Page 6 - ELG1801 Jan Issue 453

NEWS .

English medium

teaching ‘not

always beneficial’

By Claudia Civinini than teaching English as a subject.
Early introduction of English According to the report, experts
medium instruction (EMI) impairs say children need six to eight
learning and limits educational years to develop the cognitive and
attainment in low- and middle- academic language proficiency
income countries, a landmark needed to support learning.
report from the British Council has Introducing English medium in
found. The Council released its primary school, a common practice
position paper on EMI to ‘prevent in South Asia and sub-Saharan
misconceptions arising about the Africa, gives pupils too shallow a Pupils might do better when
British Council seeking to promote foundation in English to sustain taught in their mother tongue
English over mother tongue,’ it effective learning. those languages. In fact, one of ‘It is refreshing to see the British
says. The report says that ‘EMI The report, written by BC the reasons why EMI policies have Council promoting the use of local
at primary-school level in low- or senior adviser John Simpson, says grown is that English has been languages in education in this
middle-income countries is not it would be better to opt for a used as a single teaching language way and presenting a summary of
always beneficial, nor is it a policy or mother-tongue-based multilingual in young multilingual states, the coherent arguments developed by
practice we support.’ It adds there education model. However, report says. EMI policy expert experts in the field which illustrate
is little to no evidence supporting this system will be a challenge Professor Andy Kirkpatrick told that too early an introduction of
the widely held view that English as there is a shortage of teachers the Gazette: ‘I think the BC is to English can be harmful to students
medium instruction practices are a who speak local languages and be applauded in bringing out this and staff alike.’
better way to attain English fluency a lack of teaching materials in position paper on EMI. See more on page 42.

Good Campaigners for English teachers’ contract now’, organiser Roy expected to be approved in the
Hassey told the Gazette. Unite has
new year. Chief executive David
rights are celebrating after a new
news for bill that will prohibit zero hour been fighting against teachers being O’Grady told the Gazette. ‘Within
the regulated ELT sector in Ireland
contracts in most circumstances was
put on self-employment contracts
Irish presented to the Irish parliament. and low hourly rates for some time, and especially in MEI, where it is
Trade Union Unite is urging its
and members recently met with
a condition of MEI membership,
teachers members to tell their schools that higher education minister Mary there is a commitment to uphold
the new legislation, will ‘effectively
and comply with all legislation
Mitchell O’Connor to discuss the
make the contracts illegal’.
issues. Language school association
regarding employment, health and
‘Seek a proper, permanent MEI welcomed the bill, which is safety, taxation liability, etc,’ he said.
newsinbrief
THE UNIVERSITY OF FRENCH PRESIDENT THE SOUTH KOREAN COLLEAGUES HAVE Stephen was also a
BARI in southern Italy EMMANUEL MACRON GOVERMENT IS SET PAID TRIBUTE TO pioneer in the use of
is offering free intensive has said he wants to crackdown on private PROFESSOR STEPHEN eye-tracking technology
foreign language French to become English schools marketing BAX following his death to research reading and
courses to its students the main language of themselves as ‘English- in November. Stephen testing. His 2013 article
who wish to apply for Africa – and ‘perhaps teaching kindergartens’, was a professor of modern in the journal Language
an Erasmus scholarship even the world’. In a the South China Morning languages and linguistics Testing won the 2014
to study abroad, speech in Burkina Faso, Post reports. Korean law at the Open University Tesol Distinguished
Borderline24 reports. West Africa, he said prohibits the teaching of and a former professor of Research Award, while
The online initiative that French should not English in kindergarten, applied linguistics at the his website Textinspector.
came after only about be seen as a ‘relic of a but some private University of Bedfordshire. com, which helps
seventeen students out colonial power’, adding language schools promote He was a leading thinker teachers analyse texts,
of a hundred passed the that ‘the radiance, the themselves as such in in researching Computers won an ELTon award for
foreign language tests attractiveness of French order to attract students. in Language Learning, innovation earlier this year.
needed to be eligible does not just belong to But these schools must the use of Computers Stephen also maintained
for the scholarships. The France.’ describe themselves as in Language Testing a longstanding interest in
45 day course will be run Around 60 per cent ‘language institutes’. and areas of discourse decoding the fiftheenth
online by the University of the world’s French Violators can be fined up including Computer century Voynich
Language Centre and speakers are from to 5 million won (US$4,600) Mediated Discourse manuscript and presented
the E-Learning Centre. Africa. or forced to close. Analysis (CMDA). a TED talk on the subject.

6 December / January 2018