Adapting and transforming ELT during and post covid-19 pandemic era:“PEOPLE, PLACES, PURPOSES

Activity: Talk or presentation typesInvited or keynote talk at national or international conference

Description

Aisling O'Boyle was an invited plenary speaker at the 5th Annual International Seminar on English Language Teaching.
Abstract: In this plenary paper I address how “adapting and transforming ELT during and post COVID-19 era” is difficult and challenging, but also how it offers us affordances to reexamine some of our assumptions in ELT. The traditional focus for ELT is often a narrow perspective on teaching methodology, epitomized by the “3 Ps” in ELT- Present, Practice, Produce. However, the gamat of social issues have always been embedded in ELT, whether they have been acknowledged or not. In this paper I argue for a realignment of focus to “People, Places, and Purposes” in ELT. The disruption to typical practices caused by a global pandemic has forced social issues to the fore. Considering how we might transform our possible futures addressing social issues; I frame my discussion on our collective ultra-social being. I illustrate our creativity and adaptability in our language use and meaning-making processes during the pandemic and into our futures. In discussing the shift of focus to people, places and purposes I pose questions to encourage a critical review of deeply held assumptions in ELT. In response, I outline proposed action on three social issues: speaking, sustainability, and shifting boundaries. These themes are, to my mind, where there is the most challenge in ELT but also where there is our most opportunity for transforming the status quo in ELT, for the better, and for all.
Period26 Sept 2020
Event title5th Annual International Seminar on English Language Teaching : Adapting and transforming ELT during and post COVID-19 pandemic era
Event typeSeminar
Degree of RecognitionInternational

Keywords

  • English Language Education
  • ELT