EIL 패러다임의 고찰을 통한 초등영어교육의 방향 조명

Guidelines for primary school English education in the framework of the EIL paradigm

The aim of the present study is two-fold. The first is to review the critical issues in the EIL (English as an International Language) paradigm for English teaching. The second is to shed light on the under-discussed issue of how the perspectives of EIL can be incorporated into English education in Korea to establish a more socioculturally appropriate pedagogic model. This study first argues that it is not desirable to impose the strict native speaker model to Korean learners of English as English becomes a language for global communication, and thus a new pedagogic model is in order which is based on the EIL paradigm. It then claims that the goal of English teaching in Korea should be set on fostering "successful bilinguals with intercultural insights and knowledge" who have sensitivity to the varieties of English and negotiation skills, but maintain the pragmatic values and identities of Koreans. It finally contends that English textbooks need to reflect the EIL perspectives by embracing genuine uses of English which are appropriate and relevant from the local learners' viewpoints and by including NNS-NNS interactions in order to foster learners' intercultural insights.