scholarly journals A Comparative study on English language teaching to young learners around the world

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 114-118
Author(s):  
Cansu Orsel ◽  
Fatih Yavuz
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Outer Circle ◽  
Young Learners ◽  
The World ◽  
Expanding Circle ◽  
Inner Circle

Usage of the English language as Lingua Franca has caused an increasing demand on the English Language Teaching (ELT) in early childhood and according to Braj Kachru’s Three Circles Model of World Englishes as the Inner Circle, the Outer Circle, and the Expanding Circle the approaches to the Young Learners dramatically differs. Besides the features of English as a global language and the nature of early language learning, this paper also focuses on the comparison of the three different examples from the Three Circles Model of World Englishes. They are compared in terms of techniques that are used and the approaches to the Young Learners. The examples taken are from the official websites of the three countries from the Inner Circle, Outer Circle, and the Expanding Circle; respectively, New Zealand’s Ministry of Education, Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development, and the Turkish Board of Education and Instruction. Keywords: Young Learners, The World Englishes, Lingua Franca, Braj Kachru, English Language Teaching (ELT).

Rheme and reason: Why is English always the Theme rather than the Rheme in our acronyms?

English Today ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan James Runcieman
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
English Speaker ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Native English Speaker ◽  
Global Context ◽  
Leading Role

The position of ‘E’, for English, has always been at the forefront of all the acronyms of language learning and descriptions of world trends in English language teaching and acquisition, EFL, ESL, ELT, ESP, EIL, ELF, or second only to ‘T’ for teaching, TEFL and TESOL. We have become so used to seeing the letter ‘E’ out there in front, the Theme rather than the Rheme, that we do not even seem to question that position anymore. Despite developments in the study of World Englishes (Kachru, 1985, 1990, 1991, 2005; Jenkins, 2003; Bolton, 2005, 2006; Canagarajah, 2006, 2007, 2009) and a supposedly secondary role for so-called Native English and the Native English speaker, we continue to place the ‘E’ at the front, as though we have no option but to accept its primacy in every concept. If we always place ‘E’ at the beginning though, as the defining Theme, surely we are giving both it and its origin England a leading role in all conceptual beginnings. The Theme after all is always the principal actor, the familiar, whilst the Rheme is the unfamiliar and undefined object (Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004), but what English is now, in its global context, is exactly that, the unfamiliar and undefined object. In the following article I will argue for a rethinking of our terminology, particularly regarding the use of the acronym ELF (English as a Lingua Franca), and how perhaps we should be thinking more carefully about our choice of acronyms in order to be more precise about our approach to the study of English in the changing world.

scholarly journals REPENSANDO O ENSINO DE LÍNGUA INGLESA NO BRASIL: POR UMA PERSPECTIVA TRANSLÍNGUE | RETHINKING ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING IN BRAZIL: TOWARDS A TRANSLINGUAL PERSPECTIVE

2017 ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Diogo Oliveira do Espírito Santo ◽  
Robson Ribeiro da Silva
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Bilingual Education ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Cultural Relations ◽  
Lingua Franca

<p>Este artigo discute pressupostos e implicações dos termos translingualimo ou práticas translíngues (CANAGARAJAH, 2011, 2013; GARCÍA, 2009, 2014) e ensino bilíngue (GARCÍA, 2014; WEI, 2013) em contextos de ensino de língua inglesa no Brasil. Na primeira parte, serão discutidas algumas nomenclaturas conferidas ao <em>status</em> do inglês ao redor do mundo, como World Englishes (WE), Inglês como Língua Internacional (ILI) e Inglês como Língua Franca (ILF). Em seguida, serão tecidas considerações sobre as definições de sujeitos bilíngues que mais se adéquam aos objetivos deste artigo. A discussão será finalizada com o debate sobre os desdobramentos da perspectiva translíngue no ensino, como forma de problematizar as relações linguístico-culturais que os sujeitos aprendizes de língua inglesa desenvolvem em cenários cada vez mais multilíngues.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstract:</strong> <em>This article discusses the premises and implications of translingualism (translingual practices) (CANAGARAJAH, 2011, 2013; GARCÍA, 2009, 2014) and bilingual education (GARCÍA, 2014; WEI, 2013) concepts in English Language Teaching (ELT) contexts in Brazil. In the first section, we will review some of the labels that have been attributed to the current status of the English language worldwide, such as World Englishes (WE), English as an International Language (EIL) and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). Moreover, we will approach different definitions of bilingual subjects. Finally, we will consider the debate about the unfolding of the translingual perspective in order to reflect on the linguistic and cultural relations that English language learners develop in ever more multilingual settings</em><em>. </em></p><pre><em> </em></pre><p>Keywords<em>: English; </em>Translanguaging<em>; Bilingual Education. </em></p><p> </p><p>Palavras-Chave: Língua inglesa; Translingualismo; Práticas translíngues; Ensino bilíngue.</p>

