scholarly journals Local Thoughts on Global Ideas: Pre- and In-service TESOL Practitioners’ Attitudes to the Pedagogical Implications of the Globalization of English

RELC Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Cameron ◽  
Nicola Galloway

With the globalization of the English language, Global Englishes (GE) is a growing research paradigm with numerous pedagogical implications for those learning and teaching English. The study reported here provides insights on pre- and in-service Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) practitioners’ perceptions of Global Englishes Language Teaching (GELT) (Galloway & Rose, 2015; Rose & Galloway, 2019), which aims to make TESOL classrooms more reflective of learners’ needs in today’s globalized world, where multilingualism is the norm and English functions as a lingua franca. Interviews (n=5) with those taking a GE course on an MSc TESOL programme at a Russell Group university in the UK were triangulated with a survey among the wider programme (n=66). The study reveals that curriculum innovation is complex, particularly when it requires a conceptual transition, and practitioners need time and support to implement change. Furthermore, it was clarified that GE has made little headway into ‘traditional’ TESOL classrooms, which remains biased towards ‘native’ English norms.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Louise Williams

Masters in English Language Teaching Dissertation, from University of Sussex, 2016. This dissertation documents the research into Business English (BE) teacher awareness of, and attitudes towards, English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). Given that English has become the international language of global business and trade, used widely to communicate across linguistic and cultural borders, the argument is made that ELF is the most relevant paradigm for BE instruction, in contrast to the still currently dominant English as a Foreign Language (EFL) paradigm that has housed most English Language Teaching (ELT). A further argument is made that a number of what the author refers to as core ‘ELF competences’, primarily Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC), accommodation strategies and aspects of the phonological Lingua Franca Core (LFC), are the most relevant and teachable aspects of ‘ELF-talk’ to BE learners.The research took the form of a small Mixed Methods Research (MMR) case-study of a group of BE teachers based in the South of England, UK. Twelve participants completed questionnaires, modelled loosely on that used in Dewey’s 2012 research into teacher awareness of ELF and ELT teacher training. A further two participants were selected for follow-up classroom observations and interviews.A review of the literature indicates that teachers often possess limited awareness of the constructs of ELF or ICC and when there is awareness, demonstrate a conflict between their beliefs surrounding the relevance of these constructs to their teaching and their willingness or ability to apply those beliefs in practice. The findings from this research, however, do not support those claims and instead indicate relatively high levels of applied ELF awareness in practice. Due to the small-scale nature of this investigation it is impossible to infer that this difference in results emanates from the fact that the subjects in this research were BE as opposed to General English teachers, as has been the case in previous research, therefore implications for further research indicated by this study include a more widespread investigation into BE teacher awareness and attitudes towards ELF.


2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Sung

English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) has not only generated a lot of interest among applied linguists and researchers, it has also attracted a great deal of attention among language teachers in recent years. What is particularly noteworthy is that ELF research has radically altered our way of thinking about language and the use of English in today’s globalized world (see, e.g., Dewey, 2013a, 2013b; Sung, 2013a, 2013b). It is therefore important for language teachers to understand more about ELF and its relevance for language teaching. In this interview, Martin Dewey, an expert in English as a Lingua Franca from King’s College, London, shares his ideas about the potential impact of ELF research on language teaching and teacher education. He previously taught English as a second language in Italy, Mexico, and the UK, and has trained language teachers on several pre-service and in-service programmes of teacher education. He is currently investigating ELF, and compiling a corpus of spoken ELF discourse for the purpose of describing and theorising current developments in the lexis, grammar, and pragmatics of English in lingua franca settings. He has published extensively on work in ELF, and is co-author with Alessia Cogo of Analyzing English as a Lingua Franca: A Corpus-driven Investigation (2012).


Author(s):  
Pawan A. Talib

The aim of this paper is to analyze some argues of the terminology of native English-speaking teachers (NESTs)/non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs), which George Braine and Peter Medgyes made their first steps toward this study. The study relied on the nature notion of these two concepts in linguistic studies in various areas of the world. It illuminates the strengths and the limitations of NESTs and NNESTs with respect to English language teaching to speakers of other languages, particularly in Kurdistan Regional of Iraq with different models of linguistics. Consequently, the work focuses on the perceptions, responses, and attitudes toward these two contexts with taking account their role in teaching English in Kurdistan Regional of Iraq. Finally, the evaluation portrays an outstanding method of teaching English by co-operating NESTs/NNESTs. Since recently, it considers as one of the highest applicable strategies in TEL, and the educational institutions may achieve a better success by providing both instructors in their programs.


