"English teachers routinely equate standard English with “grammar,” as if other language varieties and styles lack grammar, the systematic and rule-governed backbone of language. Nothing could be further from the truth."

 Why do you NES teachers, and other NES, do that? Why do you equate grammar only with Standard English?

Anonymous wrote:

Milky wrote:  Inchoateknowledge wrote: elitimism of one sort Also marketing, myopia and/or lies. Actually, I do not have any problems with Standard English being taught for students of other nationalities than those where English is (the only) one official language. At the end of the day, this is the most common type of English and learners have to learn something. However, I have never once been warned by any materials I learnt form that the laws laid down in them applies solely to Standard English. They just states this is true and that is not, although this might not be the case everywhere. For better or for worst, this might rub many people up the wrong way, IMO.  Moreover, can I choose other than SE and get a(n) (highly) acknowledged certificate to prove that I have a good command of the English language. Herein lies the rub to me, because the answer is certainly NO.

anonymous = me