ИСТИНА

In this presentation I will argue that a shift from English as a Foreign Language to English as an International Language has begun. The sooner we become aware of it, the easier we get adjusted to the changing reality and put a new paradigm to better use. The new paradigm, based on linguacultural grounding, implies challenging the dominance of British and American varieties of English, asserting diversity of Englishes, justifying the learning of non-stigmatized students’ own variety of English (Russian English in our case), and acquiring communicative competence that will make it possible for students to talk about their own culture, the cultures of their interlocutors, and the global issues of today. The ideal model of teaching English should include an expanded variety of language norms characteristic not only of British or American English but of other Englishes, both norm-providing and norm-developing (B.Kachru), which is pivotal for teacher-training programs. The communicative principle of English teaching and learning presupposes acquainting students with diverse contexts of situation students can encounter in their future communication.