Native English-Speaking Teachers. 9 Common Myths

Today we will debunk popular myths about English-speaking teachers. We think you need to know the truth.

All who want to learn English have a question: to deal with a native speaker or with a teacher who speaks your native tongue. On the Internet, there are many stories-myths about who is better and who is worse. We chose the most popular and believable of these "fairy tales". Let us see if there is any truth in them.

• Myth #1. Foreigners Are Strange, Noisy and Inconsistent People

  A qualified English teacher always clearly develops a studying program and strictly follows it. Yes, native speakers are really very energetic, smiling and may seem a little strange to us. Of course, it is because we are used to the fact that some people in our countries are gloomy, constantly dissatisfied with something, they smile only on the day of salary. But for foreigners, a smile and a great mood are absolutely natural components of the image. They do not try to please or flatter us, this is the usual behavior of any Brit or American.

  Try not to pay attention to these "oddities" from our point of view. You will see, you will be given a positive attitude from the first lesson, and learning in a pleasant environment will be easy and effective. In addition, you can get an idea of the culture and manner of behavior of the inhabitants of the country in which your teacher lived or lives.

  Sometimes we are surprised by the unusual intonation of native speakers: it seems that they are nervous, they are too agitated, they speak too loudly. In fact, at the time of the conversation, foreigners are absolutely calm and sympathetic in most cases. This is a feature of English phonetics, you just need to get used to it. But you should not be surprised by "strange" behavior of foreigners, whom you can meet on a trip, in negotiations, in a conference.

• Myth #2. Native Speakers – the Best Teachers

  Among native speakers, there are many remarkable competent teachers. But our teachers are not lagging behind their foreign colleagues. Domestic teachers have trained abroad, communicated with English-speaking friends, read authentic literature, and were constantly improving. There are magnificent teachers both among us and foreigners. Forget about a clear division that our professors are bad and a foreigner is good.

• Myth #3. There Are No Teachers Among Native Speakers

  This is the other extreme. Several years ago, a real excitement sparked around native speakers in many countries. At the same time, everyone wanted to hire a foreign teacher literally for a penny. As a result, we received an influx of sales managers, musicians, business trainers, psychologists, designers, architects from America and other countries. All of them wanted to earn money on gullible students. Naturally, foreigners without pedagogical skills could not become good teachers. Disappointed in the false professors, students have trumpeted over the whole Internet that foreigners are bad teachers.

  If you find yourself a mentor on a forum or an ad site, there really is a risk of running into a non-professional. Not everyone can teach. To protect yourself from scammers, apply for courses or specialized online schools of English where professors are carefully selected. So you will be assured of the competence of a teacher and the effectiveness of classes. A qualified teacher should have a certificate that gives them the right to teach English as a foreign language. A teacher with a certificate knows exactly how to teach and what to teach.

• Myth #4. Native Speakers Do Not Know the Rules

  It is not true, they know the rules perfectly. However, they do not always present them in a strict "book" form. Usually, native speakers try to teach grammar through dialogue: it is better remembered, and the learning is much more interesting! If you like clear language, say it to your teacher, he or she will easily expound the necessary rule, give examples of its use in life.

• Myth #5. They Do Not Know Pitfalls, All Seems Obvious for Foreigners

  Indeed, for a typical American or British, all complexities and subtleties of vocabulary usage and grammar seem simple and understandable, which do not require additional explanations.

  However, we are not talking about ordinary people, but about teachers. They know exactly where to stop, how to explain this paradox of the English language or another. An experienced teacher is well aware of where the problem may arise and how to overcome it. He or she will be able to warn possible errors in advance, draw your attention to some difficult point, because almost all students admit similar mistakes. In addition, they have to face the same questions of their students, so they can give you detailed and understandable answers.

• Myth #6. It Is Easier to Communicate with "Your" Teacher

  Some people are afraid that they will not be able to understand a native language teacher. In vain, he or she is not going to tell you tongue twisters or lectures on nuclear physics, they perfectly understand that you are starting to learn something new. Listening to the way your mentor speaks, you will quickly get rid of an accent and sharpen your conversational English so that abroad you will feel in your element.

  However, for beginners, we still advise starting classes with "your" professor, because he or she can, if necessary, explain difficult things to you using your language. You will be comfortable, you will not have to pick up words for a long time. If you want to learn with the native one from the beginning, try a free introductory lesson, this service is provided in all courses and online schools. In the lesson, you will determine how effective and convenient studying with a foreigner will be.

• Myth #7. They Will Not Be Able to Teach a Child

  A qualified teacher knows how to teach children English. The problem can be in a child: unlike an adult, he or she may lack motivation, it is difficult for him or her to sit still and concentrate on the lesson. In addition, a student with small vocabulary can be uncomfortable to communicate with an English-speaking teacher.

  But there are quiet children who are interested in learning something new, and even with a foreigner so unlike the surrounding people. Try to subscribe the child for a test lesson, see how interesting it is for him or her to study, whether this type of learning is suitable. It is possible that your child will become a young polyglot.

• Myth #8. The Americans Have a Specific Grammar, and the British Have a Ceremonious Vocabulary

  Indeed, there is some difference, but do not forget that you have a qualified teacher. He or she will not simplify the grammar or teach you refined but useless words. You will learn the classic English version, common vocabulary and all rules of grammar. But a teacher-foreigner will tell you about his or her country and peculiarities of life and culture. It is very interesting!

• Myth #9. Such Lessons Are Very Expensive

  Indeed, lessons with a foreigner are more expensive than classes with a domestic teacher. But you can save a lot of money: sign up for Speaking Club. In fact, in every city, there is an English club, where you can communicate with native speakers. There is no specific learning program, but you can improve your conversational skills. Another convenient way is to learn English via Skype. It costs less than personal tutoring. You do not need to waste time in traffic. In addition, it is more comfortable and convenient to study at home. Therefore, the myth of expensive lessons also has no right to exist.

  As you can see, myths, believable at first sight, turned out to be false beliefs. Native speakers are excellent teachers. If you are not sure whether you can study with an English-speaking tutor, sign up for an introductory lesson to remove all doubts.