[etni] the voice of the non-native teachers

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Dear Etniers,
After having followed the lively debate concerning the non NS teachers I have 
come to the conclusion that I should contribute my humble share to this debate. 
I think the opinion of the non- NS teachers hasn't been voiced , and I proudly 
admit that I belong to them. Both those who spoke against them and those who 
spoke on their behalf seemed to belong to the selected group of the NS. It 
needs a lot of courage to expose oneself to those selected teachers who are 
waiting out there with a magnifying glass wanting for one to make a mistake 
that would prove their point (that this person is totally disqualified to teach 
English). But I will do it all the same.

  1.. The first thing I do when I walk into class is tell my students my life 
story. How I became a successful English teacher who has been teaching English 
for 35 years without having a language background at home and without ever 
visiting any English speaking country. (By the time I paid a short visit to 
England for the first time I had already been proficient in the language). I 
tell my students how I worked my way up in the knowledge of the language 
reading loads of books and being taught by teachers whose native language was 
German. I do that not in order to impress them but in order to convince them 
that everybody could do what I did. A NS teacher who thinks that only if you 
are born in an English speaking environment you could really grasp the language 
will only discourage the students. What chance do they have of ever being 
reborn?
  2.. Another thing I tell my students is that I am not an angel and I might 
make mistakes and I would highly appreciate anyone who would care to correct 
me. Thus I want them to realize that learning is something a good teacher never 
stops doing. (Remember the old Etni motto: "He who dares to teach should never 
cease to learn"?)  What could be better than learning form one's students?
  3.. Having acquired the language myself; as a NS of Hebrew, I think I am far 
more aware of the difficulties confronting the English learners in Israel. I 
don't want to brag, but my way of explaining to them the intricacies and 
mysteries of the verb TO BE for instance, has proved itself for years.
  4.. Last but not least, it has been mentioned that the non NS teachers who 
make mistake are liable to lose their students' respect. Dear NS colleagues 
have you ever given a thought to the amount of respect you lose when you make 
mistakes in Hebrew? Believe me our students will detect your mistakes in Hebrew 
far more quickly than they detect mine in English and being the naughty kids 
that they are will sneer behind your backs just as viciously.
To conclude I think the best English teachers are those who are bilingual NS of 
both English and Hebrew. Otherwise the best teachers are just those who are 
"Good Teachers" no matter their native language. 

All the best and have a wonderfull summer vacation

Aliza Levanon.

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