ELF and Transcultural Communicative Practices in Multilingual and Multicultural Settings: A Theoretical Appraisal of Recent Advances

Abstract

Transcultural communicative practices (TCPs) have become increasingly important in English language pedagogy owing to the growing number of multilingual and multicultural settings. In this study, I theoretically appraise these practices and place them in the context of English as a lingua franca (ELF) and transcultural communication in the English language classroom. Drawing on Takkula et al.’s (2008) claim that all people are products of their native culture and mother tongue from the moment of birth, the paper argues that language students must be educated to overcome their culture-bound assumptions and beliefs and acquire the necessary skills for transcultural exchanges and that to this end, ELF is a valuable transcultural communication tool. The benefits and challenges of such practices are also discussed. The benefits for students include increased cultural sensitivity, improved communication skills, and enhanced critical thinking, whereas the challenges include language barriers, cultural differences, and class time constraints. The study concludes with hints for English language teachers and practitioners to effectively implement TCPs in classrooms to promote transcultural understanding and communication among students.