Silver is Chinese so it was pretty easy: tall nose, round possibly light-coloured eyes. Foreigners may be unfamiliar with local custons and preferences.
Much appreciated, probus.
OK, I'll reword the question. How did you know he was a native English speaker? That's presumably the only reason you decided to speak to him in English.
Hi emsr2d2, both your questions and Rover's are good ones. Let me tell you more about it.
I forgot to say that I went to a pizza restaurant. The owner of that restaurant has so many friends from different countries and most of whom are native speakers. However, this was not the reason I guessed that man I requested help to be a native English speaker. Many years ago I talked to people with different skin colors, eye colors, heights, etc, in English. Or at least, started a conversation with them in English when we first met. Later I found out that some of them are not native speakers but from European countries like France, Russia, Spain and so on. But, they had one thing in common - they speak very very good English.
It seems to be a rule here that when we meet people with different skin colors and faces, we start our conversations in English with them. Yes, sometimes it's interesting that they reply in Chinese or even in your local dialects. I have a few friends here who are native speakers but they are not professional English teachers. Also, I have some friends here who are foreigners and they study in some of the universities here.
Not only do I approach people with different skin colors here in English, I also try to make friends with them. Do you, ems, still remember once you helped me with my paragraph (one of which) in the Editing forum? You corrected it by using the expression "I'm hoping to start an English club here. I talk to people in English to make me more confident?" Yes, I was talking to both foreigners and Chinese in English at that time and tried to ask them to join my English club. Ah, yes, once I talked to a man who looked like Chinese but he spoke Korean to me.
I'm somtimes very bad-tempered and impatient; I'm sorry for being that person. But again, each time when I read the things you and others have corrected and rewritten for me. I feel very happy. Because I speak and use idiomatic and perfect English and I learn perfect English from all of you!
I hope I've answered your questions. Any more questions will be very welcome!
P.S.: See if you can access
this website. It was founded by a Chinese-Australian (A man who was born in China and later became a citizen of Australia). This man hosts many English clubs in Chongqing.