Teaching the Expanding Universe of Englishes

Abstract

The expansion of Englishes causes great difficulties for English teachers and learners, and attempts to find a single pedagogy to teach all learners for all contexts have not been successful. This chapter will demonstrate using a common target variety, U.S. English, that constant change in all levels of the grammar creates a dynamic language with shifting rules that cannot be studied as a stagnant subject with a set methodology or approach. English language pedagogy can be expanded, however, so that multiple pedagogies can assist both teachers and learners. Included in this chapter are discussions of pedagogy based on genre, corpora, brain-based work, creativity, and World Englishes. At the same time, choosing appropriate pedagogies can empower learners and teachers to continue learning the language on their own and to keep up with the future expansion of the language.