Which English Should We Stand For? Voices from Lecturers in Thai Multicultural Universities

RELC Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 003368822110546
Author(s):  
Yusop Boonsuk
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Expanding Circle ◽  
Linguistic Conventions ◽  
Inner Circle ◽  
Thai English ◽  
University Lecturers ◽  
Rapid Transformation

The rapid transformation of English linguistic landscapes has introduced the world to newly emerging English varieties or World Englishes, which are not typically employed in the Inner Circle. To address the defying phenomenon, this qualitative study explored the perceptions of Thai university lecturers on World Englishes, Thai English and the feasibility of implementing World Englishes and Thai English in the classrooms. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with 15 English lecturers in 5 universities across the Thai regions. Analyzed by content analysis, findings revealed that the participants demonstrated mixed perceptions. While most of the participants viewed British and American Englishes as representations of standard English varieties and questioned the legitimacy of World Englishes and Thai English, others reportedly recognized and accepted the existence of World Englishes and considered Thai English as a tool to convey Thai identities and cultures. The findings also indicated that most participants outright disapproved of World Englishes and Thai English in teaching practices, and these varieties were substantially marginalized and devalued. However, to prepare learners for realistic use of English and increase their awareness of World Englishes and Thai English, the remaining participants suggested that English language teaching should embrace flexible linguistic conventions that allow spaces for Inner Circle, Outer Circle and Expanding Circle Englishes.

scholarly journals Verb Complementation in News Headlines by the Inner, Outer, and Expanding Circles

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 43-59
Author(s):  
Jess Mendoza ◽  
Cecilia Genuino ◽  
Maria Elizabeth De Luna
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
Outer Circle ◽  
Verb Phrases ◽  
The World ◽  
Expanding Circle ◽  
Concentric Circles ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Ditransitive Verbs ◽  
News Headlines

The English language has survived the pangs of giving birth to its variations commonly called as World Englishes. Though there are many “Englishes” in the globe today, they do have similarities and differences which are manifested in the different styles employed by writers around the world. In this regard, the study aimed to analyze the structure of verb phrases in news headlines of the different countries in Kachru’s three concentric circles leading to the identification of types of verbs used. This is done to give fresher ideas into the style of headline writing by understanding what types of verbs are used by the writers from the inner, outer, and expanding circles. Using Brinton, L and Brinton, D’s (2010) structure of verb complementation, the researchers analyzed five news headlines per circle which served as their corpus in identifying the complements present in the verb phrases. This, furthermore, led to the following results: a) inner and outer circles mostly use monotransitive verbs, b) outer circle is characterized by its use of copulative verbs, inner circle by its usage of intransitive verb, and the expanding circle by its usage of prepositional and ditransitive verbs c) expanding and inner circles use diprepositional verbs while outer circle does not, d) the expanding and outer circles both use complex transitive, e) the expanding circle exhibits the characteristics of both inner and outer circles, and f) the circles overlap each other.

scholarly journals FROM EFL TO ELF: THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

2017 ◽  
pp. 257-275
Author(s):  
Elma Dedović-Atilla ◽  
Vildana Dubravac
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
World Language ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Short Overview ◽  
The World ◽  
Globalized World

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).

scholarly journals Kachru’s Three Concentric Circles Model of English Language: An Overview of Criticism & the Place of Kuwait in it

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Mohammad A. Al-Mutairi
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
English Language ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
Outer Circle ◽  
Expanding Circle ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Concentric Circles ◽  
Inner Circle ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk

