Do the words “if you are a native English speaker (passport holder from UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa) please contact us” sound familiar?
If you were in my shoes, as a teacher, a human being, and a user of languages, what would you perceive?
These discriminatory ads are causing teachers of English all over the world to come to terms with the reality of what the English Language Teaching profession looks like from the inside, and feel as though they are at fault.
As a non-native teacher there is nothing you can do to fulfil this requirement. You were born in the “wrong place” and put on the sidelines. No formation course you can complete, or any amount of years you can study or live in one of the English speaking contexts indicated, can quite help you with this application process.
In fact, if you’re anything like me, what you do feel by looking at these ads is a mixture of bewilderment, frustration, apprehension and powerlessness.
The worst part of it is that there are hundreds of thousands of people who claim they can justify why this kind of ad is actually acceptable and called for.
Isn’t it terrifying to have to go through all those years of studying, get countless certificates and diplomas and harrowing hours at your desk at night, in bed, on the bus, while queuing for the doctor’s appointment, not to mention private tutoring and extra hours of work, to later get in a long line with your own students to sit proficiency tests hoping for a C2 level in ALL skills??!! Speaking more than one language, being proficient in more than one language is not a deficiency, and it has taken me years to realise this.
In fact, there was a time all this had a very detrimental effect on me, this “having to prove my worth” over and over again, and yet still never living up to the insane requirements for being hired!
GOOD NEWS! It doesn’t have to be this way!
If you want to feel like you belong and gain confidence and clarity in your life, this membership is your how.
- It will give you the connection and the control of your identity as an English language teacher.
- It will help you speak from a position of power with recruiters, language schools and your neighbours and peers who are still perpetuation the myth of native-speakerism.
- It will connect you with like-minded professionals who are proud of who they are and where they stand while feeling inspired and positive about the work that they do, whether they be native or non-native. In fact, many native speakers understand and fight discriminatory practices non-native teachers face and stand behind them.
I hope you will make time to reflect and appreciate the richness of experiencing life through a variety of languages and consider the ways we can help safeguard them together.
The Non Native Speaker – Meri
Don’t wait for things to change.
Be part of the change!
Become a member to Support Non Native English Speaking Teachers
OFFER VALID FOR a limited time
Library of recordings from the series “Native Speakerism, Undone”
Monthy Live Events – Only Members’ Area
Community of like-minded professionals for support & accountability
What the library contains NOW
9 LIVE EVENTS WITH EXPERTS IN THE ELT INDUSTRY
- Teacher Discrimination in the ELT classroom – with Rocio Rojas – ourlanguagecircle
- Degree in Language Studies vs. Teacher Training Courses, with Joanna Twardowska – biznesangielski
- Non-Native student-teachers’ own perceptions & preconceptions of RP and other accents of English, with Graciela Martinez – teacher.in.action
- Dispelling myths of Native Speakerism amongst professionals, with Claire Cumming Herrero – theedinburghexperience
- How are our students affected by Native Speakerism, with Kayla Mckesey – Diaspora English
- Mindset & Challenges for showing up online as a non-native teacher, with Hadar Shemesh – hadarshemesh.com
- The Privilege of Sounding Native?, with Jen Diaz Green – ISI Dublin
- ELT Teachers ROAST racist Ads, with Eliza Keyton – EliKutty
- Tackling Native Speakerism from a Legal Perspective, with Vincent Richard – SONDANNEST
- MORE COMING SOON and yours to keep!
MEMBERS’ Events
Members’ event May
When you’re in, help spread the word about this membership program!
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I just joined ‘The Non Native Speaker’ as a Member to combat discriminatory practices against NNESTs. She’s never done anything like this before and it’s all about giving voice and uplifting ELT professionals to pursue their careers in teaching while being unapologetic about their plurilingual, multicultural and non-native English speaker selves. I just signed up at thenonnativespeaker.com, go save your spot quick!
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ABOUT
Hi there!
You might know me from the Instagram page called the_non_native_speaker, where I share my thoughts on the topic of Native Speakerism.
My name is Meri, and I hold a Master’s degree in Language and Cultural Studies from the University of Modena and Reggio, Italy. I also hold a Cambridge CELTA and a Global DELTA Cambridge Diploma from CLIC International House in Seville, Spain.
I am deeply passionate about advocating for equal opportunities in English Language Teaching (ELT), specifically for non-native English speaking teachers.
I used to work as a language teacher and consultant for various renowned companies such as Parmalat, Adecco, 3M, FERCAM, N1 Logistics, and Barilla through private English schools in Emilia Romagna, while currently I work full-time at an International School as an L2 English teacher.
Originally from Yerevan, Armenia, I have lived in several places such as Moscow, Buenos Aires, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, San Diego, Lecce (South Italy), and Parma (Northern Italy).
I enjoy attending and speaking at ELT conferences and workshops, reading books, and performing live. I have presented at ELT Ireland, EAQUALS and IATEFL in 2022 on the topic of Native Speakerism.
My mission is to dismantle prejudice and bias in education, specifically when it comes to NNESTs being denied work opportunities across the globe. Let’s join forces!
The Non Native Speaker 