaches; assessment; feedback; and guidance for learning English.

“Being a native is not enough if you are not White”: The identity construction trajectory of an African American English language teacher at a Saudi university

Increasing research has recently been devoted to issues of racism within TESOL; however, most studies have been directed towards the unearned privilege of teachers labelled as ‘native English-speaking teachers’ (‘NESTs’) and the unjust marginalization of those perceived as ‘non-native English-speaking teachers’ (‘NNESTs’). This focusing on the former as the exclusive beneficiaries and the latter as the sole victims of racial discrimination has led to overlooking a large portion of language teachers whose professional experiences fit neither group. Approached through the lenses of communities of practice (Lave & Wenger, 1991; Wenger, 1998) and critical race theory, and guided by a narrative inquiry approach, this qualitative study tackles this gap by investigating the professional identity construction trajectory of an African American English language teacher working in a dominated by the native speakerism ideology Saudi university. Relying on in-depth interviews as the main data source, the findings revealed that the participant’s trajectory and forms of (non)participation were profoundly, yet detrimentally, shaped by his non-Whiteness. The study concludes with implications for research, practice, and policy.

The NEST/NNEST Binary and Translingual Identity of U.S.-Educated EFL Instructors in Saudi Arabia: A Study on Linguistic and Cultural Navigation in the Classroom

This study contributes to the Global Southern epistemological debates on the professional identity negotiations of Global-North-educated English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instructors. Using semi-structured interviews, the study analyses how two Saudi Arabian EFL instructors, during their PhD studies in the United States, and upon their return home, coped with the phenomenon of native-speakerism and navigated their way through the binary of Native English-Speaking Teachers (NEST) and Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNEST) in their teaching. They appreciated their Western education not due to the traditional privileged-Global-North-and-underprivileged-Global-South binary but because of the many ways in which it helped them negotiate their translingual identity. They saw themselves as better placed to give constructive feedback to learners but critiqued the NESTs’ inability to base themselves in the local culture and positioned themselves above NESTs due to their knowledge of indigenous Saudi culture. Thus, they dismantled the traditional privilege associated with native-speakerism but did not hail one category over the other. Instead, they picked from both categories the materials, ways, means and attitudes that best served their purpose. They strove for hybridity. Through their negotiation of their foreign education and local challenges, they developed a unique translingual identity.

Professional Identities of Local Japanese Teachers of English (JTEs) Vis-à-Vis their Foreign Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs)

ABSTRACT The team-teaching approach between local language teachers (non-native English-speaking teachers: NNESTs) and foreign language teachers (native English-speaking teachers: NESTs) has been implemented in a number of countries. Japan is no exception. Team teaching in Japan—conducted by local Japanese teachers of English (JTEs) and foreign assistant language teachers (ALTs), particularly through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program—has received high acclaim both domestically and internationally. Nevertheless, empirical studies on these team teachers’ identities remain insufficient. The purpose of this article is to describe and elucidate the identities of one cohort of those team teachers in Japan: those of the JTEs through the lens of their relationships with their ALTs. Data were gathered via narrative interviews from eight JTEs who differed in terms of demographic variables. The findings underscored that JTEs predominantly perceive their professional reflexive identities as (a) inadequate language teachers and (b) overworked caregivers, shedding light on the nuanced dynamics within this collaborative teaching paradigm.

