Native Speaker?

After reading this weeks reading, When the teacher is a non-Native speaker, i have always thought of the definiton of a native speaker to be someone born in that country. However now the examples of children moving to another country when they are young is another issue that needs to be addressed. If the kids move to a country when they are young and gain native fluency, what is their mother tongue. As of now i do not think we need to distinguish whether someone is a native speaker or not. I think it is a fading concept especially given the number of speakers of English that do not live in America, Australia or Great Britain. English is the language of the world of "lingua franca" (429) as Peter Medgyes states. Given that i do not believe that the term native speaker applies to today non-NESTs should not be at a disadvantage when applying for a job.

Non-NESTs should be awarded a job on their merits on not over looked by employers when a native speakers applies and has no experience. I found Table 1 in the book rather disturbing. I found the entire list of percieved differences in teaching behavior rather dramatic. I think there are advantages for NESTs and non-NESTs. These results from this survey seemed really dramatic. Specifically the one that claimed that NESTs are more innovative than non-NESTs. I think that totally depends on the teacher. The teacher and the students make the class not the teachers.