On native speaker teachers

In reply to Joyce Antila Phipps: Where is the hard evidence and research to suggest that ""the only way to learn a language is from a native speaker""?

In Australia I work alongside many non-native ESL teachers and they do a fantastic job, as in addition to having an excellent command of English they are highly qualified and experienced, which is the key here: Their non-native speaker status is quite irrelevant.

Many so-called native speakers come to Indonesia to teach English but are largely unqualified or underqualified. The main prerequisite seems to be that English is their first language. Being white is also very helpful. During my seven years in Indonesia I worked with some of these people and their difficulty with English syntax and spelling was something to behold! Their Indonesian teaching colleagues, often highly trained and experienced, were paid about half or less of the ""native speaker"" salary.

Unfortunately many Indonesians who want to learn English are convinced that studying with a native speaker, regardless of their qualifications, is the only road to mastering English. The language centers then have to accommodate this demand in order to stay in business.

You also make the rather bizarre connection between Christian worship and native speaker English teachers -- why do you assume they are likely to be practicing Christians? Many that I met had converted to Islam, Buddhism or simply had little or no interest in religion. Anyway, in short, one of the best ways to learn a language is with a qualified, experienced and motivated teacher, who has a high level of proficiency in the language they teach.

KATE MATHEWS Melbourne, Australia