“It Was Because I Could Speak English That I Got the Job”: Neoliberal Discourse in a Chinese English Textbook Series

The issue of neoliberalism has aroused sustained interest among English language teaching (ELT) and applied linguistic researchers who are politically minded. Neoliberalism is a dominant rationality with immense economic, political and ideological consequences in all aspects of social and institutional life in globalization, including foreign language education. This article presents a critical analysis of the neoliberal discourse on English language learning in the Chinese context with a special focus on teaching materials. Informed by a political economy perspective on English language education, the study employs critical discourse analysis (CDA) as a methodological principle. Specifically, it examines the way (a) competence in English is commodified as a desirable linguistic cultural capital, (b) English learning is portrayed as an individualized and asocial undertaking, and (c) a monolingual and monocultural dream is built to include learners in an imagined homogeneous discourse community. Implications for ELT pedagogy and curriculum are discussed.     

Perceptions About the Dominance of English as a Global Language: Impact on Foreign-Language Teachers’ Professional Identity

Using a novel theoretical framework that incorporates teacher identity, a school as community of practice, and English as a global language from a linguistic-imperialism perspective, this qualitative interview study with foreign-language teachers in Scotland, France, and Germany (N = 13) explores connections between foreign-language-learning decline and the impact of this decline on teachers’ identity across the three countries. Findings indicate similar trends across contexts in the dominance of English over other languages (and the identities of those who teach them) and support previous research on the importance of considering subject area, and its valuing by a range of stakeholders, as fundamental to teacher identity. Directions are proposed for future research and practice that emphasise taking an interdisciplinary approach to the notion of a subject area’s decline.     

英语国际语的教学框架

从教师视角研究英语国际语的教学框架,以应对当前全世界非英语国家英语教学所面临的挑战,对我国基础教育英语教学具有重要意义。该框架包括英语国际语体系、教学内容与预期教学结果。笔者全面阐述了在全球化背景下如何界定与区分教学内容与教学预期结果,为大纲的设计者与教材编写者提供了一个尝试性方案及其理据。     

作为应用语言学分支的对外汉语教学

对外汉语教学作为语言应用学科之一 ,是应用语言学的一个分支。因为都是新兴学科 ,二者关系过去在概念上不甚密切。学科成熟 ,是对外汉语教学并入应用语言学的基础。改革开放以来 ,汉语作为第二语言教学的理论研究促进了这一学科理论的建设 ,形成若干研究领域。可归纳为八个方面 :汉语本体研究、汉字教学研究、第二语言学习与习得研究、汉外语言与文化对比、汉语教学法研究、教学大纲与课程设计及教材编写、语言水平与能力测试、多媒体网络汉语教学     

“Only When I Am Not Ashamed of Myself Can I Teach Others”: Preservice English-Language Teachers in Vietnam and Code-Switching Practices

As the younger generation in Vietnam increasingly switches between the English and the Vietnamese languages, numerous linguistic and sociocultural strictures arise. Foregrounding the preservice English-language teachers of this generation, this article locates them in a dilemma between the discourse of globalization and their code-switching practices, on the one hand, and the moral-guide duty they are expected to fulfil within the discourse of linguistic nationalism on the other hand. Drawing on a case study conducted with survey questionnaires (N = 483) and focusing on interviews and focus groups (N = 15), this article reports the confusion, the decisions, and the negotiations made by different preservice teachers as they were faced with this dilemma. Particularly underlining the theme of negotiation, the article proposes certain changes to the English-language-teacher training curriculum in Vietnam.     

反思本族语言范式与英语教学

随着全球一体化和英语成为世界语（EIL）或通用语（ELF）新形势的到来,学界认为对英语的态度、实证研究的重心、以及英语教学实践都应有新的变革。针对这些新主张,中国英语教育应从教师聘任制度、教师培训制度以及英语教学大纲等三方面进行改革;力求打破非本族英语教师面临的聘任歧视,提升教师对自己角色变化的认知,培养教师对多种文化的敏感度,增强教师对亚种类英语的了解,并从教学目标、教学内容、教学方法、考核制度等方面对教学大纲进行完善。     