This paper attempts to examine in a descriptive way the pioneering model of &ldquo;World Englishes&rdquo; proposed by Kachru in the mid-1980s that allocates the presence of English into three concentric circles: The Inner Circle, the Outer Circle, and the Expanding Circle. The Inner Circle presents the countries where English is used as a native language and as a first language among people. These countries include the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The Outer Circle includes countries that have old historical British colonial relations and where English is commonly used in social life or the government sectors. Most of the countries that belong to this circle are former colonies of the British Empire, such as India, Malaysia, Singapore, Ghana, Kenya, and others. The usage of English in these countries is similar to what is known as English as a second language. The third circle, The Expanding Circle, includes countries that introduce English as a foreign language in schools and universities, mostly for communicating in English with the Inner and Outer Circles. Such countries include Turkey, Saudi Arabia, The Emirates, Japan, China, Korea, and others. Since its first introduction in 1985, Kachru&#39;s Three Concentric Circles Model of English Language has occasioned a great debate. Many linguists considered it one of the most influential models for understanding the use of English in different countries. Some, on the other hand, including Kachru himself, criticized the model for its oversimplification and the unclear membership to the circles. In addition to an overview of criticism on Kachru&#39;s model based on different studies, this paper tries to locate the place of ELT in Kuwait among the three circles.

scholarly journals English as a Lingua Franca from an applied linguistics perspective: In the context of Japan

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 633-648
Author(s):  
Nobuyuki Hino
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Integrative Learning ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
International Language ◽  
Expanding Circle ◽  
Important Argument ◽  
Pedagogical Models

For the past two decades, the concept of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) has been a topic of much debate among researchers in the global use of English, including those involved in English language teaching (ELT). While in many respects ELF may be viewed just as a new name for its predecessors, such as World Englishes (WE) and English as an International Language (EIL), in other ways it also provides some fresh perspectives for the function of global Englishes. In particular, having grown chiefly out of Europe, where English has traditionally been studied as a foreign language rather than a second language, the ELF paradigm is often suited for the needs of learners of English in the Expanding Circle. With Japan as a primary example, the present paper discusses the significance of the concept of ELF and of the studies within its framework for ELT in the Expanding Circle. An important argument of this article is that studies in the early days of ELF, seeking for elements to facilitate international intelligibility, are still highly useful for ELT in the Expanding Circle. They cater especially to ELT in the Asian Expanding Circle, where pedagogical models are of crucial importance, no less than current ELF studies focusing on the fluid and translingual nature of ELF do. This paper points to the need for ELT teachers to be eclectic and integrative, learning from multiple paradigms, including ELF, WE, and EIL, while even going beyond the newness and oldness of pedagogical approaches, in order to best serve their students.

‘Do as WE Do’: Teaching World Englishes in a General English Course to Thai Students

RELC Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 003368822110112
Author(s):  
Krich Rajprasit
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
English Language ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
The World

The spread of English throughout the world has led to the language acquiring the status of an international language and has also led to the emergence of many varieties of English in different parts of the world, commonly referred to as world Englishes (WE). In this regard, WE advocates are making efforts to raise awareness of English diversity and have highlighted the need for learners and educators to develop positive attitudes toward such diversity. In order to promote greater awareness and more positive attitudes in language-learning classrooms, various WE-informed pedagogical principles for language teaching have been developed by WE practitioner-researchers. However, research building on the growing body of reports on English language teaching (ELT) classroom innovation and how to better share such innovation in practice remains scarce in some under-researched contexts, such as Thai classrooms. Consequently, the present study aims to address a gap by offering a practical example of how to incorporate WE into an English language learning course for university students in the English as a foreign language context. To further justify its significance, the study also shares the written reflections of students on their experiences with WE-oriented learning activities. These reflections revealed positive attitudes toward linguistic diversity and their improved understanding of the sociolinguistic reality of English after taking part in the innovative WE-oriented learning activities. The present study showcases innovative classroom practice that differs completely from the traditional classroom in terms of its particular focus on raising the awareness of WE, and it is also hoped that such classroom practice may provide some guidance for the further implementation of WE in other ELT contexts.

scholarly journals Culture and complexity through English as a lingua franca: rethinking competences and pedagogy in ELT

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Will Baker
Keyword(s):  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Language Pedagogy ◽  
Nation States ◽  
Meaningful Category

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