This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 94.
Do I need a native English teacher?
Welcome to the All Ears English podcast where you'll finally get real native English conversation and fluency for business and life.
We believe in connection, not perfection when it comes to learning English.
Now here are your hosts Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl, coming to you from Boston and New York City, USA.
Hey.
When it comes to learning English, do you need to hire a native English teacher?
Find out our opinion on this topic today.
Do you ever feel like your English is good but not quite where you want it to be?
Maybe you can have conversations, but you still hesitate when expressing complex ideas.
Maybe you know what you want to say. but you can't always say it naturally.
If that sounds familiar, our B2 English fluency course was designed for you.
You'll learn how to speak more naturally, express yourself with confidence and finally stop feeling stuck at the intermediate level.
This week, you can save $50 on our basic plan or save $100 on our personal coach plan.
Go to allearsenglish.com slash B2.
That's allearsenglish.com slash letter B number two.
How's it going, Michelle?
Good, Lindsay.
Good, good, good.
How are you?
Good.
Our listeners have been hearing the last couple of episodes.
We've had Aubrey from our team on the podcast.
We've had Jessica a few times.
And now we have you back on here, Michelle.
It's great to have you on the show again.
I'm back.
I'm happy to be here as always.
Absolutely.
So today we're asking a really, really important question.
Michelle, would you like to know the question?
I have to know the question.
You have to know it.
How are you going to answer it if you don't know the question?
Exactly.
Okay.
The question is, you know, do we have to hire a native teacher, a native English teacher, when we learn English?
I mean, you know, what is your first response when you hear this, Michelle?
My first response is to get a little bit...
I don't want to say the word upset.
But my first response is like, no, like, I don't think that this should really have an impact.
I think it has to deal with the skill, what you're aiming for.
And if somebody is a good teacher and they are not a native English speaker and you don't hire them because they're not a native English speaker, I think that you could really be missing out.
Definitely.
Definitely.
100%.
I think the way we're going to break down today's advice is based on you know we're going to give you reasons to hire a native teacher and reasons to hire a non-native teacher.
It depends on a bunch of things.
And then we're going to show you what every teacher, whether they're native or non-native, should have in terms of qualifications.
So this is going to be a great episode today, Michelle.
Okay, I'm excited to dive in.
All right.
So you know, in terms of reasons you should hire a native English teacher if you're looking to really really, really be challenged, that would be one thing that you know, one reason to maybe look at hiring a native teacher.
I
You know, there were Japanese teachers in the school, and then there were native teachers.
And the Japanese teachers worked with a lot of the more beginner students, the lower level students, because they actually taught in Japanese.
They translated between Japanese and English.
So if you're looking for kind of that level of translation, if you feel like you want to learn with translations,
You could go ahead and hire a teacher from your own country.
We in Japan, the native teachers were used for the super, super high level students.
So that's one area in terms of level.
But it doesn't mean that a non-native teacher couldn't challenge you.
Of course they could.
Right, Michelle?
Yeah, I think you know you brought up some good points of like that.
I'm thinking of the non-native English teachers that I know and they don't translate.
I mean they.
I think it's also.
No, I think this is also just about like how the teacher has learned to be a teacher.
I think.
I mean I know a lot of non-native English teachers who live in the US and they've learned how to be a teacher you know and like, and so they have the exact same teaching credentials that I do and they speak English in their day to day lives.
Now, if you're talking about abroad Lindsay, I think you definitely have more to say on that subject.
Yeah, that situation.
But I wouldn't put that as like native, non-native necessarily.
I would put that as like, how have they learned to teach?
Yeah, I love that.
That's how I think of it, because I don't know.
I just struggle with the idea of like oh, like it should be native, you know, because of these reasons.
But I also understand what you're saying Lindsay, if that's what you saw when in Japan.
Yeah, It depends on where you're learning and what you need.
So just understanding kind of in that way.
So what would be another thing, Michelle, in terms of one reason to hire a native teacher?
What do you think?
Well, I mean, there could be some cultural aspects that you know.
Perhaps a native teacher would, maybe would know a little bit more and could kind of speak to those things a little bit more.
But again, I think that sorry, I know I'm being difficult here.
I'm disagreeing a lot.
But again, I'm thinking of this as maybe a broad slash not a broad situation.
So if you're learning English in the US with teachers who live or lived in the US, or if you're living or maybe a teacher in Japan has spent a lot of time living in the US or knows a lot about American culture then I think that's okay.
I think it really speaks to just the knowledge of the teacher and where you are.
Yeah, okay.
I like that.
So I'm being difficult, I know.
Yeah.
That's okay.
It's good to look at.
This is a really complex issue.
And it's really good to look at different angles on it.
I think it does depend for sure on where you are living, where you're learning.
In terms of the culture piece, I think that if you're in the US working with a non-native teacher, they could show you a lot about kind of getting used to living in that culture right.
And that would be a benefit that possibly a native teacher from the US who's never lived abroad, they wouldn't be able to help you with that.
They would say, why is that confusing?
It is what it is, right?
So that would be a benefit.
Someone who's crossed the culture, tried to live in that culture, might be able to offer you that edge in that case.
Right.
That's true.
I think that's I completely agree with that.
Yeah, that's really interesting.
Let's skip down.
Let's see.
So there are other issues, you know, around, you know, native phrases, pronunciation.
But let's talk about reasons to hire a non-native English teacher.
Don't you hate it when you're trying to buy something online and when you finally make all of your selections and get ready to check out, your credit card is nowhere to be found.
When this happens, I love seeing the purple pay button at the top of the checkout, because I know I won't have to dig for my card.
This simple purple button is one of the best features in all of the online shopping world and can make a huge difference in sales for your online business.
