07 July 2016 / by Marjan Van Rij

Can a non-native teach English? No way!

“Where are you from?” is usually one of the first questions I get when I meet students for the first time. I am from the Netherlands (which isn't Holland by the way but that’s a different story). “But English is not the official language of the Netherlands, right?” Yes, that's right. Our official language is Dutch but I speak English as well. Ok...

Is it really that strange that a non-native is teaching English? In public schools it's more or less accepted but outside of it, it's sort of not done. I mean, there are millions of Brits living in Spain so there’s even no need to take classes from a non-native, right? So here I am, Dutch but teaching English. I think opinions differ on this topic but it seems to be coming down to this:

Non-natives don’t speak the way natives do.

In my case, it’s true that I don’t use all the expressions that a native Brit might use, I don’t curse like an American and I don’t have a beautiful accent. However I probably know my own language worse than English because I’ve never studied the rules of Dutch in depth. So I know the rules, I can explain them and I know quite a lot of expressions. Still, I don't sound like a native.

What is this way that natives speak? For me, an American sounds completely different than someone from Wales, which goes as well for a Scottish, a South African or an Indian. This difference is noticeable in many aspects of the language, just listen to this song or look up the word “non-native” on Google. Some will say that it’s “nonnative”, others will say that it’s “non native” and others write it hyphenated like I do, “non-native”. So is there one way to be native? Moreover, does being native make you a good teacher? I’m not sure.

I guess it isn’t that hard to spot a mistake when you listen to an ESL learner speaking. However explaining something completely new for them and learning them how to use it comfortably might be a different story. When I hear my brother correcting his Canadian girlfriend but failing to explain why it’s like that, I feel like it could be exactly that. Teaching is something different than speaking. So can a non-native teach English? I think as long as he or she can teach, yes. And if our students might not know all the hundreds of idioms out there, I still think they’ll manage pretty well abroad.

19

July 2012

The Goring of the Bulls

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmp4DjtWcuw Have you ever been to the running of the bulls in Pamplona? This event has recently made the news yet again... Half-ton fighting bulls have trampled and knocked over more runners during Spain's San Fermin festival, injuring at least 10 people....

19

July 2012

The Ghosts of Spain

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apQkjjcqGnI When you go aborad, which airport do you normally use? Do you know how many airports there are in Spain? Do you think there are too many? Have a look at this video and read a related news story... Have you heard about the billion euro airport designed during Spain's booming economy, ser...

12

July 2012

A Scottish Visitor's Guide

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LnVIo3Bwzs Do you have your vacation booked this year? Where are you going? Have you ever visited Scotland? When you visit different countries and towns most guide books tell you the "Do's and Don'ts". Do you listen to the rules or do you just do what you want to do? The Japanese - when visiting Scotland - ha...

12

July 2012

Five Things You Should Know About ''the man'' snooping on your digital stuff

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nuMogouSM8 Is it legal for someone to read your email if you don't log out? Do you have to unlock your phone if a police officer asks? Can a private Facebook post be used against you in court? If these are questions that you don't know the answer to then r...

05

July 2012

What would you sell on eBay?

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLRzN3m97qE A religious order in the Tuscan countryside has become FRUSTRATED by the lack of interest in their small village TUCKED away in the hills. So they have put the whole thing up for sale on eBay. The village – Pratariccia requires some work but could be yours for €2.5...

05

July 2012

The Bubonic Plague is Back!

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIhYDcfsN2I&feature=player_embedded Did you know there has been a man diagnosed recently in America with the Bubonic Plague? A Man lies in CRITICAL condition in a US hospital after being DIAGNOSED from SUFFERING with the Bubonic Plague. The man...

28

June 2012

Smoking at work... more than just a break?

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BsggEckcjg Are you a smoker? How many people smoke at your workplace? This video shows some thoughts about smoking in the workplace... Here are some statistics COLLATED in March this year about employees at work taking a “FAG” – cigarette break Two in five of tho...

28

June 2012

Just-In Time!

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdadZ_KrZVw Do you have enough time in the day? Ever wish you had more time to do something? What would you do? Have you heard about Justin Timberlake's new movie 'Just in Time' (En Tiempo)? This is a movie about the future where everyone is 25 years old and is about to die or is working for additi...

21

June 2012

Are you a daredevil?

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY4XAajKXLs&feature=related Nik Wallenda became a real-life Daredevil over night. On Friday the 15th June he BALANCED on a 51mm wire SUSPENDED 46 meters above one of the world’s most dangerous waters - Niagara Falls. He began his STUNT...

21

June 2012

Potatoes with your car wash?!

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Vs-KMuqjI Attracting business is extremely TOUGH in today’s world but it seems that one Madrilenian car wash owner will go to any extreme to get your money. He is offering to wash your car and you can take away a bottle of Rioja, three kilos of potatoes or he will buy you a beer in the bar ...

Contact us

07 July 2016 / by Marjan Van Rij

Can a non-native teach English? No way!

19

19

12

12

05

05

28

28

21

21