Reaching International
Students: Effective
Teaching in Today’s
Classroom
Global English
Lisa Springer
Erich Dietrich
Session Overview
• What is Global
English?
• Examples of Usage
• Self-Awareness
• Practice in Using
Global English:
Translation
• Discussion
What is Global English?
Clear, concise usage that does NOT
assume native fluency of others
360 Million native speakers of
English
800 Million non-native speakers of
English
Non-Global English
Idioms
Phrasal verbs
Cultural references
Business-isms
Sarcasm
Idioms
A group of words
established by usage
as having a meaning
not deducible from
those of the individual
words
• Off the top of your head
• Cut and dry
• Low hanging fruit
Phrasal Verbs
Idiomatic use of a verb plus another
element
• Break it down, stick to it, hand in, see
the light, pick your brain
• Put: Put up with, put someone down,
put two and two together, put the
screws to, put your finger on, put your
foot in your mouth, put your foot down,
put up or shut up
Cultural
References
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Sports
Music
Movies
Television
Advertising
Geography
Food
Cultural References
Baseball
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You’re up
On deck
Out of left field
Strike out
Three strikes and you’re out
Step up to the plate
Make it to the big leagues
Cultural
References
Film/Movies
The Wizard of Oz
• Follow the Yellow Brick Road
• Lions and tigers and bears, Oh My
• Ruby Slippers
• We’re not in Kansas anymore
Business-isms/ Corporate
Speak
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Leverage
Mover and shaker
Big Shot
Big Wig
Rank and file
Real piece of work
Step on his toes
Buy-in
Cutting edge
Boil the ocean
Drink the Kool-Aid
Ducks in a row
It is what it is
Busy work life in the
Big City
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I’m swamped
He’s in over his head
She’ll get the hang of it
Call me when you come up
for air
Sarcasm
Saying what we don’t mean
Beautiful day, isn’t it?
This will be a breeze!
Are we having fun yet?
Do I look like a people
person?
Well that’s just what we
need!
Tips for Using Global English
• Contextualize. Tell listener what you’re
talking about.
• Say it twice in different ways
• Choose vocabulary wisely.
• Latinate versus Germanic (which
tends toward phrasal verbs).
“Comprehend” or “understand”
versus “get it.”
• Use examples
• Ask whether the listener has
understood you
For Discussion
• Does Global English deprive the speaker of
complexity of thought and expression?
• Isn’t it important that our students actually
learn non-Global (colloquial) English?
• Does Global English lack warmth and personal
connection?
• Does becoming self-conscious of Global
English distract from effective teaching?
THANK YOU
Lisa Springer
Erich Dietrich