Not if the students' plan is only to remain competitive with native English speakers. Knowing how to speak English as a second language, for pragmatic reasons, isn't the same as being an English-speaker in the sense of the parent post.
> Why does the reason matter? It's the ability to speak it that matters.
Yes, I basically agree. I think there's a difference between a native speaker and someone who can order food in a French restaurant -- I mean, without getting snails when what he really wanted was escargot. But I agree, it's not a very important distinction.
