EFL Teachers Employability in Saudi Arabia: Native and Non-Native Speakers

Abstract

This paper explores the process of hiring EFL
teachers, the criteria used, and the effect of the status of
applicants as native/non-native speakers of English on their
employment potential. A questionnaire surveyed 56 recruiters in
Saudi Arabia by asking them to listen to five speakers applying
for teaching jobs by leaving voice messages on an employer’s
answer machine. The analysis of the data revealed that the
academic qualification, teaching experience, native speaker
status, nationality, and accents of the applicants were perceived
to be important as hiring criteria. Also, it was found that the
participants who assigned more importance to the status of the
applicant as native or non-native speaker, nationality, and accent
perceived the non-native speakers to be less qualified and
therefore had limited chances in employability.