When using an authentic audio or video it is important to use only ‘native speakers’. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons.
I'd like to echo what Gareth said about "making an informed choice." If students specifically request native materials and provide legitimate reasons for this motivation, I don't have any problem honoring that. For example, I work with a lot of students who need to master a specific accent because it improves their legitimacy in the workplace. It is a shame that we have these prejudices towards accents but as that is a reality that can't be changed overnight, I need to help them perform in their current environment.
However, in my personal opinion, if we want the use of English to reflect its real-world use, then students should be exposed to both native and non-native speakers. "Right" and "wrong" ways of speaking the lingua franca is a very deep rabbit hole and is very often used unfairly as a weapon in social situations.
Yes, Ashley. This is an important point: sometimes the 'native or non-native' dilemma is solved by the client who asks specifically for a native speaker or a non-native speaker (yes, I had experience with clients asking for this, especially at lower levels). If we treat English lessons as any other service, who are we to decide for our clients? We can suggest or explain, but as you wrote: people do have valid reasons to ask for native speakers.
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