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The practicality of ELF-informed teaching: Attitudes and perceptions of Chinese business English teachers

  • Jinghui Si

    Jinghui Si is a PhD candidate of Applied Linguistics at Griffith University, Australia. Her research has focused on English as a lingua franca, language awareness, language policy and English language education.

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Published/Copyright: December 10, 2019

Abstract

Research on English as a lingua franca (ELF) has proposed a shift from ENL-based (English as a native language) to ELF-informed teaching. This study intends to add empirical evidence on Chinese business English teachers’ perceptions and understanding of the practicality of ELF-informed teaching. Based on interviews with 12 business English teachers, this study presents one main conflict and three subsidiary conflicts regarding the implementation of ELF-informed teaching in the Business English Program. The main conflict is between teachers’ general awareness of ELF and their expressed preference for native-English based teaching. The three subsidiary conflicts are between (i) ENL-based learning and ELF-informed teaching; (ii) English for tests and English for use; (iii) intervention and innovation. Following this, four barriers that impede the implementation of ELF-informed teaching are summarized. This study also discusses course-of-actions that could address the conflicts and barriers in implementing ELF-informed pedagogy in the Chinese context.

摘要

英语作为通用语的研究已经提出了英语教学从英语作为本族语向英语作为通用语的转变。本文旨在探讨商务英语老师对于这一提议的认知和理解。本文研究数据来自对12名商务英语专业老师的访谈,发现了其在看待英语通用语教学可行性问题上的一个主要冲突和三个附属冲突。主要冲突为对于英语作为通用语的普遍认知和对本族语者教学模式青睐。三个附属冲突为:(1)本族语者教学模式下的学习经历和英语作为通用语的教学需求;(2)为英语考试而教和为英语使用而教;(3)行政干预和教学创新。本文继而总结了英语作为通用语教学可能面临的四大困境,并提出了若干如何应对英语作为通用语教学所面临的困难和挑战的建议。

About the author

Jinghui Si

Jinghui Si is a PhD candidate of Applied Linguistics at Griffith University, Australia. Her research has focused on English as a lingua franca, language awareness, language policy and English language education.

Appendix: A list of pre-set questions

The teacher

Could you please introduce your educational background?

Do you have working experiences in the business arena?

Do you have experiences in using English in multilingual settings?

The program

When was the Business English Program in your institution established?

Could you please briefly introduce the institutionalized curriculum of the program?

The teaching

What courses do you teach now?

What focus do you think your teaching is taking?

What teaching materials do you use in your classroom?

How do you evaluate your students’ performance?

The attitudes

How do you understand the role of English in the business arena and how does your understanding affect your English teaching?

Have you heard of ELF and ELF-informed teaching?

If yes, what do you understand by ELF and ELF-informed teaching and in what ways do you think ELF-informed teaching is relevant to the Business English Program?

What do you think of ENL and ENL-based teaching?

How relevant is ENL-based teaching to the Business English Program?

The future

How do you perceive the practicality of ELF-informed teaching in the Chinese context?

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Published Online: 2019-12-10
Published in Print: 2019-11-18

© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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