Yes, being a native speaker is extremely important, for a number of reasons.
While the level of English fluency in the general populace is quite low, there are a number of Chinese nationals teaching English in the PRC with exceptional levels of English. If some of these people, speaking English at fluent or near fluent levels as a second language, wouldn't qualify at a "native" English speaker, why should someone from Cameroon, India, or the Phillipines?
The market in China is dictated to provide students with intimate access to western culture as well as language. The fact is that this is what students and parents want when spending the high tuition foreign teachers salary's require. Most non-native speakers cannot provide this.
As is mentioned above, people like and want the American accent, even the British accent. No one wants to emulate Indian English intonations.
Consider yourself, as a foreigner living in China interested in Mandarin. Do you want your Mandarin teacher to be from Beijing or from Manila?
These are only a few of the most obvious examples. What I recommend to non-native speakers interested in teaching is to seek opportunities to teach your own native language.
- Natives or non-Natives - Teachers Discussion -- ashim chakrabarty -- 2007-07-30
- Puh-lease - Teachers Discussion -- dakelei -- 2007-08-08
- hmm ... - Teachers Discussion -- wukong -- 2007-08-01
- Non-native english speakers as teachers - Teachers Discussion -- rose -- 2007-08-02
- Native Speakers are in Demand - Teachers Discussion -- Louis -- 2007-08-02
- MAKE MY DAY! - Teachers Discussion -- JNET -- 2007-08-08
- Non-Native speakers - Teachers Discussion -- Liu Gang -- 2007-08-04
- Non-native teachers - Teachers Discussion -- Diana -- 2007-08-05
- Native teachers or Native non-teachers - Teachers Discussion -- Jason -- 2007-08-05
- Native speakers - Teachers Discussion -- Roy -- 2007-08-09
- Native teachers or Native non-teachers - Teachers Discussion -- Jason -- 2007-08-05
- Natives are in demand - Teachers Discussion -- Gaby -- 2007-08-02
- Natives are in demand - Teachers Discussion -- Gaby -- 2007-08-03
- Non-Native speakers - Teachers Discussion -- Liu Gang -- 2007-08-04
- MAKE MY DAY! - Teachers Discussion -- JNET -- 2007-08-08
- Native Speakers are in Demand - Teachers Discussion -- Louis -- 2007-08-02
- Native Speaking Certainly Matters - Teachers Discussion -- Leonardo -- 2007-07-31
- re: I want my mandarin teacher from Manila - Teachers Discussion -- WEI -- 2007-08-07
- Culture and English History - Teachers Discussion -- Yingwen Laoshi -- 2007-08-01
- Natives and non-natives - Teachers Discussion -- Diana -- 2007-07-31
- Native Speakers Are Preferred - Teachers Discussion -- Simon -- 2007-08-01
- Natives and non-natives - Teachers Discussion -- Diana -- 2007-08-01
- re: Native speaker - Teachers Discussion -- Taliban -- 2007-08-06
- Natives and non-natives - Teachers Discussion -- Diana -- 2007-08-01
- Culture and English History - Teachers Discussion -- Yingwen Laoshi -- 2007-08-01
- People like and pay$$ for the American accent - Teachers Discussion -- Kelley -- 2007-07-31
- hmm ... - Teachers Discussion -- wukong -- 2007-08-01
- Puh-lease - Teachers Discussion -- dakelei -- 2007-08-08