Students' Perceptions Toward Native and Non Native English Teachers in English Department of Satya Wacana Christian University

Abstract

While the majority of English teachers in ELT are non native English teachers, there is a controversial issue that the best teacher of English is a native speaker with the belief in the superiority in language proficiency and competency. More specifically, a total number of non native English teachers are greater than native English teachers in EFL context. This study examined students' perceptions towards native and non native English teachers in English Department of Satya Wacana University. The findings revealed favorable perception towards both native and non native English teachers. Overall the students did not show significant preferences that favored native English teachers over non native English teachers regarding the five aspects of language teaching: (1) competence in the target language, (2) competence in teaching language skill, (3) cultural aspects, (4) personal aspects, and (5) classroom atmosphere. Despite of that, they realized that both native and non native English teachers had their own strengths even in equal proportion.