Teaching and Assessing EIL in Local Contexts Around the World

English today is both a global language and at the same time embedded in a great variety of social contexts, resulting in linguistic and pedagogical variation. Taking a new look at the teaching and assessing of English as an international language (EIL), this text highlights overarching principles and provides specific strategies for responding to questions and challenges posed by the changing demographics of English language learners and users around the world.

• introduces an original, coherent framework in which needs analysis, pedagogical principles, and assessment are integrated

• describes variables that influence effective teaching and assessment and the characteristics of various EIL teachers and learners

• emphasizes that pedagogical and assessment decisions need to be based on the learning and teaching needs of each specific EIL context

• includes specific principles and strategies for teaching and assessing grammar, oral language, and literacy skills in EIL classrooms

• provides strategies for integrating computer-mediated language into EIL classrooms in ways that promote cross-cultural awareness, language development, and individualized learning

Timely, accessible, and practical, this text for graduate and pre- and in-service courses on language teaching and assessment is at the forefront in providing valuable information and guidance for enabling principled and context-sensitive praxis in EIL classrooms worldwide.

Sandra Lee McKay is Professor Emeritus, San Francisco State University, USA and Affiliate Member, Department of Second Language Studies, University of Hawai’i, USA.

James Dean (JD) Brown is Professor of Second Language Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, USA.