Module 1 – The world of English

language teaching
 Outline of the lesson
• Main content
– Who speaks English?
– Who learns English and which variety do they
learn?
Objectives Main content Discussions
– What are GE and ESP?
– Who teaches English?
• Discussions

Who speaks Who learns Who teaches

English? English? English?
 Objectives
• Help Ss master the basic knowledge of English, different
varieties of English, who can teach English, and some of the
most distinctive varieties of English being taught around the
world
 Main content

Who speaks
English?

Who teaches
English?

Who learns
English?
 1.1.
1.1. Who
Who speaks
speaks English?
English?

Early Middle Ages: English is

spoken exclusively by English
people living in England

Was then migrated through conquest

and trade to other countries like: the
USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
the West Indies, the Indian
subcontinent, parts of Africa, Asia…

Continue to spread to other

countries and has become one of
the world’s main languages of
communication and commerce
1.2. Who learns English and which variety do
they learn?
• More than one version of English
• In the south of England, “standard Southern English” is
spoken – the language used in many textbooks and exams for
English learners
• North English, Scotland English, Wales English, Northen
Netherland English
• General American English = Standard Southern English: being
used in teaching and examining all over the world
1.2. Who learns English and which variety do
they learn?
• “Outer circle” varieties: Indian or Singaporean English
• A language of inter-country communication in Southeast Asia
(Indo, Vietnam, Thailand)
→ new form of Asian English
1.2. Who learns English and which variety do
they learn?
• English as a lingua franca (ELF) – a means of communication
between people who come from different language
background
1.2. Which variety do they learn?

General English
General English - GE

Is taught as a No specific
school subject purpose

The predominant Syllabus is organized

model for teaching in terms of grammar,
vocabulary,
English in schools,
pronunciation,
colleagues and language skills
private language (Listening, speaking,
schools reading and writing)
 ESP
• For people who have clearly identifiable reasons for learning
• EST – English for science and technology
• EAP – English for academic purpose: referencing, note-taking,
making presentation, etc…
 What to teach in ESP course?
• Conduct a needs analysis → aims and objectives of the course
→ content and the syllabus
• E.g. Teach aviation English → kinds of exchange students will
be involved in (listening to the kind of language they need if
they are to operate efficiently and safely, listen to
announcements at the airport, etc..)
 Business English
• The content depends on whether the Ss are studying for some
future life business or whether they are working in a business
environment
• In reality, many BE course books look like GE course books:
same kinds of exercises, but the vocabulary and contexts
reflect the business environment
1.3. Who teaches English?
• Native - English - speaker teachers
• Non-native-English-speaker teachers
• Who are better?
Non-native English teachers vs. Native-
English teachers

Linguist
ics
confiden
ce

Target
language
proficien
cy

Appropr
iate
teacher
skills
 Discussions
1. How popular is English all over the world?
2. What are the most distinctive varieties of English being
taught all over the world?
3. Between native-English-speaker teachers and non- native-
English-speaker teachers, who do you think are better at
teaching English and why?
 Homework
• Read Chapter 2 - Describing the English language (p.14-40) at
home and answer the questions:
1. What are the components of English language?
2. How is English different from Vietnamese?
 Additional article (for group presentation)

https://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/issues_global.ht
ml
• What is a Global Language?
• Why is a Global Language Needed?
• Is a Global Language Necessarily “A Good Thing”?
• Is English a Global Language?
• Is English Appropriate for a Global Language?
• What About The Future?