2017 ◽  
pp. 257-275
Author(s):  
Elma Dedović-Atilla ◽  
Vildana Dubravac

Today we witness that English has already virtually taken one of the crucial roles on the global stage. Therefore, this paper´s goal is to explore the change that the English Language use has undergone in today´s globalized world that has led to the birth of a new construct in the field of English Language conceptualization, namely English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). In order to achieve this, the paper is organized in several sections covering the following topics: the spread of English throughout the world; a short overview of divergent stances and conceptions of English as a world language; introduction of ELF concept and pinpointing the line of distinction between the concepts of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). The paper accentuates the need for the reconstruction of the places and roles that EFL and ELF assume in present-day linguistic reality, together with the need to raise the awareness about the differences between the two and their implications in English Language Teaching (ELT).


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.


Paideusis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34
Author(s):  
Peter Kovacs

Since the end of World War II, English has become the virtual lingua franca of the planet. However, this development carries significant ethical and educational questions: What are the consequences of the worldwide dominance of the English language? How has it affected and how will it affect the fortunes of other languages? What can and should we as educators to do to minimize or eliminate the harmful effects on some of the endangered languages of the world? This paper will invite educators into a philosophical discussion of the ethical complexities of teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-84
Author(s):  
Sevim Maviş ◽  
Fevzi Dursun

The purpose of this study is to discover the issues in teaching English from the perspective of teachers. The qualitative method was employed in the study by using semi-structured interview forms to 19 teachers from a central Black Sea region province of Turkey. The teachers highlighted the impact of learning-teaching process, teacher training, teacher-stakeholder relationship and students during the study. According to the teachers, students' prejudices against foreign language learning, interest in the subject, awareness of the importance of language learning, speaking skills, participation in the lesson and the environment they take the courses affect the language learning process. Nevertheless, the reasons for the problems are a lot more complex than this. The students are also need to be supported by the education system, by the parents and by teachers in this process. For instance, the results shows that there is a need for activities that will make students more active, and more suitable environments and materials (i.e. books) are needed for English language teaching. Also, the teachers need to the support of parents, administrators, and the other teachers to become more efficient. This research once again reveals the importance of interrelation of all factors and stakeholders as well as students' willingness and thoughts in teaching English.


2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 136-144
Author(s):  
A Litovkina ◽  
◽  
D Zhorabekova ◽  
A Issabekov ◽  
◽  
...  

This article is devoted to the analysis of the current state of level teaching of the English language in schools in Kazakhstan. The introduction of the Common European Framework of References for Languages in the process of foreign language education in Kazakhstan entailed significant changes that made it possible to im-prove the quality of teaching English, bring it closer to international standards, and ensure its competitiveness at the global level. However, research has shown that in order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to take into account the awareness and opinion of teachers. This article is an exploratory study examining the application of CEFR in the English language teaching system in general education schools in Kazakhstan, with emphasis on the knowledge and opinions of teachers. The article also provides a brief overview of world experience in the practical application of the principles of CEFR in teaching English. This study used a survey for English teachers as the primary data collection method. The results of the study showed that there are difficulties at the school level that affect the final result of proficiency in English language teaching. Nevertheless, thanks to the adopted language policy, the country is undergoing a progressive development of foreign language ed-ucation and purposeful work is being carried out to ensure the quality of teaching English, which is reflected in almost all program documents for the development of education.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Rahma Al-Mahrooqi ◽  
Faisal Al-Maamari ◽  
Christopher Denman

Textbooks are indispensable in most formal education settings. However, many teachers believe weaknesses in textbooks can result in ineffective learning and teaching. This research uses a corpus-based approach to identify issues related to vocabulary with a particular focus on English textbooks in use in Omani schools. WordSmith Tools and RANGE concordance software are used to analyze these textbooks. Findings indicate that there are irregularities in vocabulary loading and that the types, tokens, density and consistency ratio show inconsistencies. Moreover, in terms of the coverage of GSL and AWL word lists, the textbooks fall short of the ideal range of 95% to 98% coverage suggested by Nation (1990, 2001). In fact, vocabulary from large percentages of the texts are not found in any of the essential word lists. The paper suggests recommendations for consistent analysis and guidance in analyzing textbooks in order to improve their quality in terms of vocabulary introduction and loading. 


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document