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TESOL: Trojan horse of globalisation

conference contribution
posted on 2004-01-01, 00:00 authored by G Birch, Indika LiyanageIndika Liyanage
Abstract: While it is certainly the case that globalisation has contributed to the spread of the English language, this paper argues that the English language is itself an agent in the spread of globalisation. In this process, TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) plays a major role. It has long been argued that language and culture are inseparable and that in acquiring a language the learner also acquires the culture in which the language is embedded. If the language is acquired by means of formal classroom instruction, then it follows that the language classroom may be seen as a vehicle for cultural transmission. This paper analyses the cultural content in a widely used TESOL textbook. It does this at two levels: (a) An analysis of field, tenor and mode as depicted through the selection of language used in the book together with the accompanying illustrations and (b) An analysis of the teaching methodology recommended or implied by the authors. The analysis reveals a tendency in the textbooks to depict an exclusively attractive view of English-speaking culture without any counterbalancing features and concludes also that the teaching methodology favours a western view of learning. The paper cautions that teachers need to adopt a critical approach to the depiction of culture as well as to the embedded teaching methodology to avoid being cast in the role of unwitting purveyors of both cultural and linguistic imperialism.

History

Event

Griffith University, School of Cognition, Language and Special Education. Conference (2nd : 2004 : Surfers Paradise, Qld.)

Volume

1

Series

Griffith University, School of Cognition, Language and Special Education Conference

Pagination

93 - 102

Publisher

School of Cognition, Language, and Special Education, Griffith University

Location

Surfers Paradise, Qld.

Place of publication

Nathan, Qld.

Start date

2004-12-03

End date

2004-12-05

ISBN-10

1921166045

Language

eng

Publication classification

E1.1 Full written paper - refereed

Copyright notice

2004, Griffith University, School of Cognition, Language and Special Education and individual contributors

Editor/Contributor(s)

B Bartlett, F Bryer, D Roebuck

Title of proceedings

Educating: weaving research into practice : Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Conference on Cognition, Language, and Special Education Research 2004

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