IATEFL Conference 2024 Plenary: Teaching English and teaching other languages: what’s new?

In today’s increasingly diverse educational landscape, shaped by increased migration and a complex global socio-political climate, schools witness a rich tapestry of multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual classrooms. A shift in language education is needed, English teaching may be reconceptualized with a broader kaleidoscope that acknowledges the central role the learner, with his/her plurilingual repertoire, including his/her own home languages, his/her own socio-emotional sphere, that invariably influence the teaching and learning process. What can an English teacher do in the so-called “new normal” post-pandemic era, where, according to the Nobel Prize winner Yuval Noah Harari “change is the only constant”?What is the role of English as a lingua franca and as a global language within this so complex socio-cultural landscape? The talk will provide suggestions and reflections to explore potential answers to these questions, without aspiring to be exhaustive. Drawing inspiration from global language policies and the commendable efforts of institutions such as the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the European Centre ofModern Languages, UNESCO, and OECD, the talk delves into the keywords of our time—mediation, pluricultural competence, intercultural dialogue, and global competences. Central to this exploration is the landmark Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, Companion Volume (CEFRCV) (2020), a milestone for language teaching, learning, and assessment, not only in Europe, but also worldwide. Suggestions from the CEFRCV such as the Action-oriented Approach, the Learning Scenarios, the pluricultural and plurilingual competence, together with hints derived from OECD PISA Foreign Language Assessment Framework, designed for PISA Test of English 2025, may represent invaluable tools to improve the teaching and learning process. As we grapple with the challenges and opportunities presented by this fascinating global scenario, this talk invites educators to consider innovative trajectories that not only embrace change but actively shape the evolving role of English and Englishes in our interconnected world.

About Letizia:
Letizia Cinganotto, former Senior Researcher at INDIRE, Italy, currently teaches language teaching at the University for Foreigners of Perugia, Italy, where she is also Rectoral Delegate for International Relations and a member of the Board of Directors of the Centre for Language Evaluation and Certification (CVCL). She holds a PhD in synchronic, diachronic and applied linguistics and the National Scientific Qualification as an Associate Professor. She is a member of different working groups and scientific committees both nationally and internationally. In particular, she is a member of the consultancy team of the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe. She has published a large number of articles on peer-reviewed journals and five volumes.