Local Research and Glocal Perspectives in English Language Teaching

Reviews / Votes

"This deeply insightful volume reveals new perspectives and practices in English language teaching at a time when globalised pedagogies are challenged by a growing body of research that rightly foregrounds the value of local knowledge and cultural appropriateness. Chapters by teacher-researchers in different contexts demonstrate the power of agency and creativity as teachers deal with unforeseen circumstances and adapt their strategies in changing times. I am delighted to see important trends highlighted here, including teachers' collaboration across contexts and the role of teacher mobility in appreciation of local concerns. I concur with the view that English language teaching should engage with contemporary societal issues and help students become future leaders, enabling them to tackle inequalities and solve problems in their communities. The book helps us see how such leadership skills may be developed by cultivating a multilingual and multiliterate mind." (Professor Agnes Kukulska-Hulme, Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, UK) "This 'must-possess' volume of 30 chapters focusing on almost all aspects of ELT is a significant departure from accepting uncritically the Euro- or Anglo-centric dogma to creating a space that reflects an intermingling of global and local ideas, both theory and practice, in which the stakeholders are trying to make sense of the changed times with Covid-19 as the backdrop. It's a celebration of the 'coming of age' of all those who work in the Global South, as they interrogate their field of inquiry and get a deeper understanding of their own context. In this scenario everyone is a researcher, teacher, expert and user of 'knowledge' generated which is amenable to further inquiry. In this sense it demonstrates a way to deconstruct cultural constructs that have been in use and have become a part of our lives. Critique we must, if only to revalidate established theories and reclaim our terrain." (Rama Mathew, Former Professor, Department of Education, Delhi University, India) "Although the concept "thinking globally whilst acting locally" has been with us since the 1980s, for many years it was more of a theory than practice. However, in this collection, we can clearly see how far Glocalization in English language teaching and learning has come since those early days. In addition to the chapters on ELT in the Bangladesh context today, there are also chapters on Glocalization in South Korea, Iran, Nepal, Indonesia, the UK, and elsewhere, written by contributors in Bangladesh, Australia, Japan, Dubai, Canada, India, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, making this a truly international collection on Glocalization in ELT around the world. The 30 chapters in this volume present a comprehensive, international overview that constitutes a unique and much-needed contribution to this important work in our field." (Andy Curtis, Professor, Graduate School of Education, Anaheim University, USA)