blurred boundaries: the future of english language learning and teaching dr. randi harlev december...
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Blurred Boundaries: Blurred Boundaries: The Future of English Language The Future of English Language
Learning and TeachingLearning and Teaching
Dr. Randi HarlevDr. Randi HarlevDecember 2006December 2006
Future Trends: Future Trends: The Inevitable Pendulum SwingThe Inevitable Pendulum Swing
Paradigm shifts in English teachingParadigm shifts in English teaching GlobalizationGlobalization English in the worldEnglish in the world English in the USEnglish in the US English language teaching and learningEnglish language teaching and learning
in the worldin the world in the USin the US
English language: future trends English language: future trends English language teaching and learning: future English language teaching and learning: future
trendstrends
Pendulum SwingsPendulum Swings
Paradigm Shifts; Pendulum SwingsParadigm Shifts; Pendulum Swings
Mechanistic ModelMechanistic Model ScienceScience Complexity can be Complexity can be
reducedreduced MeasurabilityMeasurability Whole = sum of partsWhole = sum of parts Parts adapt to modelParts adapt to model
Organismic ModelOrganismic Model Change = qualitative, Change = qualitative,
not summativenot summative Change is suddenChange is sudden Whole > sum of partsWhole > sum of parts Model adapts to partsModel adapts to parts
Pendulum Swings: Learning Theories and Pendulum Swings: Learning Theories and Language Learning TheoriesLanguage Learning Theories
Behaviorism Developmental & Cognitive
Theories
ConstructivismSocialCognition
Transmission
Communi-cative
Language Teaching
Standards-BasedCurricula
Natural Approach,
Task-Based Learning
Audio-lingualism
Notional-Functional
Grammar-Translation
Skills-Based; Structural
What characterizes these paradigms?What characterizes these paradigms?
Mechanistic Mechanistic OrganismicOrganismic
FocusFocus LanguageLanguage LearnerLearner
ReadingReading Bottom-up: phonics, Bottom-up: phonics, parts to wholeparts to whole
Top-down: whole Top-down: whole language, whole to language, whole to partsparts
LanguageLanguage Accuracy over fluencyAccuracy over fluency Fluency over accuracyFluency over accuracy
Syllabus Syllabus Types Types (White)(White)
Type AType A Type BType B
What do they mean for the future?What do they mean for the future?
L1?
ELF?
ELT?ESP?
EYL?CLIL?
EAP? ELL?
EIL?
ESL?
EFL?
CBI?
CEF?
L2?
What is happening in the world?What is happening in the world? Move towards Move towards globalizationglobalization; people are on the ; people are on the
move.move.
Identity is more complex; people take on Identity is more complex; people take on multiple identitiesmultiple identities. .
More and more people speak More and more people speak multiple multiple languageslanguages, affecting both identity and culture., affecting both identity and culture.
Culture is permeable and dynamic, less nation-Culture is permeable and dynamic, less nation-bound. Individuals reflect bound. Individuals reflect cultural “bricolage”cultural “bricolage”..
What aspects of life have both What aspects of life have both affected and effected these changes?affected and effected these changes?
Demographic changesDemographic changes
Economy Economy
TechnologyTechnology
SocietySociety
LanguagesLanguages
What is happening to English?What is happening to English?
