What is “Native-speakerism” in Language Learning?

Idealization and discrimination

“Native speakers” are treated as an imaginary ideal. This “ideal” is tied to how someone looks and sounds. 

Plus, racial biases influence our judgments of who is a “native speaker.” This leads to discrimination against:

• People who aren’t perceived as “native speakers”  (e.g. non-white English speakers)

• Accents perceived as “foreign”

• Accents perceived as “unsophisticated”

In the language classroom

Students may:

• demand that they learn a language from a “native speaker,” or 

• doubt the credibility of a teacher deemed to be non-native.

Judging someone as “not good enough” to teach a language because of their race is a form of “native-speakerist” bias.

Reframing our language goals

Instead of “I want to sound like a ‘native speaker,’” try alternatives like “I want to be accepted by the language community.”