Skip to main content
News

Applied Linguistics@MQ: Native and non-native English teachers in Taiwan

By August 5, 2013August 27th, 2013One Comment2 min read12,273 views
Native and non-native English teachers in Taiwan (Source: williamschool.com.tw)

Native and non-native English teachers in Taiwan (Source: williamschool.com.tw)

The Applied Linguistics seminars at Macquarie University are back. The next one will be held on Tuesday, August 13:

Native and non-native English teachers in Taiwan

When: Tue 13/08, 1:00-2:00pm; WhereW5C 221
Presenter: Jackie Chang, National Pingtung University of Education and Macquarie University

Abstract: This study explores Taiwanese university students’ perceptions of NESTs (Native English-speaking Teachers) and NNESTs (Non-native English-speaking Teachers). The dichotomy of NESTs and NNESTs has been well documented in English language teaching and learning around the world. However, there exists little published work regarding Taiwanese university students’ perceptions of NESTs and NNESTs in the context of English as the international language. The subjects were 609 first year students at a national university in the southern part of Taiwan.

The purpose of this study is twofold: one is to explore students’ perceptions of NESTs and NNESTs regarding the ideal English teacher in the context of English as the international language; the other purpose is related to the need for Taiwanese university students to re-examine and re-evaluate their perceptions and beliefs concerning the native speaker model. Major findings demonstrate the majority accepts the concept of English as the international language for intercultural communication. Both NESTs and NNESTs can be ideal English teachers, but based upon different types of strengths. Moreover, issues raised in this study such as Standard English, native accent and status of English teachers are much more complex than a simplistic dichotomy between being an NEST or NNEST.

About the presenter

Jackie Chang (PhD, 2004, University of Sydney) is an assistant professor in the English Department at National Pingtung University of Education in Pingtung, Taiwan. Before becoming an academic, Jackie gained extensive experience in the English language teaching industry in Taiwan. Currently, she is a visiting scholar in the Linguistics Department of Macquarie University. Jackie is a regular contributor on Language on the Move.

Lg_on_the_move

Author Lg_on_the_move

More posts by Lg_on_the_move

Join the discussion One Comment

  • khan says:

    A very important and significant area of investigation. While the empirical studies in this area rightly reject such notions as unscientific, they affect the lives of many in the world. The distinction might be unscientific, interestingly, the seemingly neutral market conditions enforce/sustain such distinctions!

    Thanks and good luck Dr Jackie for the talk and discussion. I look forward to catching up with the topic.

    Khan

Leave a Reply