Non native teachers.

[Silent]

In my experience in language courses the language to learn is mostly spoken by native speakers. Specially if the course is meant for a broad audience. For mandarin this seems quite different. I find it hard to find a videocourse where not at least a fair share of the Chinese is spoken by non native speakers. Even a serious chinese party like CCTV, with a dozen or so courses, uses non-native speakers. The website contains a dozen or so courses, but in all of them (as far as I sampled them) use non native speakers. Anyone a clue as to why this is?

[jkhsu]

My guess is that most of those courses are beginner level and as you mentioned, is aimed for a broader audience. I am sure that one of the goals is to relate to the potential Chinese learner that a foreigner, like them, can also learn to speak Mandarin. Often times, the non-native Chinese speaker has the part of providing the English description which they can typically do better than a non-native English speaker. For advanced levels, most courses do use native Chinese speakers. This is true for many podcasts where the advanced levels use native Chinese speakers and the levels below usually always include a non-native Chinese speaker. Personally, I have no problems with this and actually find this beneficial because the non-native Chinese speaker can sometimes explain nuances or examples in English better than the native Chinese speaker.

[Meng Lelan]

I am sure that one of the goals is to relate to the potential Chinese learner that a foreigner, like them, can also learn to speak Mandarin.

I absolutely agree. Two decades again it used to be they would only use Chinese native speakers in videos and that made my classmates feel like this was a language exclusive to Chinese native speakers. The first time my class ever viewed a video with non Chinese non natives speaking in Chinese, we were initially stunned then we got really motivated to get to that guy's level. It's really powerful when that happens.

[yellowpower]

wonder how many re-takes and script rehearsals it took so that the non-native speaker makes speaking Mandarin a breeze!

but it also helps to make the lessons more interesting to have the diversity in the chinese speaking groups, both native and non native. But have to admit that even some of these non-native speakers with their perfect beijing accent makes me feel awful that I can't 'er-hua'. I have to be happy to sound like a peasant

but power to all accents!!!!

[creamyhorror]

I absolutely agree. Two decades again it used to be they would only use Chinese native speakers in videos and that made my classmates feel like this was a language exclusive to Chinese native speakers. The first time my class ever viewed a video with non Chinese non natives speaking in Chinese, we were initially stunned then we got really motivated to get to that guy's level. It's really powerful when that happens.

Maybe we should be asking why, say, English teaching videos don't use more non-native speakers of Asian ethnicity. (Or even Asian native speakers.) Then Asians could be inspired by English-speaking Asians too!

[Meng Lelan]

Actually I'm using a textbook and CD to help one of my deaf students learn English and it has a wide variety of non-native speakers of English, especially from Mexico, Africa, and Asia, in scenarios where they do everyday activities together.

[roddy]

I think another reason is that there seems to be a hard-wired 'lets teach them about Chinese culture!' response in any Chinese Chinese-teaching venture, so it then becomes natural to have a foreign participant asking questions about Spring Festival and 粽子and so on. And for CCTV, foreigners are like bacon - can be added to anything for guaranteed betterness.

wonder how many re-takes and script rehearsals it took so that the non-native speaker makes speaking Mandarin a breeze!

I'd guess no more than usual, if they chose the right non-native speaker, and they can probably have their pick from a fairly wide pool.

[Silent]

I am sure that one of the goals is to relate to the potential Chinese learner that a foreigner, like them, can also learn to speak Mandarin.

You all are probably right about the motivation issue. But then what's different with other languages? To me however it's evident that anyone (some mentally challenged apart) can learn any language. It's just a matter of putting in the time and effort. And starting very early if you want to get a native accent. I prefer to learn pronunciation from a native, even if not perfectly standard accent, instead of some foreigner with a strange accent. For courses aimed at a small groups this may not be achievable due to lack of native speaking teachers/price. For courses aimed at a broad audience I don't see any serious constraints for using native speakers for the conversations.

If as mentioned by some it really was that the explanation of the grammar, cultural patterns etc was done by the non native teacher I would understand much better. However specially with CCTV significant parts of the dialogs are done by foreigners also in the advanced learners section. I, as a beginner am not in a position to judge, but when sampling the material several times the foreigner's part didn't sound natural Chinese to me.

Of course I know that a non native's pronunciation may be just as good or better than a natives. I've seen however too many examples of teachers that haven't mastered the language they're teaching. As a consequence, my reaction is pretty much the opposite. For me a non native teaching pronunciation/conversation raises doubts about the quality and thus has a demotivating effect on me.

[yellowpower]

I'm waiting for other non-native speakers like Africans, Black Americans, Indians, Thai, Japanese, Korean, Fillipino, etc to be part of the cast instead of the stereotypical light-hair/blue eyes which are featured on these chinese language learning programs. Also cast members with clear accents from other parts of China would be great instead of the usual 'er-hua'.

[edelweis]

To me however it's evident that anyone (some mentally challenged apart) can learn any language.

Rationally yes (well, if they are motivated enough, if they have sufficient resources and time etc). But emotionally, seeing people who look like yourself doing what you want to achieve makes you really believe it's possible.

That's why Lilian Thuram (the football player) wrote "Mes étoiles noires" (My Black Stars) - as motivation for Blacks to succeed in school and life.

Also I'm note sure I would have chosen a technical/scientific career if most of my math and physics teachers hadn't been both female and passionate about their fields.

"Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne sait pas" - knowing something on a rational level is not as powerful as being convinced on an emotional level.

[yonglin]

My hypothesis: the target audience of these CCTV shows are not actually foreigners wanting to learn Chinese, but native Chinese. I make this inference from the fact that most CCTV shows claiming to teach Chinese are really quite useless.

In fact, these shows are broadcast to show Chinese people how important their country is becoming abroad -- so much that even those barbarian foreigners now having interest in learning Chinese. Chinese people watch these shows mainly because it's simply quite interesting/entertaining to hear non-native speakers speak Chinese.

[Meng Lelan]

Chinese people watch these shows mainly because it's simply quite interesting/entertaining to hear non-native speakers speak Chinese.

The Foreigner Freak Show, so to speak.