““There is nothing likely to stop its (English) There is nothing likely to stop its (English) global spread.” David Crystalglobal spread.” David Crystal
““The current wave of English may lose The current wave of English may lose momentum.” David Graddolmomentum.” David Graddol
What’s happening may lead to fragmentation What’s happening may lead to fragmentation into a “family of languages.” Tom McArthurinto a “family of languages.” Tom McArthur
……English throughout the worldEnglish throughout the world Blurring of boundaries between native and non-native Blurring of boundaries between native and non-native
speakersspeakers Close to 2 billion English language learnersClose to 2 billion English language learners NNS = 3 x NSNNS = 3 x NS Greater tolerance for NNSGreater tolerance for NNS
Globalization of English Globalization of English ELF = English as a lingua francaELF = English as a lingua franca Fewer international studentsFewer international students
Decrease in predominance of English on the InternetDecrease in predominance of English on the Internet
Greater need for multilingualism (English + regional Greater need for multilingualism (English + regional languages)languages)
From Definition by Geography to From Definition by Geography to Definition by ProficiencyDefinition by Proficiency
Inner Circle = Native Speakers
Outer Circle = Second Language Speakers
Expanding Circle = Foreign Language Speakers
(Kachru 1985)
Inner Circle = “Functional Nativeness”
Outer Circle = High Proficiency Speakers
Expanding Circle = Low Proficiency Speakers
(Graddol 2006)
Rise in World Demand for EnglishRise in World Demand for English
Graddol, D. (2006) English Next
……English in the USEnglish in the US
Over 1 million immigrants per year have Over 1 million immigrants per year have arrived in the US so far this decade.arrived in the US so far this decade.
One in five school-aged children are One in five school-aged children are children of immigrants.children of immigrants.
NCLB mandates AYP for states and NCLB mandates AYP for states and districts.districts.
The debate over the status of English in The debate over the status of English in the US is on.the US is on.
School-Age Children of ImmigrantsSchool-Age Children of Immigrants
Capps, et al. (2005). The New Demography of America’s Schools: Immigration and the No Child Left Behind Act.Capps, et al. (2005). The New Demography of America’s Schools: Immigration and the No Child Left Behind Act.
What’s happening in Washington?What’s happening in Washington?
Odden, A. et al. (2006). An Evidence-based Approach to School Finance Adequacy in WashingtonOdden, A. et al. (2006). An Evidence-based Approach to School Finance Adequacy in Washington
Increases in Numbers: Increases in Numbers: LEP ChildrenLEP Children
Odden, A. et al. (2006). An Evidence-based Approach to School Finance Adequacy in WashingtonOdden, A. et al. (2006). An Evidence-based Approach to School Finance Adequacy in Washington
What’s happening in language What’s happening in language teaching and learning?teaching and learning?
Focus on standards-based models: Focus on standards-based models: “can-do” objectives“can-do” objectives TESOLTESOL Common European Framework (CEF)Common European Framework (CEF)
Greater emphasis on foreign languagesGreater emphasis on foreign languages Europe – multilingualism Europe – multilingualism US – heritage languages, immersion US – heritage languages, immersion
programs, bilingual educationprograms, bilingual education
……and in English Teaching?and in English Teaching? Europe (not UK alone!): Europe (not UK alone!):
English literacy as a core skill – must be taughtEnglish literacy as a core skill – must be taught Emphasis on EYL = English for Young LearnersEmphasis on EYL = English for Young Learners CLIL = Content and Language Integrated LearningCLIL = Content and Language Integrated Learning Technology = CALL and beyondTechnology = CALL and beyond
United States:United States: Content-based instructionContent-based instruction SESSES Technology = CALL and beyondTechnology = CALL and beyond
Rest of WorldRest of World Copycat phenomenon – following either Europe or US, often Copycat phenomenon – following either Europe or US, often
with five to ten year lagwith five to ten year lag Adaptations to cultural needsAdaptations to cultural needs
CLIL in Europe CLIL in Europe
Eurydice. (2006). Content and Language Integrated Learning at School in Europe.Eurydice. (2006). Content and Language Integrated Learning at School in Europe.
Content-Based Language Instruction in the USContent-Based Language Instruction in the US
Met, M. Retrieved from: http://www.carla.umn.edu:16080/cobaltt/modules/
Content-driven Language-driven
Technology: Technology: New Tools to Enrich TeachingNew Tools to Enrich Teaching
Tech-based distance learning coursesTech-based distance learning courses Tech-embedded blended learning coursesTech-embedded blended learning courses Technological AdvancesTechnological Advances
Mobile technologiesMobile technologies Speech recognitionSpeech recognition Blogs, wikis, podcastsBlogs, wikis, podcasts Voiceover IPVoiceover IP Automatic essay gradersAutomatic essay graders
Online communities of learners and teachersOnline communities of learners and teachers
Future Trends: Future Trends: Teacher Training and DevelopmentTeacher Training and Development Move from “specialist” to “generalist”Move from “specialist” to “generalist”
Broader base in educationBroader base in education Ability to teach wider range of age groupsAbility to teach wider range of age groups
Higher comfort level with technologyHigher comfort level with technology Access to technologyAccess to technology Ongoing professional development coursesOngoing professional development courses
Teaching of English descriptively rather than Teaching of English descriptively rather than prescriptivelyprescriptively
Eclecticism – awareness of changing paradigms; Eclecticism – awareness of changing paradigms; a rich toolbox of ELT techniquesa rich toolbox of ELT techniques
What’s on the Horizon?What’s on the Horizon?
