Teacher Talking Time: The Learn YOUR English Podcast Native English isn't Relevant to the Majority of English Users - Jennifer Jenkins
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"It's such social injustice to expect people to use English like native English speakers, whichever country they're in." We dive into this and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) with Jennifer Jenkins.
Jennifer Jenkins is a British linguist and academic. She was Chair Professor of Global Englishes at the University of Southampton until her retirement in 2019. She is a leading figure in the study of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), and is an expert on communication in English between non-native speakers. She has published and lectured widely and is a founder editor of the Journal of English as a Lingua Franca.
In this episode, Jennifer tackles:
- what English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) is
- native speakers vs local speakers
- why she was shunned from many rooms for her views
- the cultural and linguistic bias in language testing
- how tests are not predictive of academic success
- the myth that ELF lowers English standards
- the role of adjusting language rather than mimicking it
- having a pioneer mindset even when people dismiss you
- how international universities have hypocritical linguistic standards
- the future of English as a global language
FOR MORE FROM JENNIFER JENKINS:
2. Her page at the University of Southampton
3. Accommodation in ELF: Where from? Where now? Where next?
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