YOUNG ENGLISH LEARNERS’ ANXIETY: THE CASE IN INDONESIAN ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM

It is a common phenomenon that English language learners suffer from anxiety when they step into a language class, especially in the oral-focused lesson. This situation is experienced not only by adult English learners but also by the young ones who are learning in English-speaking classes at the elementary school level. Language anxiety they have is triggered by or originated from numerous factors, including the teacher’s identity factor. A teacher who is a ‘native’ speaker of the language is believed to gear greater anxiety among English as a foreign language learners resulted in passiveness and withdrawal from oral activities in the class. Referring to the circumstance, this study, was conducted to see the level of anxiety in English speaking classes which were taught by a native English speaker teacher (NEST) as well as to see the possible aspects evoking foreign language anxiety among young English learners. This present research, particularly, involved 69 active students of Tarakanita 1 elementary school in Jakarta. The research data was collected using a qualitative method with a set of questionnaires as a major data collection instrument, embracing three key indicators namely fear of communicating, fear of negative evaluations, and testing anxiety. To identify similarities and differences among students of differing anxiety levels, five categories: very low, low, moderate, high, and very high anxiety are applied. Quantitative analysis of the data revealed that the participants exhibit different levels of anxiousness in speaking English with a native English speaker. The highest percentage fell at high level category which was applied for the three aforementioned indicators. Pertaining to the factors influence might arouse anxiety in speaking class fear of communicating, contribute as much as the other two: fear of negative evaluations, and testing anxiety. The findings of this study are expected to benefit both teachers and students. It is hoped that students will develop more awareness towards factors, as anxiety, that may hinder them from mastering English-speaking skill and find solutions to overcome anxiety in speaking. Moreover, teachers are hoped to be more understanding and concerned with the anxiety young English learners experience and help them reduce their anxiety during the classroom performance through implementing various strategies.

Exploring native and non-native English speaker teachers' perceptions of English teacher qualities and their students' responses.

Due to globalization, English has gradually become a lingua franca, leading to a rising demand for proficient English teachers all over the globe. In China, more EFL teachers are being recruited, particularly at the tertiary level, with a greater preference for so-called "native English speaking teachers (NESTs)" over "non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs)" due to the impacts of native-speakerism. Research has shown NESTs, NNESTs, and students are often misaligned in terms of beliefs about language learning and teaching which affect teaching effectiveness as well as student achievement. Recognizing this issue, this study investigated NESTs', NNESTs', and Chinese English-major students' perceptions of characteristics of effective EFL teachers at four mid-tier universities across China. Findings from semi-structured interviews with 16 students suggest that NNESTs and Chinese English-major students had similar views on language learning and teaching. Both groups valued prerequisite qualities such as having expert knowledge, language skills, teaching skills, and professionalism. NESTs, however, valued qualities such as caring, patience, flexibility, engagement, and awareness of students' learning needs. These differences are likely the result of these two groups of teachers' linguistic, cultural, and educational background differences. The highly uniform views of the two groups of teachers suggest that they tended to emphasize certain qualities while disregarding others. These findings suggest the need to raise teachers' and students' awareness of the benefits of different types of teacher qualities so that curriculum design and lesson planning can be implemented for better instructional alignment to ultimately improve teaching effectiveness.

“There’s no separation of Church and state”, a metaphorical analysis of Muslim native speaker teachers’ representations of English language teaching and Islam in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT There has been an increased interest among researchers concerning the relationship between faith and English language teaching (ELT) in the context of the global spread of English; however, to this date, very few studies have focused on ELT and Islam. Considering the wider sociopolitical, ideological or religious issues connected to the global spread of English, this study draws on the experiences of five Muslim native English-speaking teachers (MNESTs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) by qualitatively investigating their representations of Islam and ELT. Based on a non-realist analysis of metaphors, the study explores the participants’ worldviews and positionalities as MNESTs in the KSA, thereby exploring how Islam impacts their professional practice. The study concludes that ELT is inextricably intertwined with broader issues such as religion, and argues that these links need to be explicitly addressed in the field.

Trans-speakerism: a trioethnographic exploration into diversity, equity, and inclusion in language education

In this article, we cast a critical eye over a culturally dominant ideology—native-speakerism. This ideology postulates that those deemed to be native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) are preferable over non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs), both as legitimate language models of English and as effective practitioners of western teaching methodologies (Holliday, 2006, 2018). We critique this by delving into our own experiences in Japanese higher education—those of a doctoral supervisor (Takaaki: NNEST) and two of his doctoral candidates (Matt and Joachim: both NESTs). We employed the research method of duoethnography (specifically trioethnography, in our case), which involves multiple researchers sharing their respective lived experiences concerning a specific phenomenon (Norris & Sawyer, 2012). Findings suggest that our academic lives and relationships were affected by our shared understandings of Global Englishes (Galloway & Rose, 2015), intercultural awareness (Baker, 2012), and professionalism (Coombe et al., 2020). The article provides evidence for the need to replace native-speakerism with the fresh ideology of trans-speakerism—a stance committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for all language speakers/teachers, irrespective of their first languages or cultures. It also suggests the use of new terms, global speakers/teachers of English (GSEs/GTEs), to refer to English speakers/teachers.

