From EFL to ESOL Dr. Desmond Thomas, International Academy, University of Essex

Who speaks English? Kirkpatrick: ENL, ESL, EFL speakers ENL: UK and ‘settlement colonies’ of the UK ESL: ‘Trade/exploitation colonies’ of the UK EFL: The rest of the world Graddol: L1, L2, EFL speakers Kachru: Inner Circle, Outer Circle and Expanding Circle speakers Phillipson/Holliday: Core vs Periphery

Who are the native speakers? UK citizens? US citizens? New Zealand citizens? South African citizens? Malaysian citizens? Dutch/Swedish/Norwegian citizens?

How do we determine NS? By place of birth? Parent’s 1 st language? Our own 1 st language? The language in which we are educated? The language which we normally speak at home?

What types of English do people speak? British /American/Nigerian English? EFL or ESL or ENL? EIL (English as an International language), ‘World/Global’ English(es)? ELF (English as a Lingua Franca)? Standard English?

English as a Lingua Franca “The common language of choice among speakers who come from different linguacultural backgrounds. In practice this often means English being used among non-native English speakers from the Expanding Circle” (Jenkins, J. 2009)

Why do people learn English? Main international language of: books, newspapers, airports and air- traffic control, international business and academic conferences, science, technology, diplomacy, sport, pop music, and advertising (Source: The British Council)

A few facts about English Over two-thirds of the world's scientists read in English. Three quarters of the world's mail is written in English. Eighty per cent of the world's electronically stored information is in English.

The domination of English “The present distribution throughout the world of the major international languages- Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish is evidence of conquest and occupation, followed by adoption of the invader’s language because of the benefits that accrue to speakers of the language when the dominant language has been imposed” (Phillipson 1992)

Linguistic Imperialism Thesis The spread of English is not just accidental but also deliberate to gain political and cultural world dominance Linguistic imperialism is therefore a modern form of colonization It is accompanied by cultural and educational imperialism Implications for ELT are many

Why do people learn English? Communication with native speakers Work Career prospects Academic study Travel Access to information Access to literature and culture Prestige?

ESL learner characteristics Learners live in an English-speaking environment Learners can practise outside class (including other subject classes) Learners need ‘survival English’ Motivation to succeed usually high Example group: ECDIS students

EFL learner characteristics Learners live in their native language countries Learners have limited practice opportunities outside English classes Learners do not necessarily need ‘survival English’ Motivation levels vary greatly

ESL vs EFL teaching The ‘twin traditions’ of English Language Teaching TESOL/ESOL includes both In subsequent lectures and seminars we will look at similarities, differences and implications of situating oneself in either area

Further reading: general Crystal 2003, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, Cambridge Graddol, D. 1999, The Future Of English, British Council Jenkins, J. 2003, World Englishes, Routledge Khachru, B. 1985, Standards, codification and sociolinguistic realism: the English language in the Outer Circle. In Quirk, R. & H.Widdowson (eds.) English in the World: Teaching and Learning the Language and Literatures, Cambridge

Further reading: ‘imperialism’ Holliday, A. 1994, Appropriate Methodology and Social Context, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Pennycook, A. 1994, The Cultural Politics of English as an International Language, London: Longman Phillipson, R. 1992, Linguistic Imperialism, Oxford: Oxford University Press