Emergence of World Englishes in English Language Teaching and Learning in Universities of Lahore

Abstract

The current research paper explores the formation of the World Englishes in the teaching and learning of English Language Teaching (ELT) and learning in the universities of Lahore, the teaching practices, perception of learners, and results of communication. Basing on the theoretical premise of World Englishes and English as a Lingua Franca, the paper will explore the varieties of English, classroom awareness and attitude of teachers and students, and how the use of multiple Englishes can influence language learning. It utilized a mixed-methods design, involving structured questionnaires (conducted among 200 students, both BS and MS/MPhil students), and semi-structured interviews (conducted among 20 teachers, students of different academic designations). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data whereas thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The results demonstrate that despite the dominance of British and American English in the teaching process, students have a high exposure to different varieties of English and express positive attitudes towards their use. The findings also reveal that inclusion of World Englishes contributes to the confidence, communicative competence and intercultural awareness of the students. There are however constraints in curriculum and teacher training that curb proper implementation. The research shows the necessity of the pedagogical changes in order to correspond ELT with the world linguistic realities.