Should Native English-Speaking Teachers be Culturally Responsive in English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) Contexts? Examining the Needs of ELF Learners

Abstract

This opinion paper examines the cultural needs in English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) classrooms. The question of the paper is whether Native English Speaking Teachers (NESTs) who are teaching around the globe should integrate their own culture in the classroom or be aware of local and international cultures. To answer this question, I focus solely on the English language needs of the ELF learners. The paper concludes that, against some employers’ expectations, NESTs need to be trained to integrate a broader understanding of culture that is responsive to international communication.