Research Process
The first phase of the study examined the factors that account for the
teachers' native or non-native self-ascription, based on data collected from
102 teachers via self-report questionnaires. Results showed that the teachers'
self-perceived native speaker identity can be explained by a cluster of nine
Findings
Yet, no differences were found in perception categories related to teaching
and assessment practices, to defining students' knowledge in English, the
status of the English language and goals for teaching it. Perception
teaching domain, and demonstrate the heterogeneity within both the native
and non-native teacher groups.
Implications relate to the need for caution in employing teacher categorization
according to background variables. Hence it is recommended that hiring
practices should be conducted on the basis of professional expertise and
personal attributes rather than on native speaking background. It is also
recommended that language teachers' education programs should include all
subject matter knowledge components of the domain as well as a critical
debate on the native speaker issue in language teaching.