Global Englishes: WE, EIL, ELF and English Language Teaching. An Overview of Research Literature

Abstract

The article is aimed at presenting an overview of recent research studies dealing with the pedagogical implications of research into World Englishes (WE), English as an International Language (EIL) and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). The paper is structured into two main parts: the first section includes a table summarising main research findings dealing with WE, EIL and ELF in terms of pedagogic practices, that have been organized according to five main areas: sociolinguistic awareness of the plurality of English; exemplifications of the diversity and plurality of Englishes and of ELF; Englishes and ELF in ELT – materials implementation and examples of materials/activities; use of English in the out-of-school environment; appropriation of English: language creativity in EIL/ELF settings; accommodation and communication strategies for effective and cooperative interaction; strategic competence; focus on intelligibility; intercultural communication and cross-cultural sensitivity. The second part of the article consists in an annotated bibliography of research works that have taken into consideration aspects connecting WE and EIL/ELF with pedagogic practices, from textbook evaluation to projects dealing with classroom activities and proposals; the bibliography also includes a specific section on teacher education, another area that has seen a significant development over the last five years, and is thus meant to be complementary to the table presented in the first section.