Idea Sharing: Introducing English as an International Language (EIL) to Pre-service Teachers in a World English Course

Abstract

Today, English is truly regarded as an international language. It is the most widely-learned and spoken second or foreign language in many countries. In recent years, the number of second and foreign language speakers has far exceeded the number of first language speakers of English. This dramatic change, many have argued, should be taken into account in designing and planning our curriculum. Traditional assumptions about English language teaching need to be revisited and reframed to suit the reality of how English is used in the world today. The purpose of teaching English as an International Language (EIL) should aim to prepare learners to become competent users in international contexts, to enable them to communicate with others for the purposes of academic advancement, career advancement, technology access, intercultural communication, and other domains of communication. This article describes activities used in a "World Englishes" course to introduce the EIL concept to pre-service teachers, which provided them with systematic opportunities to reflect on and articulate their beliefs about EIL.