Reaching International Students: Effective Teaching in Today’s Classroom

Global English

Lisa SpringerErich Dietrich

Session Overview• What is Global

English?• Examples of Usage• Self-Awareness• Practice in Using

Global English: Translation

• Discussion

What is Global English?Clear, concise usage that does NOT assume native fluency of others

360 Million native speakers of English

800 Million non-native speakers of English

Non-Global EnglishIdioms

Phrasal verbs

Cultural references

Business-isms

Sarcasm

Idioms

A group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words• Off the top of your head• Cut and dry• Low hanging fruit

Phrasal VerbsIdiomatic use of a verb plus another element• Break it down, stick to it, hand in, see

the light, pick your brain• Put: Put up with, put someone down,

put two and two together, put the screws to, put your finger on, put your foot in your mouth, put your foot down, put up or shut up

Cultural References• Sports• Music• Movies• Television• Advertising• Geography• Food

Cultural References

Baseball• You’re up• On deck• Out of left field• Strike out• Three strikes and you’re out• Step up to the plate• Make it to the big leagues

Cultural References

Film/MoviesThe Wizard of Oz• Follow the Yellow Brick Road• Lions and tigers and bears, Oh

My• Ruby Slippers• We’re not in Kansas anymore

Business-isms/ Corporate Speak• Leverage• Mover and shaker• Big Shot• Big Wig• Rank and file• Real piece of work• Step on his toes• Buy-in• Cutting edge• Boil the ocean• Drink the Kool-Aid• Ducks in a row• It is what it is

 

Busy work life in the Big City

• I’m swamped• He’s in over his head• She’ll get the hang of it• Call me when you come up

for air

SarcasmSaying what we don’t mean

Beautiful day, isn’t it?

This will be a breeze!

Are we having fun yet?

Do I look like a people person?

Well that’s just what we need!

 

Tips for Using Global English• Contextualize. Tell listener what you’re

talking about. • Say it twice in different ways• Choose vocabulary wisely.

• Latinate versus Germanic (which tends toward phrasal verbs). “Comprehend” or “understand” versus “get it.”

• Use examples• Ask whether the listener has

understood you

For Discussion• Does Global English deprive the speaker of

complexity of thought and expression?• Isn’t it important that our students actually

learn non-Global (colloquial) English?• Does Global English lack warmth and personal

connection?• Does becoming self-conscious of Global

English distract from effective teaching?

THANK YOU

Lisa Springer

Erich Dietrich