"Just Teach Them Some English"

This paper chronicles the experiences of a native English-speaking teacher in an EFL situation at a Japanese kindergarten. The paper discusses how the author coped with certain problems that arose over a twenty-year period, and then explains what measures were taken in order to remedy some of those issues. Also, suggestions for others that may be in the same type of situation are made based on steps that were taken over the years to enhance the students’ learning and motivation during the lessons.

Students’ Perception toward Teaching Strategies of Native and Nonnative English-Speaking Teachers: A Case Study in Indonesia

This study aimed to investigate the students’ insights toward native English-speaking teachers’ (NESTs) and nonnative English-speaking teachers’ (NNEST) teaching strategies and to examine the reasons for their insights. Fifty-eight English students, 30 females, and 20 males, with prior experience of learning from both NESTs and NNESTs in East Java, Indonesia, participated in the study. They were purposively selected. A set of questionnaires was used to elicit quantitative data on students’ perceptions and focus group discussion was used to elicit qualitative data on the underlying reasons for their perceptions. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics, whereas qualitative data were analyzed based on themes. The finding revealed that the students perceived NESTs slightly better than NNESTs, with a grand mean of 9.92 and 3.74. Another finding indicates that the perception percentage for NESTs is 75%, while NNESTs achieved 63.8%. However, when the grand means of both groups are tested statistically using a correlated sample t-test, it reveals that there is no significant mean difference ( p < 0.05 ). This means that the mean difference of 3.92 and 3.74 occurred by chance only, and it is not considered different statistically. This suggests that the students perceived NESTs and NNESTs the same. The qualitative data were classified into six themes: explanation, class interaction, teaching strategy, improvization, and ideal teachers. The data indicated that students have more or less similar reasons for these themes. Eventually, the results of qualitative and quantitative data analysis suggest that NESTs and NNESTs are not two distinct groups, one necessarily better or more qualified to be teachers than the other.

The Validity of Hiring Native and Non-Native English-Speaking Instructors: Professional Observers', Learners', and Programme Administrators' Perceptions

In the recent past, considerable attention has been directed towards the issues relating to non-native English speaker teachers (NNESTs) and native English speaker teachers (NESTs) in English language teaching (ELT), especially their employability as English language teachers. This study aimed to investigate the hiring process for an English as a foreign language (EFL) instructor position. The study has adopted a mixed-design approach using a structured questionnaire on 212 students from the Preparatory Year Program (PYP) at Princess Nora University (PNU) and the Common First Year (CFY) at King Saud University (KSU) and semi-structured interviews on six programme administrators and professional observers from the higher education language institutions in Saudi Arabia to achieve the study’s objectives. Specifically, this study examined three areas: a) the programme administrators’ perception of the hiring criteria of both NESTs and NNESTs; b) the professional observers' perception of the hiring criteria used, linking them to the performance of both NESTs and NNESTs in EFL classes and providing criteria that they deem necessary; and c) the learners' perception of the characteristics of an effective EFL instructor to support the latter's perception. The results revealed that being a native speaker was not important from the perception of programme administrators, professional observers, and learners. However, programme administrators, professional observers, and learners gave more importance to other criteria such as pedagogical skills, personal qualities, and the ability to teach.

