Quote:
Originally Posted by wordwarrior  Why do some people prefer native English speaker writers than those who are formally trained in English grammar and syntax? |
Maybe I can answer it this way. Non-native English writers and speakers usually know far more grammar than native English speakers. In Canada, you are taught all the grammar that you will ever normally learn in the first six years of your education. After Grade six you are not taught grammar in English language studies...the emphasis changes to writing and speaking (speeches) as well a reading comprehension.
This is why native English speakers are often unable to quote a rule or explain why something does not "sound right".
Non-native English learners who are taught by non-native English teachers often (unless the teacher has lived in an English speaking country for several years) not taught proper pronunciation and they do not understand everyday English slang and idiom.
When I taught English in Thailand or met non-native English teachers in other countries, I found that if they were exposed to native English teachers during their education, they were very comfortable speaking English and their listening English was also very good.
Those, that had not been taught by native English teachers or had not been to an English speaking country, had a greater difficulty understanding me as I was usually speaking too fast or using too much slang or idiom in my language.
To use an analogy, say you were a fighter pilot in the air force. Would you prefer to be taught by someone who had used the fighter aircraft in combat or one who knew the theory of using this fighter aircraft in combat but had never actually been in a combat situation?
This is a bit of an extreme analogy, but I personally would want to learn from someone who had experience using this fighter in combat. There are things he knows that the other instructor could never know.