JON MAHONEY -

ENGLISH AS A LINGUA FRANCA APPROACH IN JAPAN : GLOBAL ENGLISHES

The English as a Lingua Franca Approach (ELF) has gained prominence in recent years in Japan. However, it still remains in the background of English teaching in the country. In this presentation, I explore ELF’s origins, definitions, and debates. Furthermore, I consider potential issues that might arise if the ELF approach were to be applied to the Japanese educational system. Last, I propose how this approach could be implemented whilst also commenting on my own thoughts and impacts on my own pedagogy.

I am currently working as an English lecturer at a university in Tokyo, Japan. I have been living in Japan for 11 years, and have previously taught at a number of high schools, which utilized various teaching methods. I completed a M.Ed in TESOL in October 2018.