Study Abroad as Teacher Training: Supporting Pre-service Teachers’ ELF Experiences
Teams Meeting on 13th November 2024 at 4-5pm. Link to join is below
Study abroad (SA) is widely recommended for English language teachers in many countries, especially in East Asian countries like Japan where English does not play a prominent role in everyday society. SA is believed to offer various benefits including the advancement of English language proficiency and the development of intercultural communicative competence. As a result, it has been incorporated into some teacher training programs in these regions. However, recent research suggests that simply undertaking SA does not automatically ensure these benefits. For example, English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) research in SA contexts has revealed that a limited understanding of ELF communication can hinder meaningful intercultural engagement, highlighting the need for educational support to maximize the benefits of SA. This talk focuses on Japanese pre-service English teachers who participated in SA as part of their teacher training programme. It examines how pre- and post-SA educational support related to ELF helped shape their understanding of these experiences, using mainly reflective interviews. The overall aim of the talk is to consider how educational support for ELF experiences can enhance the intercultural benefits of SA as teacher training.
The talk will be held online via MS Teams Meeting on 13th November 2024 at 4-5pm. You can join the meeting here or through the following credentials:
Meeting ID: 325 583 411 09
Passcode: 4uXEw7
Bio
Ayako Suzuki is a Professor in the Department of English Language Education at Tamagawa University, Japan. She teaches general English, EAP, and sociolinguistics to both undergraduate and graduate students. She has also been actively involved in the management of the university’s Center for English as a Lingua Franca. Her research interests include ELF, ELT, teacher education, and intercultural citizenship.
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