Understanding Language Classroom Contexts: The Starting Point for Change

‘What I like most about this book is that the authors have managed to facilitate readers in understanding the complex and dynamic nature of language classroom contexts by incorporating their own processes of analyzing a large amount of real data. In this way, not only do they ease our journey of exploring culture, but they also give us a fantastic practical tool for our own research analysis.’ — Qiang Wang, Professor of Applied Linguistics and English Teacher Education, Beijing Normal University, China

‘I have found this book illuminating as it is exciting in exploring and foregrounding the contextual issues that teachers of English Language and, indeed all language teachers as well as school leadership practitioners grapple with in their efforts to provide a conducive environment for learners. It is easy to identify with, extremely educative and the style used is both ‘soft’ and friendly to the reader. The book inspires the reader to reflect more on the dynamics and the multiple layers of socio-cultural contexts in schools thus raising the inquisitiveness of the readers on the relevance of adopting universal conceptualisations of language teaching and school leadership in a fast changing world.’ — Julius O. Jwan, Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Management, Moi University, Kenya

‘Some notion of context underlies almost every kind of thinking or discussion in language education, especially English language education (ELE). The term ‘context’ has by now acquired such connotations in ELE that it is no more possible to give any adequate equivalent to it. But while it is widely acknowledged that any aspect of ELE has intricate links with ‘context’, there hasn’t been any comprehensive exploration of context per se.It is, therefore, a matter of great significance that at last here is a book that takes up ‘context’ in its own right and deals exclusively with it. This is an excellent resource for everyone – from practicing teachers to administrators and policy makers – and absolutely essential reading if you are involved in change. The most important strength of the book is that it attempts to compile ‘the whole picture’ of context from many perspectives – historical and descriptive, macro and micro, insider and outsider, and practical and theoretical. Another key strength is numerous tasks, thinking questions and authentic illustrations which constantly remind and help readers to situate the discussion in their own contexts. If you are looking for a good grounding in ‘context’, this is the book to begin with!’ —Amol Padwad, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of English, J. M. Patel College, Bhandara, India

Martin Wedell is Senior Lecturer and Head of International Education at the University of Leeds, UK.