Cebu International EFL Conference

Abstract of paper

Author

Dr. Beata Webb
Bond University

Australia

Title
Looking for the intercultural ‘third place’ in language teacher training

Abstract
The aim of this paper is to propose a framework for TESOL teacher training based on principles of Intercultural Language Teaching and Learning. It examines the importance of intercultural awareness as an essential component of language education programs. It examines several educational settings in Australia and overseas to show the tensions in a multicultural classroom caused by ‘travels’ of not only teachers and students but also teaching methodologies. As theories of teaching and learning indicate that what is best in learning depends largely on the educational context, teacher training should aim at being contextualised.

Therefore, teacher trainers face the challenge of preparing teachers who are equipped to deal with the diversity of learners and methods on the one hand and the flexibility of meeting learners’ needs on the other. The paper explores the application of ILTL principles in order to establish the intercultural ‘third place’ in language methodology in teacher training programs as well as multicultural classrooms.

Bio:-
Assistant Professor Beata Webb coordinates Applied Linguistics programs at Bond University, Queensland, Australia. She teaches a variety of subjects in language teacher education, including language teaching methodology, practical aspects of teaching and sociolinguistics. Beata’s research interests include cognitive linguistics and language teacher education. Her research interests in language teacher education focus on the role of culture in language teaching methodology. In particular, she is interested in the impact of Eastern and Western styles of learning/teaching on the internationalisation of education. Her research in cognitive linguistics focuses on the examination of cross-linguistic possession, of linguistic possession in Polish, with the specific study of different types of discourse.