The globalization of English: Implications for the business English classroom - Robin Walker
A key role of English today is as a lingua franca. But to what extent does the
globalization of English affect what we do in the business English classroom? In this
talk I will briefly compare the terms EFL and ELF, and then look at the implications
of ELF for teachers of business English.
10 March 2009
1 year 43 weeks
Dear Robin Walker,
I have found this session particularly interesting.
You have sounded intelligible before your audience, presented a relevant issue in a very clear, practical way, providing many examples to illustrate your points.
Some mistakes are not worth looking at provided that communication flows in a comprehensive way. What really matters is "understanding of communication". There has to be mutual intelligibility, I also believe. If communication fails, it might occur some chaos, which can damage personal relationships and/or business relations.
The final images of the two drivers standing for "competence" and "pedagogy" were very appealing, in our view. We also think it is likely to find more competent non-native speakers than native ones...
Thank you very much indeed.
Maria
6 April 2010
1 year 34 weeks
Dear Maria
Thank you for your comments. I'm glad the session was interesting. One thing I would add is that in addition to mutual intelligibility being the aim of ELF, in Business English or any other English, what we consider a mistake in EFL is not necessarily a mistake in ELF. The dropping of the 's' of the 3rd person, for example, is a mistake in EFL, but the VOICE project suggests that it is becoming the norm (and so not a mistake) for ELF grammar.
14 April 2010
1 year 43 weeks
mmmm. very very interesting and thought provoking. so who actually decides whether to teach EFL or ELF to Business students? Is it a decision taken by the DOS, by the teacher herself or by the students? Why do students sometimes ask for native speakers? Why do native speaker teachers feel superior? what if some of your sts are aiming for native speaker competence and others for ELF?
There you are. You set me going.
thank you
6 April 2010
1 year 34 weeks
Dear Jean
I forgot to tick the box that meant I'd be alerted to postings, and lo and behold, you posted and I didn't pick up on it. My sincere apologies for this, and in case you're still interested in replies to your Qs,here goes:
1) Who decides EFL or ELF for Business students. ANSWER - Business English is no different to any other ELT context in this respect. They key players are the learners, the institution, the DOS, and you, the teacher. I'm currently teaching various groups of lecturers in economics and business administration at my local university. The institution itself has not laid down any requirements so I've opted to use an ELF approach. My reasons for doing this were set out in my Harrogate talk, and I've made them clear to all three groups. I've also indicated that if they prefer me to use an EFL approach, I'm more than happy to do so. However, as soon as I explained what ELF is, they recognized immediately that it responds very well to their use and real-life experience of English. In the light of this they are happy to stay with my initial choice.
2) Why do NS teachers feel superior? ANS - a difficult one, but if we accept that standard NS English is the only correct variation for the classroom, then NSs (at least those NSs that have full command of their respective standard model), will obviously see themselves as superior to the vast majority of NNSs, who usually don't have the same command, particularly in pronunciation and idiomaticity. With an ELF approach, however, the NS has no special advantage. In fact, for identical levels of command of English, the NNS tecaher is slightly better situated than the NS teacher.
3) EFL & ELF in the same class. This will happen constantly, but shouldn't worry us. The common ground between the two approaches is enormous, and the only thing we need to do is make it clear to each group of students where their priorities lie. With pronunciation for example, nothing that is found in an ELF syllabus is unnecessary for learners aiming at an EFL goal.
OK, as I said at the beginning. I'm sorry this has taken so long and hope it helps.
Best
Robin
robin@englishglobalcom.com
30 May 2010
1 year 36 weeks
I would add in globalization of English whether it is for business or indeed any other English is to consider how to make it available to those who need to learn it and use their professional skills to be active players in the globalization process.
At the moment there is very little support in the UK for those who would like to support non-native English speaker and offer them FREE English courses to people who come to live in the UK so they don’t become reliant on Estate benefits and enter the chamber of the unemployed. In regard of English grammar, whether a mistake in EFL is not necessarily a mistake in ELF.
The dropping of the ’s’ of the 3rd person, in my view, grammar is grammar and it has been written for a reason and it should be learnt and use appropriate by those native speakers. I would understand it if foreigners at times make this mistake but English native speakers, reasonably well educated people should not spoilt their language by using constant slang language and incorrect grammar.
English grammar being easier than other modern languages yet it is complex for us who English is not our first language, I think its lack of grammar rules and well use of it amongst the native speakers make us hesitate in the correct use of English grammar when we speak it. One tend to think that the native know best, sadly it is not the case always.
Thank you for the video (you Tube) it is a very interesting presentation.
26 April 2010
1 year 15 weeks
Dear Robin Walker,
I find your session interesting,despite being not from G7 , BRIC or ASEAN countries...I like the structure of your presentation..but something must be changed while I'd present about the ELF issues in Central Asia.
@"Obama and Brown.. they speak, of course, BANA English?!?
@Leaders of new emerging economies speak ELF, but, unfortunately, we do not hear their voices, only while hearing debates between V.V Putin, D.A.Medvedev and other leaders of/from the G8 countries we can conclude "What is the difference between ELF based on Russian and for Ex Exam., A.Merkel's speech,, based on German..
I have seen Vienna's “VOICE” of Barbara Seidlhofer.It seems that I myself would speak like her, bcs my first foreign language is German.
English Teachers here in Central Asia are trying to learn ELF and then to teach it.. we hear at least 5-6 types of ELF here, bcs I believe that ELF depends very much on Mother tongue,we hear even the Ringua Flanca too...bcs many countries are doing business here..and therefore we try not to spoil our Uzbek ELF?!
Halima