Unit information: Globalisation and the Politics of English in TESOL in 2014/15

Unit name	Globalisation and the Politics of English in TESOL
Unit code	EDUCM5906
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Giampapa
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Education
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will address theory and research into the spread of English around the world. The focus will be a consideration of the historical, political, social and cultural and educational aspects of the spread of English. The unit will examine themes such as variation in English and the use of global Englishes, the sociology and politics of the spread of English, its impact on other languages and language education, the process of standardisation and the social recognition of non-standard varieties of English, and its impact on English language teaching. This unit will provide a context for critical engagement with policy development in language education in national and institutional contexts, and thus locate TESOL in the increasingly globalised domains of educational and cultural development.

The unit aims to:

• To develop an understanding of the historical, political, social, cultural aspects of the global spread of English;

• To build an awareness of ethical issues in relation to the internationalization of English worldwide, its function and status across diverse contexts;

• To understand the emergence and significance of varieties of English, in addition to its standard forms;

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, students will have developed an understanding of:

• The historical, political, social, and cultural factors, which influence the spread of English globally.

• The theoretical frameworks in the study of English as a global language with reference to language teaching

By the end of this unit, students will have developed skills in:

• Critically evaluating research approaches to globalisation and the spread of English;

• Analysing and interpreting data from research that focuses on global Englishes, its spread and the impact on other local languages.

• Identifying the pedagogical implications of global English research.

Teaching Information

• Lecture input
• Online learning support (Blackboard)
• Data Projects (online resources, using data from Tutors’ Research Projects)
• Presentations,
• Small group work,
• Seminars or workshops,
• Action research,
• Simulations,
• Individual tutorials and supported self study.

Individualised and supervised studies to include on-line discussion, supervision and directed reading

Assessment Information

Either:

A negotiated assignment of 4,000 (or equivalent) exploring professional aspects of globalisation and English as an international language informed by both current perspectives in the literature, and the development needs of a specific curricular context.

Or

An outline proposal of 4,000 words (or equivalent) for an empirical research study addressing a current theoretical or curricular issues in globalisation and English as an international language, including a focussed literature review, research questions and procedures for data collection and data analysis.

Reading and References

• Canagarajah, A. S. (1999). Resisting linguistic imperialism in English teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Cheshire, J. (1991). English around the world: Sociolinguistic perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Hall, J.K. & Eggington, W. (2000). (Eds.) The sociopolitics of English language teaching. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

• Holliday, A. (2005). The struggle to teach English as an international language. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Pennycook, A. (1994). The cultural politics of English as an international language. London: Longman.

• Tollefson, J.W. (2002). Language policies in education: Critical issues. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erbaum Associates.