Saturday 22nd April, 10:00 to 13:30
Berlin School of English, Charlottenstr. 81, 10969 Berlin
It is taken for granted that students prefer ‘native speaker’ teachers. It is also taken for granted that students prefer and should aspire to learn ‘native-like’ English. And as a result, the ‘native speaker’ is seen as not only a better language model, but also a better teacher. However does this really reflect our students’ language goals and needs?
We won’t know until we ask them. So in this 3-hour session we will discuss, among other issues: English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) and its implications for ELT; Raising students’ awareness of the global nature of English; The myths concerning ‘native’ and ‘non-native speaker’ teachers; Recruitment policies in ELT vs. the qualities and skills of effective teachers, and much more.
By the end of the session you will have a better understanding of ELF and its practical implications for ELT. You will learn how to help learners improve their pronunciation and why ‘non-native speakers’ can also be good models of the English language. You will also walk away with an array of ideas and classroom activities aiming to move towards a more lingua franca and international view of the English language.