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COMMENT . OUT FEATURES & COMMENT

Point OF THE

of View CHIEF CROW DARIA/SHUTTERSTOCK BOX

Kathryn Alevizos Help us do
and Zanne Gaynor

Native English speakers better on

need to brush up on their racism

language skills too! Jodie Gray says it’s time to take a

closer look at ELT industry attitudes
The international classroom has been an uneven playing and explains how English UK is
field for too long. It’s time for change, argue Zanne Gaynor leading the way
and Kathryn Alevizos

ccording to a report by the British growing sense of imbalance, or even injustice, Like so many, we at English UK To that end, English UK is
Council, non-native speakers of in how English language learning is were appalled by the horrific murder establishing an action group to
English now exceed native approached. It seems that everything is “A student once asked why I began the your language to better meet your students’ of George Floyd in the USA. We consider how we embed the values
Aspeakers by an estimated ratio of geared towards the L2 speaker making the class saying ‘festival’,” recalls Kathryn. “I needs is maybe harder to find – yet it’s so key watched news of, or participated in, of anti-racism, diversity and
4:1 – and that number continues to grow. effort to improve their English, with an realised he hadn’t understood the words ‘first to effective teaching.” protests around the world and inclusion throughout the sector. The
English is widely accepted as the lingua – abundance of courses, books and materials to of all’. We naturally merge words together Zanne and Kathryn believe that Is that listened to the first task of this
franca used in business, education and travel, support them in this goal. For native English when we talk.” clear? is a must-have guide for any native many sources group will be to
to name but a few. So, if you’re a native speakers, on the other hand, there is little or “We’ve also seen how being too polite can English speaker embarking on an EFL career, being shared We tend to rely draft an
English speaker, you’re fine – everyone no expectation to adapt or change our be a minefield in everyday conversation,” says moving to online teaching or just wishing to across media amendment
understands you … except the problem is, language, after all, we already speak excellent Zanne, “For example, if somebody asks you improve their communication skills as a channels on images and enshrining our
they don’t. English.” ‘Would you like some more cake?’ and you teacher. regarding anti- collective
The English that native speakers use at In his review of the book, David Crystal, reply, ‘Oh, I’d love to but I shouldn’t. It was As Kathryn points out, “Our students put racism. As messages about the commitment to
home or with friends is unlikely to be the British linguist, academic and author, really nice though, thanks’, is the answer in such a lot of effort, isn’t it fair that we international UK that promote anti-racism in
English that overseas said, “Your message is here yes or no? If you’re talking to somebody meet them halfway?” educators the rules of
students or colleagues needed, succinct and to who doesn’t speak English as a first language, working in the our tradition and English UK.
have been exposed to. A We use the point. You are right: so it’s unclear.” Kathryn Alevizos and Zanne Gaynor are UK ELT sector, This group will
lack of awareness of this many people have never “We use language instinctively and often authors of Is that clear? and founders of we strive to history but ignore be an open,
difference can cause language thought about these things. just aren’t aware how difficult it is for Acrobat-Global, a company specialising in bring dynamic and
problems in the instinctively and And little nudges in the speakers of other languages to understand.” effective international communication. PDF of Is communities our diversity and safe space to
language classroom. right direction are just But is the book just dumbing down that Clear? available at together. We multi-culturalism. share views and
While experienced often just aren’t what they need.” English? https://payhip.com/AcrobatGlobal 25% off are listening develop clear
EFL teachers are often Zanne and Kathryn Absolutely not, Kathryn explains. “It’s just with the code ITC2020. Also available on and learning actions. If you
well-attuned to the aware how difficult feel passionately that a question of tailoring your language to the Amazon in paperback and Kindle. how we can do better. are part of the UK ELT sector and
problems their students it is for speakers of better international person you’re speaking to. We already do it. Our sector is not diverse enough would like to be involved, email
face when communication should We don’t speak to family members in the Kathryn Alevizos has been involved in – that is evident when the industry jodie.gray@englishuk.com.
communicating with other languages to be a shared same way we speak to our boss at work or our language training for more than 20 years. She comes together at events and
native speakers of responsibility – where bank manager. We just know how to adapt. has taught in companies, universities and in conferences. Many of us have
English, this is not the understand. the native English The fact is, we can forget to do this when private language schools as well as teaching witnessed instances of racism that
case for everyone. It can speaker also makes an we’re in the EFL classroom, either at home or refugees and asylum seekers. She has worked are too often swept under the carpet
take years of teaching to become skilled at effort and takes measures to make their abroad.” as a CELTA teacher trainer, is a published of ‘cultural differences.’ We tend to
adapting your language; knowing when to language easier to understand. And with the growth of online EFL author with Pearson and a consultant for rely on images and messages about
avoid a troublesome idiom or a tricky phrasal So, Zanne and Kathryn condensed their teaching, Zanne and Kathryn argue that the Cambridge Assessment. the UK that promote our tradition
verb. And even experienced teachers can combined years of experience as language need for clear communication is greater than and history but ignore our diversity
benefit from a reminder to adjust their school owner, CELTA trainer, exam writer ever. Without the usual non-verbal cues that Zanne Gaynor has taught in Spain and in and multi-culturalism.
language, particularly if moving from and course book author into a handy guide support understanding, students can find it the UK and ran her own government It is important to acknowledge
teaching advanced students to beginners. that helps native English speakers adapt their even harder to follow native English accredited school in the Balearic Islands from where we can improve, openly
So why are the communication skills of language in international settings. speakers. 2003 to 2006. In 2005 she started writing discuss the complexities and
native-speaker English teachers so often Zanne explains the aim of their book, “We Zanne points out that, “while there’s a EFL materials. Her books have been contradictions and take action. We Jodie Gray is the Interim Chief
overlooked? This is the question that led want to make our readers think twice about wealth of useful advice on the internet about published by Pearson, Macmillan and believe that we have an obligation Executive of English UK, the UK’s
Zanne Gaynor and Kathryn Alevizos to write the language they use in the classroom or teaching online; from tips on using Zoom to Richmond. She recently worked with asylum as educators to those from around national association of accredited
and publish their book, Is that clear? Effective socialising with non-native English speakers. where to find the best online resources, again seekers and in 2019, gained a postgraduate the world to move this conversation English language teaching centres.
communication in a multilingual world. We know all too well how we can confuse the striking omission is any reference to the award in Education (TESOL) from Oxford forward in as open a way as possible.
Kathryn explains, “During our careers in speakers of other languages – without even importance of clear communication. Concise Brookes University.
EFL, Zanne and I both started to feel a realising it.” and accessible advice on how you can adapt

30 July 2020 editorial@elgazette.com 31