Towards Simplifying the Learning of English

for Global Second Language Students

Are these perfect? He will go all monkey! (student)

He had a short blond hair. (student)

Thanks 4 coming thru w a suggestion.

Seems 2 b no other choice. (Tweet)

“Children make delicious snacks.” (Newspaper headline)

Are they clear?

Where did it come from?

My response

This made me think Be more accepting

Student utterances

If understandable

Even if imperfect

Why do we communicate?

So:

Success means

the needs of

both sender

and receiver

are met.

However: English language

programs are mainly focussed on:

rules UK & US models exams

What I did Blog post Reactions in

support, including Scott Thornbury & other teachers

Made decision to explore further

Mind map

What I found: Extend to other

aspects of ELL Sympathetic

approaches: connectivism

dogme

EIL

Globish

What's in the paper? Examine issues of intelligibility Counterbalance with aspirations of learners Strategies for simplifying:

grammar pronunciation spelling cultural knowledge pedagogy

Recommendations: identifying other areas for simplification codifying other Englishes

Who this challenges

Teachers Government

education authorities International

examination systems ELT publishers

Who this benefits

Learners Users of Englishes Those able to see

opportunities here: schools publishers

What's next?

Continue the conversation

Read my paper Join me at the USQ

“Contemporary Issues Conference” in 2011