谈专业外语教学的改革

目前的专业外语教学已不能适应社会需求。以单一外语为专业的外语院校毕业生相对于其它专业的大学毕业生已无明显的外语优势。为此,结合外语院校的自身优势,提出了变单语为双语、多语,变语言学为主为应用语言为主的教学改革思路。     

异地办学的英语教学模式探讨

本文所探讨的主题是大学在异地办学中英语教学的定位和教学平台的建设,作者结合清华大学深圳研究生院的英语教学实践,指出了在国际交流日益增强的全球化时代,培养国际性复合式人才对于英语教学的新要求,异地办学英语教学实践所应遵循的从实际出发、服务于当地人才培养需求的原则,以及在教学实施中的相应策略和方法。     

A passage from linguistics to English language teaching： Students＇ experiences and expectations

Linguistic courses in ELT （English Language Teaching） departments, in some ways, may create obstacles due to their firm theoretical framework. Therefore, this study is concerned with the main problems for the students taking linguistic courses in ELT Department at Trakya University in Turkey. The purpose of the study is to investigate the attitudes of the students in ELT departments towards attending linguistic courses. The survey was carried out with 21-item likert type scale designed by the researcher. The results specify that, the students at Trakya University admit the effectiveness of linguistic courses and have found a way to applied linguistics from theoretical linguistics.     

Metaphors used by pre-service teachers of Chinese as an international language

This inquiry explored 68 pre-service perceptions and aspirations of Teaching Chinese as an International Language (TCIL) teachers by analysing the metaphors they used to describe themselves as teachers. The inquiry revealed that the participants used a variety of metaphors to project the images of themselves as pre-service TCIL teachers. The results also confirm that the participants’ use of metaphors, as powerful tools to understand the complexity of teaching, reflects the mediation of cultural, historical and sociopolitical conditions. These findings help teacher educators to support TCIL teachers’ professional development by engaging them in critical dialogues about the metaphors they use to perceive themselves as TCIL teachers. They also help teacher educators to adopt tailor-made pedagogical content to address their development needs.     

应用语言学理论研究发展趋向

应用语言学作为一门独立的研究领域已经历了50年的辉煌历史。在这期间,语言学家们不断推出并创建各种新的理论。其中认知理论在应用语言学领域一直是科学研究与实践应用的先导理论。近年来社会建构理论又从社会文化视角将应用语言学研究推向一个新的阶段,二者的有机结合将是未来应用语言学研究的发展趋势。     

英语的变化和中国的英语教学

伴随着英语在全球的传播,英语已经成为一门国际语言。英语在传播的过程中,出现了各种不同的变体。英语教学也要随着英语地位的改变而变化。     

对“字本位”理论及其论据的实证探讨

本文参与国际汉语教学界关于汉语基本结构单位的争论,将该单位称为语内基本结构单位。以认知语言学的范畴化理论为支撑,通过实验调查检查了“字本位”倡导者的理论及其论据,实证探讨的结果否定了论据的有理性。文章最后对在古典范畴理论支配下的本位之争的实际意义提出了质疑。     

顺应理论对英语听说教学的语用解析

一直以来,中国英语教学出现了一个误区,忽略了听说才是英语学习的基础。顺应理论为英语听说教学的研究提供了新的思路。文章以徐州英语培训学校听说教学为例,着重论述了语境顺应理论及其四个顺应方面对英语听说教学的启迪和实际应用价值。     

性别差异与外语教学关系研究评述

性别差异是外语教学研究的一个重要方面。近四十年来国内外在外语测试、教材、学习策略与风格和课堂教学等领域的性别差异实证研究方面取得了一定的成就,从而进一步深化和丰富了性别因素在社会语言学与应用语言学领域的研究。     

How effective is role play in supporting speaking and listening for pupils with English as an additional language in the Foundation Stage?

This research investigated how role play supports the development of speaking and listening skills for pupils who have English as an additional language in the Foundation Stage. The literature highlighted sociocultural perspective on language development, importance of role play within Early Years pedagogy and key strategies for language learning which may be promoted through role play. Data was triangulated through questionnaires and interviews in relation to the key questions. The findings were positive with pupils demonstrating an improved use of English and a wider range of language learning strategies.