ELF awareness in the task-based classroom: a way forward

ELT Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 398-407
Author(s):  
Stefania Kordia

Abstract The article discusses ELF-aware pedagogy as a possible way to integrate English as a lingua franca (ELF) in English language classrooms and explores the extent to which task-based language teaching (TBLT) could contribute to this end. ELF-aware pedagogy involves enriching teaching practices with appropriate metalinguistic and reflective activities that help learners develop as competent ELF users. The article makes the case that, when viewed from an ELF-aware perspective, TBLT may provide a coherent methodological framework for creating an authentic communicative environment in the classroom, within which the learners may develop as ELF communicators. To provide an example of how this could be achieved in practice, the author presents an ELF-aware task she has designed and taught in her own classroom. The task integrates metalinguistic and reflective elements and focuses on promoting the learners’ pragmatic competence and sense of themselves as true owners of English.

RELC Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seran Dogancay-Aktuna ◽  
Joel Hardman

Despite the proliferation of publications on teaching English as an international language (EIL) or a Lingua Franca (ELF), the diffusion of these concepts into the world of English Language Teaching has been slow and incomplete. There is some wariness among educators about the teaching of ELF and EIL, with no consensus regarding appropriate pedagogy. In this article we look at some of the research on the integration of global Englishes into English language classrooms and discuss issues concerning a model of language to guide pedagogy when there are multiple Englishes. We maintain that it is by relying on theoretical understandings of concepts underlying the development and use of global Englishes and basing pedagogical decisions on contextual needs, rather than on prescriptions for practice, that teachers can make realistic decisions about integrating Englishes into their own classroom pedagogy. We refer to a model of teaching English that is based on a vision of situated teacher praxis and show how one component of this model, meta-culture, can be used to teach language-culture connection in the era of global Englishes.


ELT Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-397
Author(s):  
Şebnem Yalçın ◽  
Yasemin Bayyurt ◽  
Benan Rifaioğlu Alahdab

Abstract The present study explores whether/how CLIL practice at primary English language classrooms raises English language teachers’ awareness towards their language use from an English as a lingua franca (ELF)-aware perspective. English language teachers in a CLIL program completed a survey about their classroom practice and their opinions about their English language use in the classroom. They also shared their lesson plans to showcase their everyday teaching. The findings revealed that although CLIL practice presented challenges for language teachers, their experience enabled participants to conceptualize themselves as ‘competent English language users’ instead of non-native English language teachers. Moreover, the findings suggested that teachers’ CLIL experience enabled them to become aware of the three major components of ELF awareness; namely, awareness of language and language use, awareness of instructional practice, and awareness of learning.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-154
Author(s):  
Naushin Nazifa Islam

Along with the subsequent development in the field of English Language Teaching, the idea of methods has been criticized for not being sensitive to the contextual factors and also for being imperialistic in nature. The linguistic and cultural dimensions of archetypal methods establish the culture and language of the native speakers as the only erudite variety by promoting monoculturalism and monolingualism. Furthermore, even in Bangladesh, it can be seen that CLT has been applied as a method to teach English as a foreign/second language since the mid-nineties, but it has not brought any significant changes. Therefore, to overcome the obstacles and limitations experienced by the application of the prototypical methods, the notion of postmethod pedagogy has been introduced which focuses on the significance of contextualized materials to bring authenticity in English language classrooms, which in turn ensures learners’ motivation and successful intake of the lesson. At the same time, it also emphasizes the importance of teacher and learner autonomy. Hence, this research paper explores the scopes of the implementation of postmethod pedagogy and its effectiveness at the tertiary level English language classrooms in Bangladesh.    


