Native Speakerism in the ELT Market
Tom Steele
Native speakerism has been present in the ELT market for decades, yet it often goes unnoticed.
Native speakerism has been present in the ELT market for decades, yet it often goes unnoticed. It’s no wonder that employers, students, and parents are unaware of this language ideology, as they adopt the most widely used criteria to choose their teachers without much thought. However, teachers are also among the unaware, so they end up both as victims and perpetuators of native speakerism. These circumstances leave teachers overwhelmed and drained as they get looped in the vicious circle of this harmful ideology.
This language ideology perpetuates the idea that only native speakers are the best teachers, as they best represent the (English) language, the teaching methodology, and the culture in which this language is spoken as a native language. Native speakerism is deeply rooted in the history of colonialism and white saviorism, and even today, it informs many areas of life. The language industry is one of the most affected sectors, and language teaching is no exception. With such a view on language and speakerhood, it’s no wonder that non-native teachers get pushed aside as less competent to teach English.
Non-native speakers have been struggling in the ELT market as less desirable teachers despite their qualifications and expertise. The fact that they were not born and raised in a culture where English is the dominant language disqualifies them from consideration for a teaching position. If lucky and given the chance to teach, they are often paid less or more scrutinized and observed. Besides, they seldom have opportunities to advance in their careers or are rarely trusted with more diverse roles in the teaching industry. Their teaching is usually limited to lower-level students, while their native peers teach more advanced students.
Despite being treated differently, some non-native teachers are complacent, believing they deserve the treatment they receive in the market due to their (non-native) speakerhood. They (un)willingly accept their status and position in the market, so they rarely question the hiring practices and pay gaps. On the other hand, some teachers feel that how the ELT market works is not right, but they have little to no insight into what can be done to improve their position.
Research has shown that a significant number of teachers are unaware of the existence of native speakerism, and the majority believe that fighting native speakerism is futile. In addition, many teachers have internalized this ideology, and this internalization has taken a tremendous toll on teachers who reported low professional confidence and low self-esteem as a result of being discriminated against.
To prevent further damage and improve the situation in the ELT market, there is a strong need for public discourse to dismantle native speakerism and raise awareness among teachers and other stakeholders in ELT.