Capital, Commodity, and English Language Teaching

Capital, Commodity, and English Language Teaching explores the impact of profit-driven motives on language teaching, examining education as a production process and the relationship between the circulation of capital and the teaching of language. It discusses ELT at global and local levels, drawing on Marxist and Bourdieusian theory to propose a dialectical approach to understanding the interrelationships between profit, language education, and social structures.

Format: Hardback
Length: 222 pages
Publication date: 28 July 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Capital, Commodity, and English Language Teaching delves into the intricate relationship between the pursuit of profit in commercial English Language Teaching (ELT) and the methods employed to impart language skills. The book adopts a production-oriented perspective, examining education as a means of creating value and exploring how lessons are produced and the impact of generating profit alongside the teaching process on educational institutions and their stakeholders.

Author John Simpson takes a rigorous theoretical approach to understanding capital, building upon this foundation to investigate the interconnectedness of capital circulation for profit and language teaching. Simpson's analysis encompasses ELT on a global scale, encompassing discussions of the ELT industry in countries such as the UK, the US, Ireland, Canada, Japan, Spain, and transnationally online. Additionally, he delves into the local context, providing detailed descriptions of the work-lives of individuals within the Japanese eikaiwa ELT industry. By drawing upon a synthesis of Marxist and Bourdieusian theory, Simpson offers a dialectical framework for understanding capital and its relationship with the drive for profit in language education.

In the conclusion of the book, Simpson demonstrates how this approach can lead to new avenues for research in various contexts around the world, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. By offering a model for addressing global issues in ELT, this book appeals to advanced students, scholars, and professionals in applied linguistics, TESOL, sociolinguistics, linguistic anthropology, language economics, and related fields.

Weight: 590g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367764579