Can non-native English speakers teach English?

[@halessaregis]

I am Brazilian and I am entering the British Secondary Education as an English teacher. Of course I've prepared myself for that for many years, but the point is "yes, non-native can teach!" Beautifully! No doubt everything is new, different and it might get complicated so in these cases, we have to work hard to understand the differences in the curriculum, culture, school culture and local community from where we will teach, means of class management, as well as techniques of teaching and of evaluation that may differ from your country, ethos, school values and so on. The accent becomes a mere detail if you are a competent professional who contributes to the quality of the education and future of young people. I've discredited possibilities for non-natives a few times too, but fortunately, doors will eventually open if we hit hard, we have to have passion and chase after our dreams.

[@vishnuvaradhan5717]

Halessa Regis were r u working

[@halessaregis]

Hi! Now at Wimbledon College as assistant, but I have applied for the school direct for English teacher position via UCAS and Getting into Teaching for secondary state schools. All my 3 options have called me for interviews despite of me not being native speaker. As I said in the previous post, I am "entering" the educational environment here and in my case, not facing many obstacles. :) Good luck for those who want to try! BTW, UCAS is open for new teacher training applications and the schools still need teachers, especially in South London, as far as I am aware. www.ucas.com/teaching-in-the-uk

[@antoniorangel5011]

Thank you for the information. I am a non-native speaker and I am teaching English in Zacatecas Mexico

[@jaslyfe]

I enjoy coming across videos like this one, because lately all I see are videos of how to get jobs as a native speaker. I am from the Caribbean but apparently my island St. Lucia is considered non-native which is odd because we are part of the commonwealth and the language we all learn from birth is English. I am in the process of completing my TEFL certification, wish I knew about Oxford TEFL before hand.

[@Oxfordtefl]

Thanks for the comment, we think it is very important that people know about this topic, there is work for non natives and they often understand the mechanics of the language better than a native speaker.

[@englishwithniya7434]

@@Oxfordtefl I can't agree more.

[@ey1806]

There are advantages unique to both native speaker teachers as well as non-native speakers. Native speakers are generally more effective teachers at an advanced level, whilst non-native English-speaking teachers are more effective at a preliminary level. Non-native teachers will better understand the challenges that come with learning English, be it grammatical or structural differences, whereas native speakers will have a much more comprehensive understanding of the subtleties in pronunciation as well as idioms and cultural references in conversations. There are many amazing native speakers who are teachers, just as there are many non-native speakers that are incredible English teachers. They just offer different things that are equally useful to English learners.

[@sofiapalacios5483]

Hi Laura, thanks for your video. Your suggestions are great and true but without a Bachelor's degree of any sort, it will be ALMOST impossible to get legally hired. I would like to share my experience with you all. I am not native-born but I do consider myself a native English speaker. I was raised in Long Island, New York from the age of 2 and studied there although I did not finish my Bachelor's degree due to personal circumstances. I then worked at Oxford Brookes University and lived in the UK for 10 years. I believe I have a dual accent. The biggest compliment I got was someone telling me how well I spoke Spanish!! They thought I was either British or American. I'm from Madrid. I have references from my previous employer, CELTA certified and have many years of experience teaching kids, teens, and adult learners. I use different learning methods depending on the level of language proficiency of each student. Personality and culture should also be taken into consideration. So, why am I saying all this? Well, I have found it very, very difficult to get a job without a Bachelor's degree. In fact, I know MANY native English speakers that ONLY have a Bachelor's degree with no experience at all whatsoever and have gotten hired on the spot whereas I have been struggling since I finished working with the only company that trusted and appreciated my teaching skills. It's frustrating to see how native English speakers have it so easy to get a teaching job with higher pay than a non-native and total lack of skills and care for their students. So Laura, now I am wondering, where do I go from here?? What country/company will hire me? I even tried online (which I have done before for a private company) but they now ask for the degree, native English speaker plus all the requirements you mention in your video. I know a lot of people with a British or American passport and don't speak or write proper English. I have a Spanish passport and speak and write correctly due to the fact that I was raised in an English speaking country and am still not considered a NATIVE SPEAKER!! So, to all of you that are looking to make a career as an ESL teacher, get a degree first!

[@leojosephkrishna3374]

Ma'am i am Indian well done You are choosing a very simple and right word in speaking That's why I want to learn from you

[@reginapolo3357]

Hi Laura, you have a lovely accent and I will also note that having been there, you are a better deal for your Spanish speaking students because you can help them out with all the idiosyncrasies that you have already been thru in order to learn English. I am retired from the US Navy and plan to move to Spain, I would like to teach once I get there and I am looking at Oxford. I would like to take an extended course because I think the 4 week is to rigorous. Do you know of another Oxford TEFL course that is longer than 4 weeks?. Thanks

[@Oxfordtefl]

Hi Regina, we do have part time courses in our Malaga center which takes place over a more relaxed 8 weeks which could be perfect for you! Malaga is lovely place too.

