The study investigated how teachers working at an international university view English accents used by their students from expanding-circle countries, namely, Thailand, China, Korea, and Myanmar. The data were collected from 265 teachers, espousing questionnaires and semi-structured interviews as research instruments. The obtained data were then analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. It was revealed that both groups of teachers viewed their students’ non-native English accents positively, with the Thai accent being evaluated most favourably. The findings further indicate that mutual intelligibility and successful communication are prioritised, and there is a strong preference for native English varieties as pedagogical models.

 

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