Shopify is the e-commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world and 10 of all e-commerce in the US.
From household names like Skims and Thrive Cosmetics to brands just getting started.
Get the word out like you have a marketing team behind you.
Easily create email and social media campaigns wherever your customers are scrolling or strolling.
Best yet.
Shopify is your e-commerce expert, with world-class expertise in everything from managing inventory to international shipping, to processing returns and beyond.
See fewer carts go abandoned and more sales go... with Shopify and their Shop Pay button.
Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at Shopify.com slash A-E-E.
Go to Shopify.com slash A-E-E.
That's S-H-O-P-I-F-Y.com slash A-E-E.
Okay, okay.
Yeah well, one thing is you can get grammar – I mean, this is if the person speaks your first language, right?
So that's another piece of it, too.
Like, if they speak your first language, then they – well –
Even if it's not your first language.
I feel like non-native teachers might have a – just like they've learned the language too, so they might have a different perspective on how to learn the language.
And that –
And how the grammar works, and they've learned the grammar in a different way that somebody like me.
I might not be able to explain something in such a unique way.
That's like oh well, look at it this way, or you know, because that's what I know.
I can explain it, but I feel like they might have a different way of explaining it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It depends on the approach you want to grammar, I guess.
Right.
And it is a benefit that a non-native teacher has actually gone through the process of learning that grammar.
So they know exactly where you're likely to get confused.
I mean, if they're from your culture, for example, and they speak your native language.
Not only could they translate, if you want that, but they also will know exactly what's going to be hard, because they know your language right.
So that's kind of interesting.
And that could also be for pronunciation as well.
Yeah, so that's really interesting to think about.
And then we mentioned before I mean I think I already said this, but the benefit of the non-native teacher, especially if you're in not your home country.
They're kind of getting that explained by comparing it to your own home country.
If that teacher is from your country you're both living in the US, let's say you're both from Japan.
They're explaining what they've learned.
That's kind of cool.
Yeah, yeah, I love that.
I love that.
And then also maybe learning methods, right?
Maybe, I mean, one thing that's interesting is when I teach in a Yeah.
And it depends maybe on how you were brought up and how the school is in your country and things like that.
So I think that...
Yeah.
Maybe they're kind of using, you know, that might make you feel more comfortable.
Right.
Yeah.
This is where I could see the benefit of both sides, right?
If you're more comfortable.
Yeah.
But I could also see, you know, the other side.
So, for example, I know that in the school I worked at in Japan, the school was trying to get away from the traditional methods that are used in Japan.
Right,
That are just the rote memorization, the classroom, the textbooks and they were trying to insert like a new.
Let's stand up, let's do this role play, let's do this differently.
And so I could see both sides here why a native teacher would be good and why, if you're more comfortable with the culture of teaching where you're from, that could work too.
That's a good point.
Yeah.
But you know, we've just talked about reasons for a native teacher, reasons for a non-native teacher.
But I think there are I think in the end, it doesn't really matter.
But what does matter is the teacher themselves, in terms of kind of their qualifications and their experience.
What do you think about that?
Yeah, I agree.
I agree.
You want a teacher to be professional and educated.
An advanced degree would be great, like a certificate or an academic degree in TESOL.
I mean, you have a master's in TESOL, right?
You spent two years learning about methodology of teaching at the graduate degree level.
Right.
Yeah.
So I think that I think just a professional, you know, and a serious teacher.
So not someone who's maybe just doing it as a hobby or, you know, I mean, that can be okay, too.
I mean you have conversation groups and conversation clubs like or exchanges, where you can get a great teacher, like that.
But it depends why you're learning.
Right.
Yeah, it depends on if you have a deadline.
We talk about a lot on this show about IELTS.
Guys, we have another podcast called the IELTS Energy Podcast, and you don't wanna prepare with a hobbyist for IELTS.
That's absolutely for sure.
You can't afford that, to waste that time.
You need a true professional, preferably someone who was an examiner even, okay?
So depending on your goals, you do need a serious teacher, okay?
And what else?
I mean, I think it's really nice...
If the teacher has lived in an English speaking country.
Because immersion can't be replaced, it's not totally required, but it's an added bonus in your teacher.
I think it's helpful.
I mean, just for some of the things we talked about.
Yeah.
I think it just adds an extra special something that could be useful.
I mean, yeah.
Totally.
And I also think it's important that the person's learned another language, because it's kind of a visceral experience learning a language, isn't it Michelle?
Mm hmm.
Yeah.
I mean, they'll understand.
You know what you're going through, what kinds of things might be, might be difficult.
Yeah.
So I think that's good as well.
Yeah.
Okay, cool.
So, and then the last one, Michelle, is there anything else?
Any final thing we should keep in mind when we choose a teacher?
Someone who's taught before.
Someone who does it right.
Obviously, everyone has to start somewhere.
But, you know, maybe someone who has testimonials like examples of students who are pleased and happy from the past.
That's always a good thing to see.
Yeah, guys.
So really, it doesn't matter.
I mean, that's kind of our conclusion.
It doesn't matter if you hire a native teacher or a non-native teacher.
It's more about what we've shared at the end of this episode.
Are they serious?
Do they have a degree?
Do they have experience, right?
Do they have testimonials?
Do they have success stories, right?
That's what you want to look for when it comes to finding an English teacher.
Exactly.
I love it.
Oh my gosh.
What an interesting conversation.
Very important.
Yeah, it's a good conversation.
All right, Michelle, thanks for hanging out today.
I'll talk to you soon.
All right.
Bye.
Thanks for listening to All Ears English and if you believe in connection, not perfection, follow our show wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you don't miss anything.
See you next time.
