There are a number of teaching opportunities through online advertisements, encouraging native English speakers to apply as English teacher at almost all levels of education. Is it necessary for a native English teacher to have some basic understanding in Chinese language to impart and explain some certain words, phrases and linguistic sentence patterns keeping in view both, text as well context? If so, the what practices are existing in academia of applied linguistics?
Hello,
A very interesting question. Indeed, one of the basic requirements in recruiting English teachers is nativeness. However, as you have rightly observed, in the contexts where students' language and culture are totally different from those of the teacher, some familiarity with learners' language and culture is crucial. I believe that using native English teachers can be fruitful only at advanced levels when the learners enjoy a sufficient L2 interlanguage development which can help them interact with a native speaker easily.
Best regards,
R. Biria
Your question relates to whether an EFL classroom should be 100% English, or whether the instruction should switch back and forth with the student's native language.
I think that switching back and forth is more appropriate for less-capable students. More capable students learn better by not falling back on the "crutch" of their native language.
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