Paradigm shift: the pendulum will swing towards a Paradigm shift: the pendulum will swing towards a more organismic paradigmmore organismic paradigm
Use of standards allowing for differences, while Use of standards allowing for differences, while still providing sufficient information to still providing sufficient information to stakeholders.stakeholders.
Decreased focus on general, group standards; Decreased focus on general, group standards; greater focus on the individualgreater focus on the individual
Move from legislation of teaching to focus on Move from legislation of teaching to focus on learninglearning
Move from centralistic control to local controlMove from centralistic control to local control
How Can We Prepare?How Can We Prepare?
Be eclectic.Be eclectic.
Read, read, read.Read, read, read.
Attend professional development Attend professional development sessions.sessions.
Go with the flow – in another ten years, Go with the flow – in another ten years, the pendulum will swing back!the pendulum will swing back!
ReferencesReferencesCapps, et al. (2005). The New Demography of America’s Schools: Immigration and the No Child Capps, et al. (2005). The New Demography of America’s Schools: Immigration and the No Child
Left Behind Act.Left Behind Act.
Crystal, D. (2006). English worldwide. In R. Hogg and D. Denison (eds), Crystal, D. (2006). English worldwide. In R. Hogg and D. Denison (eds), A History of the English A History of the English LanguageLanguage
Crystal, D. (2006). Toward a Philosophy of Language Management.Crystal, D. (2006). Toward a Philosophy of Language Management.
Eurydice. (2005). Foreign Language Learning: A European Priority.Eurydice. (2005). Foreign Language Learning: A European Priority.
Eurydice. (2006). Content and Language Integrated Learning at School in Europe.Eurydice. (2006). Content and Language Integrated Learning at School in Europe.
Graddol, D. (2006). English Next.Graddol, D. (2006). English Next.
Harlev, R. (2005). Harlev, R. (2005). Content-based Learning: Challenged Learners, Challenged TeachersContent-based Learning: Challenged Learners, Challenged Teachers, , Language Magazine.Language Magazine.
Odden, A. et al. (2006). An Evidence-based Approach to School Finance Adequacy in Odden, A. et al. (2006). An Evidence-based Approach to School Finance Adequacy in Washington.Washington.
Short, D.J. and Fitzsimmons, S. (2007). Double the Work: Challenges and Solutions to Acquiring Short, D.J. and Fitzsimmons, S. (2007). Double the Work: Challenges and Solutions to Acquiring Language and Academic Literacy for Adolescent English Language Learners.Language and Academic Literacy for Adolescent English Language Learners.
Smith, K. (2005). Assessment of Teaching in the Era of Standards: What is Left of Teacher Smith, K. (2005). Assessment of Teaching in the Era of Standards: What is Left of Teacher Autonomy?Autonomy?
Underhill, A. (2004). Trends in English Language Teaching Today.Underhill, A. (2004). Trends in English Language Teaching Today.
A complete list of references will be provided upon request.
Thank you!Thank you!
Dr. Randi HarlevDr. Randi Harlev
[email protected]@eltconsult.com
““All languages are works in progress. But English’s All languages are works in progress. But English’s globalization, unprecedented in the history of language, globalization, unprecedented in the history of language, will revolutionize it in ways we can only begin to imagine. will revolutionize it in ways we can only begin to imagine.
David Crystal, Newsweek, March 7, 2005, International EditionDavid Crystal, Newsweek, March 7, 2005, International Edition