Date: 11 July
Time: 4:00-5:00pm ICT (UTC+7)
We are living through a period where the pace of change seems relentless. This changing world has implications for the use and the teaching of the English language.
Change creates opportunities. Opportunities to reflect, to be in the moment and also to think about the future. We will briefly reflect on where we think we were very generally in the area of English language teaching before the onset of the Covid pandemic and where we possibly find ourselves now. Then, importantly, we will suggest implications for English language teachers to think about as we move forward into a world where the education space and the stakeholders have changed. To frame our presentation, we will the findings of the Future of English programme initiated by the British Council in 2020.
The Future of English (FoE) is a multi-phase research project with the aim of identifying key trends that will define the role of English as a global language in the coming decade, and the issues and opportunities for countries around the world in achieving their goals for the use of English in their contexts. This is not the first time work has been done on trying to foresee the future direction of the English language and its role in teaching and learning. Existing studies (Graddol, 1997 and 2006) have been reviewed and findings from these reviews form the basis of the Future of English project.
Teachers and learners have been at the forefront of discussion and debate as education systems have attempted to navigate new learning environments to ensure the continued provision of high-quality, effective teaching and learning. This webinar will discuss findings from the project which illuminate the role of the English teacher in a world that has recently seen dramatic change and disruption.