Page 5 - ELG2107 Jul Issue 476

WELCOME .

EDITORS’ LETTER
The international scene

This issue we look at the challenges
currently facing English language teaching
around the world theteam

What a strange old time it’s been on our planet this past year and a half (and counting). MELANIE BUTLER,
While a few industries have seen an upsurge in business (we’re looking at you, Amazon), editor-in-chief,
many have suffered decimating blows. Take the aviation industry, for instance and, similarly, started teaching EFL in
Iran in 1975. She worked
language schools, which have traditionally relied on international students travelling to for the BBC World Service,
learn in a host country where they can soak up the culture while practising their emerging Pearson/Longman and
new skill. MET magazine before
But with the restrictions on travel, whether that’s proving you’ve had two jabs, taking over at the Gazette in 1987 and
quarantining or countries simply closing their borders, this has become prohibitively also launching Study Travel magazine.
difficult. It’s been noticeable particularly when it comes to short courses: no one is going to Educated in 10 schools in seven countries,
she speaks fluent French and Spanish, and
quarantine for 10 days if their visit is a month or less. Plus, with the ever-present threat of rather rusty Italian.
lockdown, young people – who make up the vast majority of students – are opting to stick melanie@elgazette.com
close to home and loved ones.
To address and try to alleviate some of the LIZ GRANIRER,
financial pressures on UK-based language editor, has edited for
Malta, for instance, schools, an All Party Parliamentary Group parenting, travel and kids’
recently hosted a round table to gather magazines, writes for a
is giving £10 a day to information to feed back to Government number of print and online
with the idea of applying pressure to gain publications, and has
worked on a range of
students who enrol support for the faltering industry. We report well-known consumer and
on this on page 12. contract magazines.
at one of its It’s not all gloom and doom. On other editor@elgazette.com
fronts, we look at those countries that are
language schools opening to overseas visitors and students, GILL RAGSDALE,
and the incentives they are offering to research news reporter,
attract them back in these uncertain times. has a PhD in Evolutionary
Malta, for instance, is giving €10 a day to students who enrol at one of its language schools. Anthropology from
Cambridge and teaches
Strong incentive to go there and a clever way to get the economy rolling again (turn to Psychology with the Open
page 13). University. She also holds
And how are the international schools fairing around the world? Melanie Butler takes a an RSA-Cert TEFL. Gill has taught EFL in
look at this, along with the rise of the educational super-schools (pages 14 and 15). We also the UK, Turkey, Egypt and to refugees in
the Calais ‘Jungle’ in France. She currently
have an in-depth explanation of what language schools can do to bring ecological issues teaches English to refugees in the UK.
into the classroom and make their teaching as green as possible (page 18). And we bring you
the latest research into whether CHARLOTTE DYASON,
travelling to study a language is senior sales, a graduate
actually worth it. What do you An in-depth explanation of Canterbury and
think? Turn to page 8 to find out experienced education
if you’re right. of what language schools marketer, Charlotte has a
Tragically, if we’re talking about wealth of expertise and
knowledge to assist with
schools, there is another subject can do to bring ecological promotional campaigns.
that needs to be addressed: child info@elgazette.com, tel 020 3137 9119.
safeguarding. The danger posed was issues into the classroom
highlighted by the recent case of a IAN CARTER,
convicted British paedophile who publisher, has a
changed his name by deed poll, Masters in Strategic
and was thus able to leave the country and take work at an international school in Madrid. Business Management
He got away with this by taking advantage of a perfectly legal loophole (page 8). We spoke to (Westminster) and
the Safeguarding Alliance to find out what can be done about this and how schools can best 30 years’ publishing
experience in the
protect themselves from something similar happening to them (page 16). professional and academic sector.
In a change of tack, we all know that English is the lingua franca of the world. Even elgazette@media-shed.co.uk,
post-Brexit it is still the language of the EU in Brussels (though France is giving a good shot tel 020 3475 6811.
at bringing this state of affairs to an end). But what would you say if someone put forward
the argument for another language overtaking it to become the new global language? In a
compelling argument, Jeffrey Gil, author of Soft Power and the Worldwide Promotion of Chinese Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in EL
Gazette editorially or by contributors do
Language Learning: The Confucius Institute Project, makes his case for why he thinks Chinese not necessarily represent the official view of
may well overtake English as everyone’s go-to language (page 22). EL Gazette or Media Shed Ltd, nor is either
Finally, whether you’re just starting out on your teaching career or need a bit of a refresher responsible for claims expressed or implied
after a long (Covid-induced?) break, we have 10 top teaching tips that will work in any in advertising. EL Gazette is published
scenario on page 21. As usual, this issue is also packed full of information and news from the under licence by Media Shed Ltd and all
reproduction rights are strictly reserved.
world of English language teaching. Hang in there – it can only get better. Copyright 2021.

LIZ GRANIER, EDITOR
editorial@elgazette.com 5