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.

30

November 2011

HAKE HOAX? - Get Your Teeth Into This Topic!!

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwyQC71vfxA Consumers in Spain trust the mild-flavored white flesh of hake, which is the most popular fish in a country that eats more seafood than almost any other in Europe. Hake is considered safe for pregnant women, and kids crunch into the cod-like fillets as fishsticks. “There’s trust because of the cul...

30

November 2011

A Cutting Story for a great Topic

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28jvlBA0RMk&feature=youtube_gdata_player Here is something to 'highlight' your day!!!! A documentary movie showcasing one of the best known names in global hairdressing to date - Vidal Sassoon. They say that Vidal Sassoon is more than just a hairdresser - he's a rock star...

29

November 2011

English tips #15 Brother-in-law. PLURAL?

by Radmila Gurkova

What is the Plural Form of Brother-in-law? The most common mistake made in English. What is the plural of brother-in-law? My brother-in-law's or My Brothers-in-law? The co...

29

November 2011

Happy and You Know it

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ2aEF337tY And what about starting the new week with this funny song with easy vocabulary. Pay attention to the musical instruments and the words related to likes and dislikes. And if you've listened carefully... ... you'll be able to ans...

28

November 2011

English tips #14 I and Me

by Radmila Gurkova

The two pronouns are often wron...

25

November 2011

Friday Fun: 'Romans Go Home'

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIAdHEwiAy8 Seeing as it's Friday I thought it would be time to post something for a bit of fun! Hopefully you've all seen the excellent 'Life of Brian' by the Monty Python guys. This is an excellent excerpt from the film where 'Brian' is having difficulty with his Latin grammar and conjugations! Hopefully yo...

25

November 2011

English tips #13 Good and Well

by Radmila Gurkova

GOOD and WELL (Often confused by native and non-native speakers) Good is an adjective - It describes nouns ...

24

November 2011

English tips #12 Tag questions

by Radmila Gurkova

Tag questions can be difficult, can't they? A tag question consists of two parts: 1. a statement and a short yes/no question. 2. the two parts are separated with a comma. ...

24

November 2011

Spain's Lost Babies

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51Hf-woEDeg How much are children worth to you - especially your own child?! In recent news..... Spanish society has been shaken by allegations of theft of thousands of babies by nuns, priests and doctors, which started under Franco and continued up the 1990's. More then 900 cases are being ...

24

November 2011

Who is your Hero or Heroine?

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGt5iiEsThk What is a Hero or Heroine and what is the definition? A hero or heroine is......."A man or woman of distinguished courage or ability, admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities" or "A person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities o...

Inicio

Contact us

07 July 2016 / by Marjan Van Rij

Can a non-native teach English? No way!

30

30

29

29

28

25

25

24

24

24