Shifting from Native-Speakerism to Trans-Speakerism: A Trioethnography of Language Teachers in Japan

Native-speakerism is an ideology that endows those classified as native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) the owners of the English language, the ideal models of its use, and the pedagogical experts in language teaching. These endowments, in turn, intrinsically devalue those classified as non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs) (Holliday, 2006, 2017). In this study, a trioethnographic approach was adopted to investigate native-speakerism as it related to the lived experiences of two NESTs (Matt and Joachim) and one NNEST (Takaaki) in an EFL context of Japan. Counterintuitively, this exploration found that, in our Japanese context, native-speakerism had adverse effects on the academic lives and professional trajectories not for the NNEST, but rather for the two NESTs, linguistically, culturally, and institutionally speaking. Based on the findings, we explain and compare what we term classical, inversed, and nuanced native-speakerism, and introduce a new empowering concept—trans-speakerism—an ideological stance committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for all language teachers, irrespective of their first languages or cultures. The article ends with a call for research that encompasses a variety of contexts and approaches on trans-speakerism in language education.

Expatriate Non-native English-speaking Teachers’ Challenges and Coping Strategies in the Turkish EFL Classroom: A Qualitative Study

The global demand for teachers of English has led to an escalation in the number of non-native English speakers traveling overseas to teach English. Although teaching English abroad is typically associated with native English-speaking teachers hailing from inner-circle countries, it has also become commonplace to see non-native English-speaking expatriate teachers being hired. Yet, studies probing into expatriate non-native English-speaking teachers’ experiences have been sparse, particularly in the context of Turkey. This study endeavors to explore the challenges and coping strategies of expatriate non-native English-speaking teachers who worked in private schools and language programs in Turkey. To collect data, semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the analysis revealed that teachers faced several obstacles, including linguistic, cultural, and pedagogical challenges. Nevertheless, they managed to surmount these obstacles by acquiring proficiency in the local language, fostering intercultural awareness, and acquainting themselves with the education system. In light of the findings and the relevant literature, suggestions and implications are discussed for potential expatriate teachers intending to work in Turkey and other stakeholders.

“The Nail That Sticks Out Gets Hammered down”: The Influence Of EFL Context On The Teacher Beliefs Of A Native English-Speaking Teacher

The 1970s witnessed a paradigm shift in research into language learning and teaching with focus moving away from process-product approach to the study of teachers and their cognitions. This shift in research led teaching to be viewed as a cognitive process not merely in terms of behavior, and teachers as decision makers in the classroom not as merely implementers of external theories. In the same decade, teacher cognition emerged as a separate domain of research that investigates what teachers know, think and believe. Teaching context is one of the factors that influence the formation of teacher beliefs and the enactment of these beliefs. The present study is an attempt at understanding the influence of EFL setting on teacher beliefs of a native English-speaking teacher. To this end, a single native speaker English teacher was selected and data were collected through a number of tools. The data were analyzed using grounded theory data analysis steps. The current study found that context has certain influence on teachers’ beliefs and teachers’ pedagogical practices. It also found that the changes that occurred in the participant teacher’s beliefs were behavioral rather than cognitive and that the context’s influence on which beliefs teachers enact in practice is relatively more marked.

Students’ perceptions of native/non-native English-speaking EMI teachers: Are NS teachers better than NNS teachers?

Higher Education internalization has prompted a constant growth of EMI (English as a Medium of Instruction) courses delivered by teachers with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Existing literature has revealed that native English-speaking (NS) teachers and non-native English-speaking (NNS) teachers have demonstrated different characteristics in EMI teaching in terms of language proficiency and pedagogy expertise. Previous studies mainly focused on teaching features of NS and NNS EMI teachers that are preferred by students. However, these studies see students as an intact group while ignoring the possible impact of students’ different levels of English proficiency on their perceptions of NS and NNS EMI teachers. This study investigates Chinese tertiary students’ perceptions of NS and local NNS teachers’ competencies in EMI teaching, and how these perceptions connect to their self-perceived English. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with seven Chinese university students who enrolled in EMI courses. The study highlighted that students perceived these two groups of lecturers’ teaching competencies differ regarding their language proficiency and teaching methods. Furthermore, these perceptions can be influenced by students’ self-perceived listening and speaking proficiency. The findings provide insights for EMI implementation in Chinese Higher Education and suggestions for refining EMI teachers’ teaching expertise.