Interculturality and Masculinities: Critical Approaches to the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language

Abstract

The urge to turn the teaching of English as a foreign language into an inclusive and diverse space has recently become greater. For a few decades now, it has been highlighted the need for learners to develop not only their communicative competence, but also the intercultural one. However, the gap between these abstract expectations and specific teaching practices shows how much renovation is still a necessity. Understanding interculturality in its broadest sense, the article aims to evidence the little importance masculinities have been given in gender-critical educational research into foreign language teaching. To do so, a theoretical presentation of such concepts is carried out, as they are key to identify the related discourses that can be found in the world of English language teaching. As a conclusion, it suggests the assumption of these analytical categories in order to complement intercultural approaches, thus favouring diversity in English-teaching contexts for speakers of other languages. Finally, a list of possible themes as specific variables of upcoming empirical analysis is also proposed.

Keywords

• diversity
• English as a Foreign Language Teaching (EFLT)
• interculturality
• masculinities