Christian and Critical English Language Educators in Dialogue: Pedagogical and Ethical Dilemmas

by Shepard-wong; Mary

• ISBN13: 9780415999533
• ISBN10: 0415999537
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-05-14
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The legacy of English teaching and Christian missionaries is a flashpoint within the field of English language teaching. This critical examination of the place of Christianity in the field is unique in presenting the voices of TESOL professionals from a wide range of religious and spiritual perspectives. About half identify themselves as "Christian" while the others identify themselves as Buddhist, atheist, spiritualist, and variations of these and other faiths. What is common for all the authors is their belief that values have an important place in the classroom. What they disagree on is whether and how spiritual values should find expression in learning and teaching. This volume dramatizes how scholars in the profession wrestle with ideological, pedagogical, and spiritual dilemmas as they seek to understand the place of faith in education. To sustain this conversation, the book is structured dialogically. Each section includes a set of position chapters in which authors explain their views of faith/pedagogy integration, a set of chapters by authors responding to these positions while articulating their own views on the subject, and discussion questions to engage readers in comparing the positions of all the authors, reflecting on their own experiences and values, and advancing the dialogue in fresh and personal directions.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents:Foreword

Preface

Contributors' Spiritual Identification Statements

Introduction Can We Talk?

Finding a Platform for Dialogue among Values-based Professionals in Post-Positivist Education

Setting the Tone: Dialogue and Discourse

Nonjudgmental Steps on a Road to Understanding

Is Dialogue Possible?

Challenges to Evangelicals and Non Evangelicals in English Language Teaching

The Neutrality Myth vs. Religious Reductionism: The Mediation between Missionary Language Agencies and their Secular Critics

A Survey of Christian English Language Teachers in Countries that Monitor Religious Activity

Responses

Is Dialogue Possible?

Anti-intellectualism, Relativism, Politics and Linguistic Ideologies

Dialogue and Discourse

Questioning religious "ideals" and intentionalities: Staving off religious arrogance and bigotry in ELT

TBA

Discussion Questions

Ideological and Hegemonic Dilemmas Chapters

Deconstructing/Reconstructing the Missionary English Teacher Identity

English and Education in Anglophone Africa: Historical and Current Realities

Confronting the Empire: Language Teachers as Charitable Guests

Christian English Teacher's Presence: Reflecting Constantine or Christ

A Former "Missionary Kid" Responds

Caught between poststructuralist relativism and materialism or liberal and critical multiculturalism?

The English language and the Word of God

Discussion Questions

Pedagogical Dilemmas Chapters

The Courage to Teach as a Non-native teacher: The Confession of a Christian Teacher

English Teachers, Language Learning, and the Issue of Power

Christian Witness and Respect for Persons

Classroom Guidelines for Teachers with Convictions

Responses

The Pedagogical Dilemmas of Faith in ELT: A "Spirited" Response

Power and Change in ELT:Thoughts from a Fellow Traveler

Reconsidering Roadside Assistance: The problem with Christian approaches to teaching the English language

Discussion Questions

Spiritual Dilemmas Chapters

Spiritual Dimensions in Language Teaching: A Personal Reflection

Spiritual Lessons from a Language Teacher

The Spiritual Ecology of Second Language Pedagogy

Truth in Teaching English

Responses

Imperatives, Dilemmas, and Conundrums in Spiritual Dimensions of ELT

Additive Perspective on Religion or Growing Hearts with Wisdom

A Question of Priorities

TBA

Discussion Questions

Conclusion

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