Linguistic Theories in EFL
Tecahing in a Multilingual Setting
Abbas A. Badib
This paper will address, as the topic suggested, several
issues/topics which are interrelated:
(a) the comprehensive review of the developments/evolutions of
linguistic theories from the rather distant past, the past and the present, and
the projected trends, (b) which of the linguistic theories have been adopted by
the EFL teachers and the reasons for the adopting those theories, (c) the
contributions of the dominant linguistic theories which have been applied,
including translation studies, to the process of teaching and learning English
as a foreign language, successful or not, and why, (d) whether the EFL teachers
(applied linguists) could or could not catch up and cope with the developments
of linguistic theories and the implications and consequences of failing, if
they fail, (e) the processes by which first, second and foreign languages and
cultures are acquired, viewed from various theories, including
biolinguistics/neurolinguistics. The last part of this paper will look
particularly at the impact of foreign language learning on (a) the quality of
the language (sustainable, reduced or loss) and cultural achievements (sustainable
or losing cultural identity), (b) whether learning a foreign language, say
English, can or can not reinforce our own cultural identity, both locally and
nationally; thus learning a foreign culture which is built in the foreign
language can help preserve our own cultural heritage, not necessarily
sacrificing our own culture.
Judging from the position above we could expect that the Indonesian people who are mostly bilingual and multilingual could learn English without necessarily having allegiance to the foreign culture. Instead, learning English is expected to strengthen our being multilingual in which we become a group of global community with a distinct identity such as Singaporean English, Malaysian English, Australian English, Papua New Guinea English and so on. The challenge is now how to design or redesign the existing curriculum and the teaching material which suit our purposes to achieve the communicative competence in the widest sense.
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Badib, A. A.
(2005, December). Linguistic theories in EFL teaching in a multilingual
seting. Paper presented at the 53rd TEFLIN International conference,
Website: www.geocities.com/eltindonesia
Email: eltindonesia@yahoo.com