It's a common myth that learning a language from its native speakers is the best way to get ahead in language learning. In fact, even students of native speakers often find it harder than learning languages from textbooks because the second group has already had to learn the basics through more difficult material. By practicing with textbooks and other materials, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed by complex grammar and vocabulary. Plus, you'll be able to translate texts into the language you are working on far more accurately after some time.
I'd like to clarify I'm focusing on the "instructors" who are not professional language
teachers. Professional teachers from English speaking countries are vital for the ELT community. Most native speakers who offer their services lack teacher training. Their language is not their working language and this means that their communication skills are lower than a professional teacher. A native speaker might be able to teach you slang and colloquialisms, but they are not able to teach you the standard (and the easiest way to convey meaning in an international setting). They may be able to share cultural insights, but they can't really focus on grammar. They can't help you learn or advance any faster than if you were working with a non-native English-speaking teacher that has been trained in teaching languages as a profession.
A native speaker’s repertoire of vocabulary is also a myth. It would really depend on the speaker's level of education and background. Those who have attended or completed higher levels of education (like a college degree) and are working in an office setting would likely use fewer colloquialisms and other forms of slang. Those who are not as educated or are working in manual labor jobs might use more colloquialisms. But even a highly educated native speaker cannot have a larger repertoire of vocabulary than a professional teacher. And it's possible that the teacher is actually more fluent with the language because they can focus on learning the words, grammar, and structures that you need to learn. Of course, a well-trained native teacher will excel in different areas, but there is one thing that several of these professionals lack: Learner context and learner needs identification.
Trust your local teachers. They have studied and trained for years so you can work together to improve your proficiency level to unimaginable heights. You can always ask to check their qualifications. There are several advantages of learning a language, like English, with a local teacher. But the main one will be the local teacher will easily recognize the language struggles and expression equivalents you need to communicate effectively.
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