English as a Lingua Franca

Exploring a Communicative Situation and Language Scenario

Abstract

The discourse on English as a lingua franca (ELF) has impacted the way that English language teaching (ELT) is conceptualised, yet arguably little has changed in how English as an additional or second language (EAL/ESL) and English as a foreign language (EFL) are taught in practice. This paper outlines the evolution of ELF, observing its transformation from a language variety to a language scenario, and revisits its implications for the field of ELT.