Flocks, you are spot on.
I ply my trade around SE Asia and cringe when I hear certain native English speaking pilots use very non ICAO phraseology, one can hear the confusion in the ATC's voice. I understand a very large country in the US continent does not use ICAO standard phraseology. This creates a problem when non English speakers encounter this kind of phraseology, from ATC or pilots. Not saying either is right or wrong, just time the world aligned itself COMPLETELY with ONE standard?
I have also seen non English speaking candidates, studying for their English certificate. They are basically provided with standard phrases etc, to pass the test but their practical English is very poor (some of them, NOT all). Possibly a change to the testing system is necessary. Make it more practical and less of a box ticking exercise?