Using listening journals to raise awareness of Global Englishes in ELT

Abstract

With the increasing use of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), it is no longer appropriate to associate English purely with �native-speaking� nations, but with a global community of users. This article reports on the use of listening journals in ELT to expose students to global Englishes (GE), a field that reflects the current global use of English. These journals served as a pedagogical task, and as a research instrument that involved the analysis of 108 journals consisting of 1,092 reflections on GE exposure. The results highlighted students� current use of English, the impetus behind the selection of material for the listening journal, and their reflections on this exposure. The study not only shows a benefit in using listening journals to raise awareness of GE but also highlights limitations, including the reinforcement of stereotypes and a tendency to reflect on attitudes towards different varieties of English rather than how successful ELF communication is achieved.