Defining English as an International Language English as lingua franca (ELF) has traditionally been defined as ‘interactions between members of two or more differentlinguaculturesin English,for none ofwhom English isthemothertongue’(HOUSE, 1999:74).In other words,ELFisthe study of the type oflanguage thatis used when second language speakers from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds interact. By definition, all first language speakers of English are excluded from the focus of ELF investigations. Jenkins (2006) argues quite strongly that the purpose of ELF research is essentially to document the features of interactions between second language speakers of English and in no way is meant to depict a particular variety of English that should become the standard for second language speakers.

McKAY, S. English as an international language: What it is and what it means for pedagogy. SAGE Journals, 23 jan. 2018. Disponível em: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/003368821 7738817. Acesso em: 15 jan. 2025.


Como professor de inglês, ao considerar o ensino da língua inglesa como língua franca, é fundamental compreender que: