In an era where English serves as a global lingua franca, teachers come from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. However, English language teaching (ELT) is still shaped by native-speakerism and racialized perceptions that privilege white native English teachers (NETs) from inner-circle countries. This study investigates how Thai undergraduate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students view the “ideal” English teacher, focusing on the intersection of race and native-speakerism in explicit and implicit attitudes. A mixed-methods design was used, combining a scenario-based questionnaire completed by 273 non-English majors to capture explicit preferences and a computer-based image elicitation task to reveal implicit biases. Questionnaire findings indicated a higher explicit preference for non-native English teachers (NNETs) due to cultural familiarity, bilingual ability, empathy, and teaching experience. In contrast, the image elicitation task showed a strong implicit bias toward NETs, particularly Caucasian teachers from Western countries, often associated with native speaker status, correct pronunciation, cultural sophistication, and physical attractiveness. These results suggest that although students may express inclusive attitudes, subconscious associations still link whiteness with linguistic authority and teaching excellence. Explicit preferences partly reflect the principles of Global Englishes and trans-speakerism, which emphasize teaching competence, intercultural awareness, and linguistic diversity. However, implicit results reveal the persistence of racialized native-speakerism, where whiteness functions as symbolic capital that outweighs other qualifications. This contrast highlights the need for pedagogical approaches that address both explicit attitudes and implicit biases, encouraging teacher evaluation based on professional skills rather than race or linguistic background.

Authors:
Luke Jobert Earl Vencer Comprendio, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
Naratip Jindapitak, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand

About the Presenter(s)
Luke Jobert Earl Vencer Comprendio is currently a lecturer in English at the Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand. His research interests include Global Englishes, native and non-native English speakers of English, and English language teaching.

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