Question: 

Is it important to have a teacher who is a native speaker to teach my child English? Most enrichment centres I visited do not offer English native speakers as teachers. I wonder if it matters. 

Answer: 

It is more important that your child has a teacher who speaks standard English than being a native speaker

It is not necessary for a child to have an English teacher who is a native speaker of the language. It is more important that your child has a teacher who speaks standard English, with clear articulation of speech sounds. A teacher who is an expressive and enthusiastic speaker of the language will also be a good language model for your child. The teacher should have a wide vocabulary, in order to be able to introduce the child to the richness of the English language. A confident, well read English teacher, who is genuinely eager to communicate, will be able to inspire and motivate children to learn to speak the language effectively.

The Expert:

Mala Sundram

Head of Programme Quality

Julia Gabriel Centre