Description

The artifact Ethical Issue: Non-native Speaking Bias in TESOL was initially drafted while enrolled in Dr. Bleistein’s TESOL 580 Portfolio course in the fall of 2020. This outcome highlights the conscious biases the NNEST (Non-Native English Speakers in TESOL) experience in their attempts to secure a teaching job. 

Reflection 

This practice is unethical because it denies the non-native speaker a job opportunity even though they are equally qualified as a  NEST (Native English Speakers in TESOL) candidate. When an administrator denies an NNEST a teaching opportunity, they deny the L2 student a chance to learn from someone who can provide a unique perspective regarding the English language and share the commonality of the L2 student’s mother tongue. Imposing your personal beliefs on what you feel would benefit the L2 student is discriminatory. The administration aims for the L2 student to achieve a native speaker norm. That is the main objective, and they feel a NEST teacher is better equipped than an NNEST because they have better linguistic abilities. It’s shameful to make an NNEST teacher or student feel embarrassed about their language habits. I do not ascribe to discriminatory practices based on someone’s dialect. 

Application

Truthfully, I do not possess the ability to shake the walls of Gibraltar. However, I am a future NEST, and what I can control is what happens within the four walls of my classroom. I intend to incorporate language learning resources that reflect my students' mother tongue. One thing I will not do is push the native-speaking norm. I will ensure that my students are in a safe space where they can express their understanding with the most confidence. Although my schooling at Azusa has been completed, I will continue to seek literature regarding this ethical issue to better assist me in planning English lessons that reflect my student’s needs. In the future, if I am fortunate to work with an NNEST peer, I will ask if we can collaborate for the betterment of our students. I will never impose what I feel their L2 goals should be. Importantly, I will never make my future students ashamed of their language mannerisms.