Filipino non-native English-speaking teachers and the contradictions in their own backyard

Abstract

This paper uses content analysis to analyse a set of websites of English language teaching companies in the Philippines and highlights the contradictions between the language ideologies espoused, advertised language policies, and recruitment of local non-native English-speaking teachers. The study highlights trends in recruitment that contrast with language ideologies, thus demonstrating a bias against local teachers, whilst supporting notions of native speakerism and discounted nativeness. The augmentation of non-native English-speaking teachers in ELT institutions in Asia is reflected in the Philippines, which has become a prominent centre of English language teaching in the region. It would be an encouraging development in attitudes and policy within ELT private schools if the increase in NNEST employment was related to a recognition of how the English language landscape in the 21st century is evolving, yet it seems apparent that economic factors are the motivating force as native speakerism maintains its prominence.