Going beyond the native

speaker in language teaching

 Vivian Cook
Newcastle University - Australia
1. What does the term “native speaker”
mean?
 Implicit Status of native speaker

In language teaching

In research on the acquisition of L2

 3. What are the difference between
multicomponent speakers and native
speakers?
 L2

Difference or deficit?
 Consequences for language
teaching
1. Set appropriate goals for L2 speakers
L

2. Include situations and roles with L2 speakers

L

3. Use teaching methods that recognize the L1

students
L

4. Teaching should focus L2 speakers as models

 L2 user

‘Somebody who is actively using a

language other than their first,
whatever their level of proficiency’
(Cook, 2011; 1993)
 External x Internal Goals
External goals: use of language outside the
classroom

Internal goals: students' mental development

as individuals
External goals: language teaching should relate
to the L2 user, using L2 user role models and L2
language and uses

Internal goals: language teaching should

emphasise the beneficial changes in the
individual L2 user and recognise both
languages in the L2 user’s mind
 L2 Users
• think differently from monolinguals
• use language in different ways
• have an increased awareness of the language
• have slightly different knowledge of their first
language.
• have different brain structures
 In Brazil
• What’s the status of the native speaker of English?
What’s the role of the non-native-speaker teacher?

• What’s the role of Portuguese? How much should

Portuguese be used in the classroom?

• Do native speakers make better language

teachers?
 Teacher: Model
Students are more likely to identify with and
to be able to imitate non-native speaker
teachers than native ones. Also, these
teachers would be able to share their own
experiences of learning the language, and
may be more sensitive to the difficulties faced
by the students.
 Teaching Materials
Cook advocates more L2 user representation
in the textbooks and materials teachers use in
class. Many times, the L2 user is represented
as ignorant or incompetent. Appearances of
successful L2 users would be helpful as they
provide positive models and could contribute to
the motivation and confidence of the students.
University of the Sunshine Coast - Australia
Thanks for your time!

Have a good night!