Proceeding ICON-ELT 2022

Abstract

According to the International Association for World Englishes (IAWE), the conceptualization of world Englishes within a sociolinguistic framework actually goes back to the early 1960s (Kachru 1965) and mid 70s (Smith 1976). However, organized efforts in discussing the concept of world Englishes and its formal and functional implications were not initiated until 1978 (http://www.iaweworks.org/about-iawe.html). World Englishes is a term for referring indigenized varieties of English, especially varieties developed in territories influenced by the United Kingdom or the United States. Seidlhofer (2005) describes the current status of English as an “unstable equilibrium.” In many ways, this analogy regarding the current state of affairs with English language teaching (ELT) is appropriate. A successful English language teaching and learning under a pragmatic and humanistic approach can be described via the World Englishes (WE) perspectives. The sweeping changes of globalization and industrialization force teachers to cope with the change in the perception of the learners and to take a closer look at the new roles of teachers in the light of the enormous importance being given to the use of technology in imparting the English Language. The use of technology will help the learners and teachers to move beyond the walls of the classrooms as the learning can take place anywhere anytime. It is necessary to realize that English Language Teaching is not only a work of art but also science. The teachers and researchers have to admit the fact that the demands on the teaching profession have increased and it is necessary that teachers should be an innovative, reflective, and technologically savvy learner by nature (Mangayarkarasi et ta. (2011). Due to tremendous technological progress in a digital age, the scenario of English teaching techniques is entirely changed. Consequently, the teachers of 21st century should shed traditional concepts and techniques of classroom teaching and should adopt the recent and innovative teaching techniques, using different social media.