ELT Debate - ELF or EFL




                                                            ELF or EFL



“Consequently, for the uninitiated Italian student, EFL and ELF could mean one and the same thing, but it should be made clear that in the Italian language learning environment at least, the "variety" taught is only one, and more importantly, not necessarily "the one" they will encounter in other non-native speakers of English from other nations.”(1)

While we are speaking, words come out from our mouth like the water flows in a river. It flows smoothly and finds its way easily. But what happens when a tree goes down on that river and cuts the way? The water again finds it way but this time it is hampered and crippled.  So, while somebody is talking to us, we are expecting some necessary articles and vocabulary because of the grammar and thus, it makes it easier for us to understand and not get lost.  But in ELF, there is no safety. There is no right or wrong. What is understandable for me may not be understandable for somebody else. This is too risky. And someone like that can’t call himself or herself as an English speaker if he/she can’t convey the message. Wouldn’t it be better to have a standardized English all around the world and not having any misunderstandings or experiencing the feeling of getting lost ? We all have had that. While our teachers were speaking or watching a tv series or , here is a better example for whom have been abroad and spoke to the other non-native speakers, there have been many times that you didn’t understand them but you let it go. Well, if that’s the case when we are working on English as a foreign language, wouldn’t it be worse when English is taught as a lingua franca without standardization? Elf is very elusive and risky and it’s a new soul in the game.

ELF: “using everything in the repertoire in addition to English.”(2)

“You can point out the rules but how you use the language is your identity. But the rules must be learned in order to do this.”(3)
And if your identity is understood by the person you are speaking with, then use it. But if not, then you are to get back to the rules.

REFERENCES
(1) http://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/profile/article/view/29067/36864
(2) “Elf is a good subject for researchers but not important for teachers and learners” Debate
http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2017/session/elt-journal-debate
(3) An unknown speaker
http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2017/session/elt-journal-debate                                              

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