A Native Speaker VS A Non Native Speaker

I live in a country where English is not the first language. But whatever country you are in and whatever language is your native language your learning will be affected by whether or not your English teacher is a native speaker or not. With the various aspects of learning English, Listening , reading , writing and of course speaking there is a lot to take in and for the non-native speaking teacher – a lot to translate. Understanding and mastery of these not only takes time and practice, but also motivation and dedication, lots and lots of dedication and having a non native English speaking teacher your learning can sometimes be hindered. When we speak, read and write or listen in English, we have to process a whole host of information that for a native English teacher comes perfectly naturally but for a non native speaker teacher, it doesn’t. By conversing with native speakers, a student of English will be able to pick up on the meaning of phrases and the teacher will be able to make sure the student is applying the proper meaning of the words and phrases they use. The English teacher can explain why a phrase is spoken in a certain way.

Would have any impact on the students learning? Of course a certain extent would depend on that teachers ability to teach and the level of confidence that teacher has in her or his English level. Many non native teachers have spent many years studying English and can sometimes be experts in the rules of grammar, giving them an upper hand when it comes to job applications, I know many English teachers that have an innate fear of grammar. As previously mentioned, it takes determination and dedication to master the English language and non native teachers that have mastered the language do have a natural passion and curiosity for the language. The native speaker on the other hand, simply speaks the language albeit usually speaking it better than a non native speaker.

So who does make the better English teacher, the native speaker who has been speaking the language as a natural (usually first) language, that knows English slang and is comfortable using it. The speaker that knows how to interact with other English speakers and knows appropriate English or the non native speaker teacher. The teacher that has a genuine passion for learning and teaching the language, that has spent many years in school studying English and has often spent a lot of money on studying English. What do you think? If you were studying English would you prefer a native speaker or non native speaker?

Method Of TEFL

My Experience When I Studying English For The First Time

In this thread I am going to talk about my experience in learning English. Hope it will be useful and helpful to you.

My realtionship with English started when i was studying in Junior High School. Little by Little, I found myself learning two more English words; Yes and NO. After that, it seemed that I became satisfied with the English I had. [Smile]

The method of my english teacher in junior high school and senior high school is so boring..i feels scare when learning english.

I hated Reading because I was reading yet understanding nothing!!

I hated Writing because I did not know how to write. Plus, spelling was my worst enemy.

I hated Speaking because people would immediately burst into laugh as I started speaking.

I hated Listening because nothing was making sense to me whenever I tried to listen to English.

Most of all, I hated Grammar because it was more difficult than the Difficulty itself!!

At the first day of my university education some of my friend said that learning English is difficult but not for me, I love it, although my English is not perfect, I mean so many mistake I’ve made, my sentences ungrammatical, sometime I choose wrong word in my sentence and so on, but I’ll always try to do the best and English is my asset in my future life and wish one day later I master in English and can speak fluently and exactly I want to share with my student. Actually learning a new language is easy and simple, practice, practice and practice and concentration and more practice and more concentration.

Before I study in English Department Teacher Training and Education Faculty

Slamet Riyadi University, I join to the A class, I want to improve my skill in speaking and I wish I speak better, especially my pronunciation can better than before and improve my listening too. But sometime I feel shy to speak , am not confidence. I know that it is the head off to be success.

Nourma Agustin (08520098)

Slamet Riyadi University