Teaching English as Lingua Franca

A first approach:

As a first introduction, we recommend this free self-study course issued by British Council and York St John University in 2013, updated and revised in 2023.

CLICK on the image to get access to the course.

CONTEXT-SPECIFIC COMPETENCES:

"The reason the CEFR includes so many descriptor scales is to encourage users to develop differentiated profiles. Descriptor scales can be used firstly to identify which language activities are relevant for a particular group of learners and, secondly, to establish which level those learners need to achieve in those activities in order to accomplish their goals. [...] Profiles like Figures 6 and 7 may be produced for individuals in the context of very intensive LSP training, but the technique is also very useful for analysing the needs of particular groups of learners." Council of Europe (2020). CEFR-Companion Volume. p. 38

The CEFR-Companion Volume provides detailed Can-Do descriptors for PLURILINGUAL, PLURICULTURAL a.o. relevant skills. These can be helpful in specifiying learning needs in great detail.

EVOLUTION - not revolution!

"In practical terms, the best approach to introducing a curriculum geared to the goals and aims of plurilingual and intercultural education (…) should be one of gradual medium- or long-term development and not break sharply with the existing situation. Looking closely at the existing curriculum is an essential first step if the approach adopted is not 'all or nothing' but 'little by little'...”

Beacco, Byram, Cavalli, Coste, Cuenat, Goullier, Panthier (2016). Guide for the implementation of curricula for Plurilingual and intercultural education. p.89

Choosing teaching material :

1. Ask
Do speakers represent ELF contexts? Is native English and its culture prioritized? Is learners’ mother tongue considered a resource or hindrance?
2. Check
Do materials expose learners to authentic language representing the reality of language use in international contexts?
Do materials focus on communication strategies and negotiation of meaning rather than on native speaker competency?
Do materials assist learners in paying attention to the role of ELF in their everyday context?
3. Explore
Can materials be used as an ELF‑informed core text or a supplementary one? How are issues of generalizability and flexibility addressed?

Zia Tajeddin, Hossein Ali Manzouri (2025). Teaching Materials in English as an Intnernational Language. Research and principles. in: Ali Fuad Selvi, Nicola Galloway (eds.) (2025). The Routledge Handbook of Teaching English as an International Language. p. 174

Andy Kirkpatrick / Wang Lixun (2020). Is English an Asian Language? p. 189

Five Principles of the Lingua Franca Approach:

1) The native speaker of English is not the linguistic target. Mutual intelligibility is the goal.
2) The native speaker’s culture is not the cultural target. Intercultural competence in relevant cultures is the goal.
3) Local multilinguals who are suitably trained provide the most appropriate English language teachers.
4) Lingua franca environments provide excellent learning environments for lingua franca speakers.
5) Assessment must be relevant to the ASEAN/Asian [&European] context.

ELF-informed pedagogy includes: