Is there any point of a non-Spaniard pursuing a career as a Spanish teacher?

Question

I'll be going to university Sep. 2009, to start a Spanish degree, hopefully to become a teacher when I leave. As Spanish is not my native tongue, however, is there much point in pursuing this?

Won't my competency always be questioned as I'm not a native? Sorry to transport my worries like this.

Answer 1

Well, our school offered French and German as languages and all our teachers were British!  It didn't seem to matter.

Answer 2

go for it! My son has had a spanish english teacher at his school for the past few years so it must be possible to do it the other way round eh?

good luck with it all :0)

Answer 3

in some ways its better not to be a native speaker because you have understanding of what its like to learn the language.  i am hearing and teach asl so i know how hearing people learn and teach to their needs.  many deaf disagree as it is their native language and they feel they are the only ones who can truely teach it.

i think the important thing is to know your limits and be honest about them.  especially when it comes to culture, you will never be spanish, i will never be deaf and we can not represent those cultures as a native.  

good luck!!

Answer 4

of course u can do it

my spanish teacher was french! O.o

it doesnt matter as long as u can correctly teach the accent

besides

my japanese teacher was also british.. and think how much harder THAT is to pronounce

as long as ur dedicated ull do fine :)

Answer 5

If you have experienced learning the language from scratch and coming from an English-speaking mind-set, it makes it easier for you to empathise with exactly why it can be that your pupils have difficulty understanding.  Just because a person is Spanish does not make them either a good teacher or a person who knows and can explain their own grammar - though naturally, there will be very many good teachers who are Spanish.

We are ALL on a learning curve when it comes to language-learning, even our first language.  You may find it hard to imagine yourself having enough language to be able to help, but provided your know your stuff (which you will do after a degree and, if you are in the UK, a year abroad), care about accuracy and are a good way beyond your pupils you can certainly help them move forward.  

If you love the language, it's infectious.  Your pupils will really benefit from that.

Answer 6

no. In fact, because you DON'T have an accent will help you. Lots of schools teach Spanish. It is ENGLISH speaking kids that are learning. Call it SSL. Spanish as a Second Language. It will be easier for you to communicate it than someone who isn't familiar with the English Language.

Now, that being said, I'd look at the JOB OPPORTUNITIES. If you find a "plethora" of them, then go. If not, have a back up plan. "The Best laid plans of Mice and Men" so to speak.

If Plan A (spanish) doesn't work, what will  you do? Think of it NOW, not when you are ready to graduate.

Answer 7

Well most French teachers in the UK are not French but born in the UK. On that basis being a native speaker may not be that big an issue. It certainly isnt for teachers of french.

Answer 8

Your abilities should me measured by your education and qualifications, not your origin.

Answer 9

For the most part everyone is being very encouraging... however, it really depends on a lot of things:  how long you'll have studied, where you'll study,  what level of Spanish you plan on teaching, your teachers' ability, your ability to learn the language and to teach it, etc.

To do a decent job, you really must live in a Spanish-speaking country for a while;  and to do a better job, it helps to travel to a variety of Spanish-speaking countries to learn some of the differences from country to country. And, it is important to continue to learn as much as you can.

Even if you are around a lot of Spanish speakers in say, the US, sometimes their Spanish needs work too -- they may have learned it here as well (i.e. not well) --  even is their parents are first generation. Or they may be native speakers, but not very well educated -- as unfortunately a lot of immigrants are.  It's not that different with English... there are plenty of native English speaking people that don't speak properly too.

That said, plenty of non-native speakers do it anyway, and there may be places where a native speaker just isn't available, and maybe, it doesn't matter if you're teaching grade school Spanish. And if you really love the language and want to do it, well then immerse yourself in the language and learn as much as you can. Then if you want ot teach adults, start with kids and work your way up to the adults.



But to get on my soapbox for a moment: whatever you do, please don't become a professional translator (into print that is, especially not a book) unless you get several native speakers to proof you work!  My pet peeve is seeing bad translations, because it just perpetuates bad Spanish, or misinforms, or completely misses the point!  Or in the case of poetry or lyrics, it's almost impossible to do that well... (I remember reading a book of Pablo Neruda poems translated into English by an academic... it was so sad to read!  Not only were some items incorrect, but if they had been a native speaker (really of both English and Spanish) they could have translated the poems so that they read more like poetry.

So, please remember that whatever you do translate really MUST be reviewed by at least one native speaker from a Spanish speaking country -- there are just too many nuances you'd miss.  Even if the publication doesn't have a large audience or circulation, it could perpetuate bad Spanish.

Hope that helps.