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Changing Englishes and teachers' conceptions of English

Video 1 - Introduction
Video 2 - English - planet or galaxy?
Video 3 - Advantages and disadvantages of ‘standard’ English
Video 4 - Four dimensions of ‘monolithic thinking’ / Conclusions
Teachers of English often find it hard to reconcile their understanding of the ever-increasing global diversity of English with their assumed role as providers of its 'correct' forms. This seminar, adapting content from a British Council-sponsored online tutorial for ELT professionals in higher education, is designed to encourage teachers and teacher educators to become aware of, and reflect on, their own conceptions of English forms and functions. For example, do they see English as having essentially one correct set of forms, to which learners should aspire? Or do they conceive of it as a globally distributed set of variable forms which serve its various functions more or less effectively?
(a) ontological: to what extent is the conception true?
(b) ethical: to what extent is it fair?
(c) political/economic: to what extent is it sustainable?
(d) professional: to what extent is it helpful for learners?