The employability of non-native English-speaking teachers : an investigation of hiring practices and language schools' advertisements in the ELT industry in Malta

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on employability of non-native English-speaking teachers within the ELT industry in Malta. The dissertation consists of two parts: theoretical and practical. The theoretical part provides an account of the evolution of the definition of a native speaker and native speakers role within the ELT industry. Furthermore, the theoretical part also contains an overview of the ELT industry in Malta, comparison of the perspectives on non-native English speaker teachers of recruiters and students worldwide, and reports on discriminatory practices within the ELT industry globally. The practical part of the dissertation established what importance the employers in the ELT sector in Malta place on teachers being a native English speaker, and what percentage of licensed ELT schools advertise themselves as employing English native speakers. First of all, the findings demonstrate that the discrimination of non-native speaker teachers in Malta possibly exists, regardless of the law and official stance of ELT Council in support of equality and diversity. In summary, by carrying out a content analysis on the job advertisements of nine schools licensed by ELT Council, and an analysis of official websites belonging to 34 ELT licensed schools, it was possible to conclude that a non-native speaker teacher of English may be discriminated against during recruitment, by at least 1 out of every 5 schools to which he/she applies for a job. This was deduced from the fact that eight schools advertised themselves as working only with native speakers. Additionally, only in case of 3 out of 34 schools was it possible to deduce that a non-native speaker teacher would be treated fairly based on qualification not origin, as only those schools officially communicated support of equality and diversity.