Innovation in language policy and planning: Ties to English language education

Abstract

This chapter introduces concepts and practices from language policy and planning, both the academic field of analysis and the practical field of action, to English teaching, and specifically to the idea of innovation and change in global English education. The first part of the discussion considers the sources of change and innovation in language education and discusses some differences between these notions. Both are considered in relation to the ‘world events’ which have bequeathed English its hegemonic position in contemporary global communication arrangements. The chapter next discusses language problems, a crucial construct in academic study of language policy and a crucial idea for pla..