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

randi@eltconsult.comrandi@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