Christian and Critical English Language Educators in Dialogue Pedagogical and Ethical Dilemmas

Table of Contents:

Foreword Earl Stevick with Carolyn Kristjansson

Preface

Contributors’ Spiritual Identification Statements

1. Introduction Can We Talk? Finding a Platform for Dialogue among Values-based Professionals in Post-Positivist Education --Suresh Canagarajah

Part I. Setting the Tone: Dialogue and Discourse

2. Nonjudgmental Steps on a Road to Understanding --Julian Edge

3. Is Dialogue Possible? Challenges to Evangelicals and NonEvangelicals in English Language Teaching --Bill Johnston

4. The Neutrality Myth vs. Religious Reductionism: The Mediation between Missionary Language Agencies and their Secular Critics --Michael Chamberlain

5. A Survey of Christian English Language Teachers in Countries that Monitor Religious Activity --Karen Asenavage

Responses

6. Is Dialogue Possible? Anti-intellectualism, Relativism, Politics and Linguistic Ideologies --Alastair Pennycook

7. Dialogue and Discourse --Robert Phillipson

8. Questioning religious "ideals" and intentionalities: Staving off religious arrogance and bigotry in ELT --Vaidehi Ramanathan

9. TBA: -- William Eggington

Discussion Questions

Part II. Ideological and Hegemonic Dilemmas

Chapters

10. Deconstructing/Reconstructing the Missionary English Teacher Identity --Mary Shepard Wong

11. English and Education in Anglophone Africa: Historical and Current Realities --Sinfree Makoni & Sibusisiwe Dube

12. Confronting the Empire: Language Teachers as Charitable Guests --Myrrl Byler

13. Christian English Teacher’s Presence:  Reflecting Constantine or Christ --James Stabler-Havener

Responses

14. A Former "Missionary Kid" Responds --Stephanie Vandrick

15. Caught between poststructuralist relativism and materialism or liberal and critical multiculturalism? --Manka Varghese

16.The English language and the Word of God --Zoltan Dornyei

Discussion Questions

Part III. Pedagogical Dilemmas

Chapters

17. The Courage to Teach as a Non-native teacher: The Confession of a Christian Teacher --John Liang

18. English Teachers, Language Learning, and the Issue of Power --Don Snow

19. Christian Witness and Respect for Persons --Brad Baurain

20. Classroom Guidelines for Teachers with Convictions --Kitty Purgason

Responses

21. The Pedagogical Dilemmas of Faith in ELT: A "Spirited" Response --Brian Morgan

22. Power and Change in ELT:Thoughts from a Fellow Traveler --Dana Ferris

23. Reconsidering Roadside Assistance: The problem with Christian approaches to teaching the English language --Terry Osborn

Discussion Questions

Part IV. Spiritual Dilemmas

Chapters

24. Spiritual Dimensions in Language Teaching: A Personal Reflection --Ryuko Kubota

25. Spiritual Lessons from a Language Teacher --Chris Bradley

26. The Spiritual Ecology of Second Language Pedagogy --David I. Smith

27. Truth in Teaching English --Richard Robison

Responses

28. Imperatives, Dilemmas, and Conundrums in Spiritual Dimensions of ELT: H. Douglas Brown

29. Additive Perspective on Religion or Growing Hearts with Wisdom--Ahmar Mahboob

30. A Question of Priorities --Andy Curtis

31. TBA –Mary Ann Christison

Discussion Questions

Conclusion

Biography

Mary Shepard Wong is Associate Professor and Director of the graduate Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) Field-based Programs at Azusa Pacific University. She is past chair of the Christian Educators in TESOL Caucus (2004-2005).

Suresh Canagarajah is Kirby Professor of Language Learning at Pennsylvania State University. He is the editor of the journal TESOL Quarterly.

"Christian and Critical English Language Educators in Dialogue addresses some of the ethical issues considered by TESOL professionals, especially critics of Christian English teachers who engage in teaching English as a means of gaining entry to countries, where Christian missionaries per se are not welcomed, for the purpose of evangelism....This book is helpful in pointing out the struggles of one group of Christian professionals, as they wrestle with this dilemma and with their critics. It can inform us all." --SIL International

"Christian and Critical English Language Educators in Dialogue is an ambitious and effective book, bringing together well-known figures and some who are newer to the field to address topics about which they are passionate. This is a laudable, major accomplishment."--Christian Scholar's Review

"This book is an excellent resource for theorists and practitioners who wish to develop useful, appropriate ways of bringing mindfulness of religious/spiritual perspectives into an ever more inclusive professional discourse, as well as for those who think the whole thing is a terrible idea. All can benefit."--TESOL Quarterly