English Language Learners' Opinions of EFL Native and Nonnative Teachers

Abstract

This paper aims at finding out the opinions of Kurdish English language learners of their native – nonnative teachers of English as a foreign language; identifying  which group of teachers is more useful to them ; native or non-native English language  teachers and in which language skills. The study has hypothesized that Kurdish university students show positive beliefs of native English language over nonnative English language teachers.In order to validate the objectives and hypotheses of the  study,  a questionnaire consisting of  (14) items that included  (9) general  items and ( 5) items on  the teaching of each of the following language skills  grammar; vocabulary; pronunciation; listening ; reading and speaking  was given to one hundred students studying English  at four private  universities in Kurdistan of Iraq. SPSS V.22 ( Statistical Packages for Social Science ) was used to determine the significant differences between native English language teachers and nonnative English language teachers of English as a foreign language  as perceived by students at all levels of language learning skills item by item for all the (14 )items used. The ANOVA 1 test was used to determine the difference and significance of the dimensions of the study. The study has revealed that, in general, students significantly preferred to have native English language teachers more than nonnative English language teachers. However, students significantly preferred nonnative English language teachers to native English language teachers  in teaching them grammar. On the other hand, students thought that native English language teachers were better than nonnative English language teachers  in teaching them speaking, pronunciation, vocabulary and listening.