The concept of language as discourse leads to a perspective of language teaching as a process of teaching not only pre-existent meanings, but also a process of teaching ways in which we can create new meanings, position ourselves and construct our identities. In other words, when language is defined as discourse, teaching a foreign language becomes teaching new ways of reinventing and representing oneself and of perceiving (and constructing) the world. Language as discourse implies an understanding of our language practices as practices of constructing and assigning meanings to the world, to what happens in the world, to what we see and what we don't see in reality. A change in discourse practice therefore leads to a reconfiguration of our identity and the way we read the world (cf.: GEE, 1986). This is to say that, when learning a new language we learn new meanings, new (des)identifications (HALL, 2005) and new ways to understand ourselves and the "wor(l)d" (FREIRE; MACEDO, 1987).

JORDÃO C. M, FOGAÇA F. C. Critical literacy in the English language classroom. DELTA v. 28, n. 1, p. 69-84, 2012. Available at:https://www.scielo.br/j/delta/a/hsrcx4LBJZmLpsBjNKsVbvt# . Access on: 21 may. 2024. [Adapted].

It seems to me, having been involved for many years with teaching English as a so-called second or foreign language, that there are deep and indissoluble links between the practices, theories, and contexts of ELT and the history of colonialism. Such connections, I want to suggest, run far deeper than drawing parallels between the current global expansion of English and the colonial expansion that preceded it. Rather, I want to argue that ELT theories and practices that emanate from the former colonial powers still carry the traces of those colonial histories both because of the long history of direct connections between ELT and colonialism and because such theories and practices derive from broader European cultures and ideologies that themselves are products of colonialism.

PENNYCOOK, A. English and the discourses of colonialism. London: Routledge, 2002, p. 19.

Published 29 October 2021

Using technology has always been an important part of my teaching, even in the pre-digital age. Like many early adopters, I get super-excited by the ‘wow’ factor of new technology. However, some technology (like VR – virtual reality) is still quite challenging to use successfully. In my own teaching, I’m happy to incorporate tools which are rather more familiar. (...)

EAP (English for Academic Purposes) students naturally use PowerPoint to deliver their presentations. The software is so familiar that they are unaware that they are using technology! Classes concentrate on strategies for making a talk effective, such as incorporating memorable images and reducing text to just key words. Many of my students have serious pronunciation difficulties, so revealing a word at the same time as saying it helps them to be understood by the audience.

Like many teachers, I like the engagement and interactivity afforded by Kahoot! My favourite voting app is Mentimeter because it is quick to create a poll, reliable and easy-to-use. Voting anonymously is significantly different from putting up your hand. Doing it remotely remains an exciting event – watching as students’ votes come in. A great way to finish a discussion lesson on controversial issues is with a class vote.

I encourage fluency in the classroom but also ask students to do more discrete practice away from the classroom using their mobile phones – recording themselves, listening and rerecording. They can try out voice searches which are hugely motivating when you achieve success! (...)

Many of my new students don’t have a system to record and review the new vocabulary we cover in class. As part of their learner training, I present the app Quizlet which allows learners to create sets of digital flashcards. It’s free. Students who choose to try it can decide what to write on the back of a card – a translation or a personalised example sentence containing a new word. The app automatically creates games such as matching exercises and Pelmanism, which some learners enjoy.

I am a big fan of graphic organisers and have long encouraged students to use mind-maps. Having free versions such as Mindomo is beneficial in helping store words in concept groups and in reviewing new language.

SHARMA, P. A teacher’s experience of using technology in language teaching. World of Better Learning Blog. Available at: https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2021/10/29/technology-language-teaching/. Access on: 20 may. 2024. [Adapted].