In an effort to curtail native-speaker dominance of global English, and in recognition of the growing role of the language among non-native speakers from different first-language backgrounds, some academics have been urging the teaching of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). Although at first this proposal seems to offer a plausible alternative to…

In order to broaden the range and increase the significance of their work, some English language teachers have embraced critical pedagogy, which seeks to effect political and social change through education. It is not clear, though, certainly in the previous paper, how such an aim can be achieved, or whether the outcome would be the one…

In the present post-method situation, ELT has become increasingly sensitive to the issue of culture. However, this concept has been defined so broadly that it cannot fill the gap left by the retreat from methodology. In the absence of objective guidelines about what to do in the classroom, the teacher has returned to centre stage, but as a more…

The cultural values of multilingual students are sometimes at variance with Western academic practice, in matters such as plagiarism. In accepting this, however, it is important to avoid stereotyping. Instead we should respect and make use of the students' own traditions of study. It is also time to acknowledge that ideas and language are…

Examines the relationship between language competence and academic competence of students from non-English speaking countries and whether language training is actually the form of training they need. (Author/VWL)