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Ruffia Jahanzaib ◽  
Muhammad Zeeshan

Selection of an appropriate method for learning and teaching second language is significantly important. For this purpose, various types of methods and approaches are suggested and employed. The present study intended to investigate the beliefs of teachers and students about Grammar Translation Method (GTM) and Communicative Language Teaching (CLT). Through purposive sampling eight female teachers and students of university were selected. The study was qualitative. Interview protocol and observation were used for data collection. NVivo (Version 10) was used to perform the content analysis. The participants showed a positive inclination towards the features of CLT to be used in English language classrooms. On the basis of the results, the study suggests adopting CLT in English language classrooms to improve learners’ communicative skills. For future research, directions are also suggested.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-142
Author(s):  
Nirajan Rai

This article presents the idea why phonemic systems of students' mother tongues should be studied while teaching English? As Nepal is a rich country in terms of linguistic diversity, students having different linguistic backgrounds attend the English language classrooms every day. However, their perception of learning English language is different to each. They think English is very hard, talent one only masters it. Teachers also are not aware on vast distinctions of sound systems of students' mother tongues with English that affects language learning hugely. This gap is one of the major issues of English language teaching in Nepal. This paper attempts to analyze this issue by making phonemic inventory of one of the Nepali mother tongues of Nepal; Dungmali. It emphasizes the importance of phonemic inventories with reasons in reference to English Language Teaching.


2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANTONIO TAGLIALATELA

Research on the incorporation of the emerging English as a lingua franca (ELF) paradigm into English language teaching has flourished in recent years, foregrounding the necessity of translanguaging practices. However, despite the growing awareness of ELF, teachers still struggle to determine whether and how to adhere to the emerging paradigm. In particular, the authenticity of ELF teaching methods in the English language classroom has not been sufficiently addressed, and therefore, needs to be revamped. The aim of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, it explores the aspect of teachers’ ELF awareness in English teaching practices as well as the importance of incorporating authentic ELF materials into the classroom to help learners become ELF-aware and, consequently, competent intercultural speakers. On the other hand, it helps English language teachers, specifically those who have no or marginal exposure to ELF to reflect on the subject they teach, challenging the dominant World Englishes paradigm.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-53
Author(s):  
Tünde Nagy

AbstractThe idea that in foreign language classes the use of L1 can be beneficial for students is gaining ground in foreign language teaching methodology. Translanguaging is a relatively newly coined term that is often used to refer both to the process of switching between two languages and the methodology that lies behind it. After presenting the main characteristics of translanguaging and the possibility of implementing it as a pedagogical method in English language classrooms, the paper presents a translanguaging activity and also shows how the students evaluated their participation in this practice. The paper concludes that in order to employ translanguaging practices in the classroom, it is necessary to adopt a new mindset to teaching that allows for multiple language use in class and also encourages language learners to embrace their entire linguistic potential.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (107) ◽  
pp. 249-264
Author(s):  
Nilton Hitotuzi

In this reflection paper, it is discussed the issue of prestige varieties of English mostly in terms of accent preference and, based on the literature, American and British English are pointed out as the varieties dominating English language teaching textbooks around the world. At the same time, it is suggested that the American variety is predominantly favoured worldwide, especially in Brazil. Furthermore, it is maintained that, because of the American linguistic hegemony in this country, non-American-English-speaking teachers of English can be faced with some institutional and pedagogical challenges. Finally, some suggestions on how to cope with “Americanised” classrooms are offered. 


Author(s):  
Will Baker

AbstractEnglish as a lingua franca (ELF) research highlights the complexity and fluidity of culture in intercultural communication through English. ELF users draw on, construct, and move between global, national, and local orientations towards cultural characterisations. Thus, the relationship between language and culture is best approached as situated and emergent. However, this has challenged previous representations of culture, particularly those centred predominantly on nation states, which are prevalent in English language teaching (ELT) practices and the associated conceptions of communicative and intercultural communicative competence. Two key questions which are then brought to the fore are: how are we to best understand such multifarious characterisations of culture in intercultural communication through ELF and what implications, if any, does this have for ELT and the teaching of culture in language teaching? In relation to the first question, this paper will discuss how complexity theory offers a framework for understanding culture as a constantly changing but nonetheless meaningful category in ELF research, whilst avoiding essentialism and reductionism. This underpins the response to the second question, whereby any formulations of intercultural competence offered as an aim in language pedagogy must also eschew these simplistic and essentialist cultural characterisations. Furthermore, the manner of simplification prevalent in approaches to culture in the ELT language classroom will be critically questioned. It will be argued that such simplification easily leads into essentialist representations of language and culture in ELT and an over representation of “Anglophone cultures.” The paper will conclude with a number of suggestions and examples for how such complex understandings of culture and language through ELF can be meaningfully incorporated into pedagogic practice.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document