Rhetoric, Writing, and Linguistics (RWL) Speaker Series Webinar: Aya Matsuda

The Rhetoric, Writing, and Linguistics (RWL) Speaker Series presents a webinar on “English Language Teaching in Today’s ‘Messy’ World" by Aya Matsuda, Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics at Arizona State University, on Thursday, September 24 at 3:30 p.m. EST. Pre-register for this webinar by September 22.

Please contact Tanita Saenkhum (tsaenkhum@utk.edu) with any questions. 

More information about the lecture can be found below:

English Language Teaching in Today’s “Messy” World

Description: English has always been a heterogeneous and diverse language, but it is only past decade or so that its “messiness” has attracted attention among English language teaching (ELT) specialists. Professor Aya Matsuda will begin this presentation with a brief discussion of how the global spread of English has resulted in linguistics, functions, and other diversities of the language, and then introduce the notion of Teaching English as an International Language (TEIL), a new paradigm in the field of ELT that acknowledges the diversity and heterogeneity of forms, users, and uses of English today. Using some specific curricular examples, she will explore ways to better align our pedagogy with the messy reality of the English-speaking world today.

Bio: Aya Matsuda is Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics at Arizona State University. Her research interests include the use of English as an international language and the pedagogical implications of the global spread of English. She has served on the Board of Directors for TESOL International Association and recently completed her term as the secretary/treasurer of the International Association for World Englishes.