Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas

Universidade Nova de LisboaNovember, 28-29

TEFL: THEORY, PRACTICE, AND METHODOLOGY

1st Conference on Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Globalization and language teaching

‘Glocal Languages’:Globalisms, localisms and language education

Manuela GuilhermeCentro de Estudos Sociais

Universidade de Coimbra

OVERVIEW

• Multilingualism in Europe

• ‘Glocal’ languages’

• English as lingua franca

• ‘Intercultural responsibility’ • ‘Intercultural responsibility’

• Other voices, other rooms

based on:

Guilherme, M. (2007) English as a global language and education for cosmopolitan citizenship. In Language and Intercultural Communication, 7:1, 72-79

Guilherme, M., Keating, C. & Hoppe, D. (forthcoming) Intercultural responsibility: Power and ethics in intercultural dialogue and interaction. In M. Guilherme, E. Glaser & M. C. Mendez-Garcia (eds.) Intercultural Dynamics in Multicultural Working. Clevedon:Multilingual Matters

Multilingualism in EUROPE

The three strands of the EU's multilingualism policy are:

• encouraging language learning and promoting linguistic diversity in

society; society;

• promoting a healthy multilingual economy;

• promoting social integration though improved knowledge and

acceptance of languages.

European languages in the world?

Globalization

• Four forms of globalization:

- globalized localism;

- localized globalism;- localized globalism;

- cosmopolitanism;

- common heritage of humankind.

Santos, B. de S. (2002)Toward a multicultural conception of human

rights. In B. E. Hernández-Truyol & C. Gleason (eds.), A Critical Moral

Imperialism Anthology. New York: New York University Press, 39-60.

“Glocalization”:

Globality vs./& Locality

• The ‘global-local’ is more complex than an ‘action-• The ‘global-local’ is more complex than an ‘action-

reaction’ relationship

Robertson, R. (1995) Glocalization: Time-space and homogeneity-

heterogeneity. In Featherstone, M., Lash, S. & Robertson, R. (eds.)

Global Modernities. London: Sage

‘Glocal’ Languages

• confronted with issues of power

- while competing with each other; - while competing with each other;

- while dealing with divergent forces inside themselves

at the intra-, inter- and trans- national levels.

Questions

• Is it possible

- to use a language as lingua franca, a neutral language for

business, scientific, cultural or political purposes?business, scientific, cultural or political purposes?

- to empty a language of all its connotations, cultural roots,

use constraints, specific meanings and use it as a

decontaminated tool for our immediate purposes and for

translating our cultures?

Cont.

• These are cosmopolitan languages we have borrowed and

made our own or, from another perspective, that have been

imposed, more or less aggressively, upon us;

• They work in the formation of our identities and in the

fulfilment of our citizenry, in their different dimensions.

English

• Being the language of hegemonic globalization, it is, at the

same time, appropriated by counter-hegemonic movements;

• It has been both the language used in the World Economic

Forum in Davos and one of the most frequently used in the

World Social Forum in Porto Alegre.

Dominant Languages

• To what extent can a dominant language constitute common ground

where different appropriations/productions can dialogue?

• And into which the various home cultures of the different speakers (as

native, second or foreign language) can be translated?

• And, at the same time, make room for other languages to grow?

Dominant vs. minority languages

• Should dominant language education be a priority

because it gives access to knowledge, to work and

to the global market?to the global market?

• Should minority language education take the lead

for reasons of human dignity?

Intercultural Responsibility

Intercultural responsibility’ is, however, a dimension that aims to go Intercultural responsibility’ is, however, a dimension that aims to go

beyond a ‘simple’ notion of intercultural competence, that is,

in order to not only be able to communicate appropriately and

effectively across cultures but also to dig deeper into the

relationships established between people in professional

contexts, despite the fact that the relationships themselves are

often not profound.

Intercultural Responsibility

Intercultural responsibility also implies that

every member is responsible not only for every member is responsible not only for

identifying and recognising the cultural

idiosyncrasies of every other member-in-

interaction, but also for developing full and

reciprocally demanding professional

relationships with them.

Intercultural Responsibility

Language resources also play an important role in the development of intercultural responsibility amongst the members of multicultural groups/teams. In this setting, participants usually share a common language which is, at least for some of them, share a common language which is, at least for some of them, second or foreign, and speak first languages which are to a lesser or greater extent - but necessarily - different from each other. The simple fact of communicating through a medium which is perhaps not deeply-rooted in all of them may generate some sense of partnership, companionship, or even complicity and solidarity, and therefore also, to some extent, a sense of ‘intercultural responsibility’ for one another.

Interviews with professionals with experience in multicultural teams

Once, we decided to speak in Russian. TheAmericans were feeling great, they didn’t haveAmericans were feeling great, they didn’t haveto make an effort because we had all beenspeaking in English. Then they finallyunderstood our effort. It is not evil-minded but,in fact, our effort [in speaking a foreignlanguage] is not sufficiently appreciated

Interviews with professionals with experience in multicultural teams

I was upset because the English could speakonly one language and they were doing finebecause everybody can speak English, whereaswe have to think in a language that is not ours

Interviews with professionals with experience in multicultural teams

His English is perfect. So, in our meetings, he isable to make a speech and say absolutelynothing. That is obviously a great advantage…

‘Glocal’ Languages

• are simultaneously global and local;

• are used both at global and local levels;

• are not lingua francas;• are not lingua francas;

• are used widely as foreign languages as well as by

a greater or smaller number of native speakers;

• were used in colonial settings and are used by the

new states as official languages;

‘Glocal’ Languages

• are used in geographical regions that are distant to each

other;

• ‘translate’ simultaneously different cultural baggage

related to both native and foreign users;related to both native and foreign users;

• are used both in broad multicultural contexts and in close

monocultural contexts;

• are used to negotiate different systems of power,

regulation and emancipation;

• mediate different levels of identity and citizenship.

Conclusion

• They are languages which, in fact, we manipulate in

our everyday lives while trying to communicate our everyday lives while trying to communicate

with closer or more distant contexts and which

have been impregnating our minds and bodies

deeper and deeper.