Teaching English from a Global Perspective

by Anne Burns

To be an English teacher today is to play an inevitable part in the globalizing of English. This volume canvasses important questions for English language teachers that are posed by the phenomenon of a global

Whose language? English speakers today are more likely to use English with multilingual speakers than with monolingual speakers.
Which speakers? Emphasizing the second language user rather than the native speaker shifts the focus to the realities of global uses of English.
Which language? English teachers are increasingly challenged to help learners select the most appropriate variety of English for different circumstances.
Which standard? Learners' rather than teachers' English-language-using contexts will increasingly be the main reference point for learning.
Which teachers? Language teaching professionals should challenge the prevailing dichotomy of native-versus nonnative-speaking teachers.
Which approaches? Teachers should consider which methods are most appropriate for the varieties learners need and expect in their local contexts.
Which texts? To teach from a global perspective, teachers need to help students navigate evolving forms of discourse, text, and visual image.
Which practices? The contributors provide numerous practical suggestions for exploring the complex dimensions of teaching English as a global language.

Paperback

First published December 31, 2005

About the author

Anne Burns is Professor of TESOL at the University of New South Wales, Australia, and Professor Emerita, at Aston University, UK. She has published extensively on teaching speaking, action research and language teacher education.

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice practical examples of curriculum design for ESL/EFL. Good critical look at English varieties.