[@letslearn4039]

I am happy for you that you made your place there. Best wishes.

[@TheHunterTravellerChannel]

I'm in Taiwan (Taipei) right now and have met a few Spanish ESL Teachers here working full time/one year contract jobs. Lots of ESL opportunities here!

[@TheEmilySun]

Legally???

[@yessinebeggar3197]

Hi, I hope you can read my my msg dear teacher. Im an English certified teacher with a BA degree in English literature , and a 120h online TEFL certificate with 2 years of experience , mainly , in the field of teaching. I look forward to working with you guys in the future. Don't hesitate to text me, and feel very free to ask me for any further information.

[@letslearn4039]

I am an English subject specialist selected through competitive exam which is an honour in my country Pakistan. I have been working as a higher secondary English teacher and a Master trainer to train government teachers in English teaching skills and language. I was selected by British Council through a test as a Master Trainer .I worked with BC for more than a year . But now a days I have been applying to teach abroad and I am given a straight no, no . They say we hire only Native speakers. Why? The native speakers only do 120 hrs Tefl and get good salaries and we give our whole life to English and we are straight away rejected.This is so unfair and disappointing.Cant we teach English to kids? Is it possible? They say we hire people who have an English speaking country passport. Well we the non native speakers can not now go to English Speaking country , apply for citizenship and wait for 4 or 5 years and thn apply to teach in China or UAE or Korea and thn go there and earn money. WE HAVE ALREADY WASTED A LOT OF OUR TIME AND LIFE AND ENERGY ON STUDYING A SUBJECT WHICH WE SHOULDN'T HAVE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I AM MAKING THIS CONFESSION THAT I MADE A WRONG CHOICE BY SELECTING ENGLISH SUBJECT. I WAS WRONG.

[@goodwillriggins]

I feel you

[@rkskampoengku935]

thank you so much madam for your kind explanations makes my motivation more stronger

[@dintoseby6732]

really an honest review thank you

[@Comander408IB]

How and where to improve english grammar, writing and sentence building to pass TELF (not a native englsh speaker ) ?

[@obouremma]

I'm a non native English speaker, I'm from Ghana, West Africa and in my country English is our number one language. I want to take the TEFL course, can you please advice me on that and will finding a teaching job easily?

[@oginniblessingayodeji1704]

Hi Emmanuel, please contact on my mail [e-mail] so we can talk more this TEFL certification and from Nigeria.

[@kronniichiwa9909]

Great tips, thank you

[@kundaigogoma9420]

😭😭I have applied over twenty jobs and either get no response, or you're not what we're looking for, etc I'm fed up

[@anitalal5678]

I have. A question if you could please answer. I am a post graduate in English literature and I am fluent in English language, which includes speaking and writing and have no grammatical mistakes. I don't have a teaching degree . If I do TEFL, would I be able to get a job abroad ? I'm am currently based in India

[@stephf4167]

What is advice number 4 ?

[@dmanakell]

Hola Laura. que bueno que hayas subido este video. Yo soy Colombiano con un nivel de ingles bastante bueno, especialmente en speaking y pronunciación. Quiero mirar un cambio de profesión y como el inglés se me ha facilitado un poco, esta puede ser mi oportunidad. Desafortunadamente no tengo ningun certificado de enseñanza o de dominio del ingles. Si he tomado algunos cursos cortos, pero en su gran mayoría lo aprendí por mi cuenta. ¿Qué certificación recomiendas? tesol? celta? u otras? ¿debería ser presencial? o virtual? ¿Hay que tener algun IELTS o TOEFL para poder tomar el certificado de enseñanza de inglés? Yo la verdad nunca he tomado ninguno de estos dos exámenes. ¿Cómo hago para saber si mi inglés es lo suficientemente bueno para poder hacer un TELF? Bueno mi pronunciacion suena bastante americana, pero definitivamente tengo mas debilidades en otros aspectos como escritura. Tengo una experiencia de profesor de inglés en Asia pero solamente ayudando con speaking. Me gustaría saber tu opinion. Por cierto, ¿sabes algo de ofertas para non-native que no sean blancos? por ejemplo en Asia es muy dificil conseguir trabajo si un no tiene el look europeo, preferiblemente rubio. basicamente ellos buscan a alguien caucasico

[@willyrodrigues6824]

Danny Raul Molina hey mate !! Try to do the Celta course . It had helped me a lot !

