How to Teach TESOL Ethically in an English-Dominant World
Feb 20, 2024
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Ingrid Piller talks about teaching English ethically in a diverse world. Topics include migrant parents fostering biliteracy, language challenges during Covid-19, English-centric blind spots in research, and the connection between World Englishes and multilingualism.
Incorporating diverse linguistic perspectives in teaching TESOL promotes inclusivity and enriches learning experiences.
Rethinking cultural classification models challenges oversimplification and encourages nuanced intercultural dialogues.
Deep dives
Inclusion and Acknowledgment of Multiple Languages and Cultural Identities
Navigating the balance between World Englishes and multilingualism illuminates the complexities within academic discourse. While World Englishes offer a liberating lens for those coming from non-English speaking backgrounds, it often maintains an English-centric perspective. The history of multilingualism, such as in the Mughal Empire, underscores the layered linguistic and social orders that have evolved. Addressing the tension between these paradigms involves critically examining exclusionary practices and advocating for diversified language teaching initiatives.
Challenging the Dominance of English and English-Centric Scholarship
The persistent reliance on English and English-centric scholarship perpetuates a limited worldview and restricts access to knowledge for non-native English speakers. The English-centric publishing structure and evaluative metrics perpetuate a monolingual mindset, hindering the inclusivity of diverse linguistic perspectives. Initiatives to counter this narrative include encouraging language teachers to learn languages they teach, creating multilingual academic spaces, and disseminating research in languages beyond English.
Moving Beyond Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Framework
The enduring appeal of Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions framework highlights a tendency to simplify cultural nuances into rigid classifications based on national boundaries. Despite its ongoing popularity, a critical perspective challenges the applicability and relevance of such frameworks in diverse and dynamic cultural contexts. Embracing a nuanced understanding of culture and discarding overly simplistic models fosters deeper insights and more inclusive intercultural dialogues.
We discuss whether US native speakers of English can teach English ethically; how migrant parents can foster their children’s biliteracy; what the language challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic are; whether multilingualism researchers have a monolingual English-centric blind spot; and how the research paradigms of World Englishes and multilingualism connect.
“Chats in Linguistic Diversity” is a podcast about linguistic diversity in social life brought to you by the Language on the Move team. We explore multilingualism, language learning, and intercultural communication in the contexts of globalization and migration.