Pennycook's Critical Approach to TESOL (9/8/2011)

I would like to give my take and thoughts of this article from the backgrounds, starting from page 18, "Critical pedagogy in TESOL must not be a static body of knowledge, but rather must be open to question." (Pennycook, 2007). I thought, as a whole, this quote really brought together Pennycook's argument throughout the whole passage we read. The whole politics of TESOL where we feel that we can't challenge or go against what the top researchers in the field of TESOL theorize. As Pennycook challenges on page 2, "... who gets published in the international context. The power and politics of publishing in English once again act as a major gatekeeper." I believe politics clouds and distracts us from the importance of education, which is the students.
Fairclough's (1992) idea of critical language awareness as an essential element of social change struck me with some ponder. The article brings up a lot about social domains or areas of interest in critically approaching TESOL (i.e. sexuality, ethnicity, and representations of otherness). From a standpoint of culture, especially here in the United States, this is a big issue that can come up in any of our classrooms. However, certain cultural backgrounds of some students may not feel as comfortable about the subject or be against it. Therefore, how do we approach bringing up a subject like homosexuality? Or racism? I feel the best way is to teach tolerance through culture, finding ways on inter-connecting different groups of people. That is the foundation of what the U.S. is all about.
Gee (1994) suggests that "English Teachers stand at the very heart of the most crucial educational, cultural, and political issues of our time" (p. 190). As future ELL, ESL, EFL teachers, we do have this responsibility. We mold these language-learners' minds in the way they view and interpret the language and culture of society. Its' a job that should be taken with pride and passion for education and opening up a new worldly views for our students.

#Dreambig

Blogfully yours,
The TESOL Bro,
Tommy T.