Institutional Repository | Satya Wacana Christian University: Teachers’ Perceptions Toward The Issue of Teaching Native-Like Accent of English In The Classroom

TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARD THE ISSUE OF TEACHING
NATIVE-LIKE ACCENT OF ENGLISH IN THE CLASSROOM

Praditha Dyah Ayu Kusumastuty
Faculty of Language and Literature
Satya Wacana Christian University
Salatiga
Pradithakusumastuty@gmail.com
Abstract
In many EFL countries, the quest for native speaker or native-like proficiency
becomes the most desired goal by the English educators, as people think that language
learners should speak like the way the native speakers speak. However, with the increasing
number of the non-native speakers around the world, we are now facing two different
orientations, which are nativeness and intelligibillity. Nativeness principle starts to be denied
by many English practitioners and the emergence of intelligibility principle is believed as the
solution for the EFL countries. Considering the clash between nativeness and intelligibillity
principles, this research was conducted in order to get the insight of teachers’ perceptions
toward the issue of teaching native-like accent of English in the classroom. Using semistructured interview as the instrument of data collection, and compiling the teachers’
perceptions of native speaker, and native-like accent, ten English teachers from five Senior
High Schools in Salatiga were selected to be inquired about their perceptions on the issue.
Generally, they still viewed native speakers as the perfect goal in English teaching and

learning. The participants admitted that they also include native speakers accents in their
teaching materials. Nevertheless, instead of requiring the students to speak using native like
accent, the participants expected the students to be aware of the richness of the language that
they learn.