[@ricwhk]

I'm a Malaysian Chinese and that makes me a non-native and non-caucasian teacher. Can I still be an English teacher in China or other countries? I'm non-native AND non-caucasian....:)

[@TheEmilySun]

Try PGL recruitment in the UK ;)

[@Guzelkz]

I had spent 5 years in Beijing and didnt manage to find a teaching job there, because all local schools want Caucasian teachers. Working experience isnt required there, all you need is to have a blond hair and blue eyes. Unfortunately its very hard to find a teaching job there unless you're Caucasian. Even a TESOL certificate wont help you that much...

[@andrew4558]

Guzel Rakhmet Native English speakers are preferable because their blond hair and blue eyes are the most effective and efficient advertising. Teaching English in China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea is a huge and competitive business. If you speak English with a light accent, there's another way around. You have to sacrifice your time to overcome stereotype. Tell your employer your work for free in 1-2 weeks and have feedback from students if they're satisfactory with you or not? Second, try English centers that are located far away from metropolitan cities you will have more chance to be employed. Most of native English speakers like to stay in town.

[@Enrique67]

Thanks for posting!! Any tips on which webpages are the best ones to look for English teaching jobs, especially as a non native speaker and how hard would you say it would be to get a job in Spain, where I assume you're from, for a foreign non native English teacher?.

[@Oxfordtefl]

We have a good amount of jobs coming through our jobs facebook page: facebook.com/OxfordTEFLJobs/ Other than that, are you looking for Spain specifically?

[@angelguevara9241]

Not really. I am basically open to anything.

[@yessinebeggar3197]

Hi, Im an English certified teacher with a BA degree in English literature , and a 120h online TEFL certificate with 2 years of experience , mainly , in the field of teaching. I look forward to working with you guys in the future. Don't hesitate to text me, and feel very free to ask me for any further information.

[@plexim1591]

You should also mention that most job offers require you to hold a passport from a native English speaking country preferably from the commonwealth.

[@Oxfordtefl]

+PLeXiM Thanks so much for the comment, always good to see discussions forming over our content. Whilst sometimes this is true, in our experience it is often not the case.

[@arjunghosh85]

Does it help if I clear the CPE exam?

[@giuls94]

It sure does. If I recall correctly, that is required to get CELTA if not a native speaker. Not sure about other TEFL certificates.

[@moxigeren50gabe23]

Laura i want badly teach English in China or Japan. I am native English speaker however i am mexican citizen im getting my Tefl course pretty soon. can you help me out

[@mahokamo]

I totally agree with you.

[@misterromerosenglishclassa693]

Your English is perfect you accent is pretty british I speak Mexican Spanish as my first tongue and American English as my second

[@ponyhunter6798]

I'm finding hard to fix my pronounciation as a non native speaker.

[@Christelledacna922]

Ponyhunter you need to practice a lot . I suggest u learn how to read phonemic scripts and then practice your pronunciation.

[@knowthetruthitwillsetyoufree]

Could a no native English speaker holding a TEFL qualification teach native English speakers?

[@flowerblossom1985]

In which country do you teach?

[@Ehejeoeheje]

But your proniuncation is differ from native.

[@strongindependentblackwoma1887]

Omg ese acento español más el acento británico que tiene *-*

[@brunocoriolano]

It’s difficult to define who is and who is not a native speaker of a language like English. For each member of the inner circle there are three from the expanding and outer circle. Therefore, it is not valid to label teacher as native or non-native speakers, I reckon.

[@Oxfordtefl]

We would definitely agree, it is much more complicated than native or non-native!

[@juancavazos7porhija.441]

Voto por Ti Preciosa!!😊

[@MinaTraductor4481]

I’m classified as a “non native speaker” even though I grew up in u.s. but my nationality is Chilean........and I have to say that if a good teacher like you with such a bad accent can land a job, it gives me a lot of hope and most surely the boost I needed to move to Vietnam to teach. Thanks a lot for the info and I would advice you to significantly improve you pronunciation. Best regards 👍🏼

[@abethomas8625]

Romina Mulberry Inostroza at least you a hope

[@abethomas8625]

Romina Mulberry Inostroza I would advice you learn more about bad accent

[@halessaregis]

Romina, I would advise you to check your spelling and pay more attention to the message/content instead of accents, think about it, nobody needs to deny backgrounds as long as having a well presented grammar and knowing how to convey the messages. C'mon!

[@reginapolo3357]

Her accent was just fine and her English flawless and if your accent is so good why not go to Europe instead of a dime a dozen place like Vietnam, where I understand you just have to be a breathing English speaker to get a job.

[@abethomas8625]

Romina Mulberry Inostroza move to spain