Anna Knajdrowska, Polish, teaching in Mexico
The question is purely theoretical. There are more non-native English teachers than native, and they teach whatever they know themselves. If history can teach us a lesson, English may suffer the same fate Latin - another "lingua franca" did: break into several new languages with some resemblance to one another.

Charanjit Kaur, India
Region specific English is far more viable in a country like India, because Indian English is developing well as far as pronunciation, accent syntax and even vocabulary are concerned. For communication within the country, this pan-Indian variety serves well enough. Further, if Indian English is mastered, it is just a matter of training for a month or so if one wants to work in an international atmosphere.

Omar, Saudi Arabia
It's not easy to know what people might mean when they say "international English". To some this is a universal dialect, to others a weird creole lurking in shadows, to yet others it is English-Lite denuded of the often annoying and irrelevant cultural baggage that Americans and Brits are so fond of shoving in our faces with their "communicative" language courses in shrink wrapped boxes. If I am studying English with the intention of going to live in the US or Britain in the near future then this cultural acclimatization may be useful, but even so, I would probably survive without doing a course in it. (If I already live there then I need to be taught the local culture even less.) Spelling conventions are easily learned or acquired on site, and, (spies exempted), any foreigner speaks like a foreigner, at least until they get into an Anglophone environment. Even then, most of us will not change our accents even if we could. Can you imagine the Gabor sisters speaking like Queen Latifa? (Appologies to those on the UK English track.) The variety of English you speak depends on what you need English for. In most international contexts, it is neither possible nor desireable for instructors and course designers to anticipate what kind of English students will ultimately need. Yet, while people do not always know what they need, they do often know what they want and if the number of UK publishers producing books touting "American English" is any indication of this, they want to talk American. So go figure.

Craig, Germany
Rather than searching for 'International English' as a universal dialect, we should be looking for the 'international core' of the languages. See the research from Jennifer Jenkins, for example. ´This will help all teachers to concentrate on the pronounciation, lexical and grammatical points which have been shown to provide a language capacity which is as understandable as possible. Then our students can all have fun exploring their dialect differences when they meet people from other places.

Ann, Malaysia
The language taught should be one that transcends all borders. Efforts should be made however to explain different uses.

Diana Campbell, USA
As I teach mainly in Europe & British-influenced areas of Asia, I tend to teach British English unless my students request otherwise. My rationale for this is that these students are more likely to have contact with British English native speakers on a regular basis than with Americans. For those of you interested, a good book on English and how and why it has evolved as it has is, "The Story of English" - ISBN 0-14-015405-1

Abdimitalip Tasmatov, Kyrgyzstan
As the origin of the English language is the UK, we should teach British English to escape loads of violations of English grammar,pronunciation and/or spelling. English deserves to be pure language...

Pranab Biswas, India
Since the language is the same, the regional differences would become apparent and understandable with exposure and usage. There is no need to reinforce these differences by emphasing them formally.

S V R Murthy, India.
We should not forget English originated from England. The British spread it, wherever they went and conquered other countries to change them into colonies. Language should not be equated with their colonization. Language is primarily meant for understanding the communication. So, in that aspect we in India are still steadfast with the British grammar as the fundamental support. Some Indian word might have crept into it. But, in my opinion language should be uniform (minor variations accepted) to be better understood globally.

Yuriy Velykoroda, Ukraine
I believe that teaching a specific variant of English as a second language should be the primary aim of any educational establishment. Though, for advanced learners of English regional difference could be presented and the right to choose whichever variant is to their liking should be given, stressing that once they make their choice, they should try to stick to it. I think it would be very unusual for a native speaker of English to see somebody write a sentence like this: "While travelling last winter, I was able to visit all my favorite places in New York, including Broadway, a big theater centre in downtown Manhattan." Despite trying to keep to one variant of the English Language, we should not forget to remember and value the other ones.

Jasmine, UK
I think English is one language that has brought the world together - it doesn't matter how & where we speak it, English will always remain English! English is an International language & I think we should all appreciate each others accents & expressions in English.

M. Rizwan Khan, Aligarh, India
Well, a confusing query. Despite the emergence of the Indian English variety and a global dominance of the American English through Media and all, we in India are still British due the past colonial impact. Any inception of the new variety (like spelling or format of a letter, etc.) in the classroom leads to serious confusion among the learners. As a teacher of English in a university, (once when a text of American origin was prescribed to undergraduate students) I witnessed the students in their examination scripts as half British and half American in their expressions. It often became difficult to make the learners realise the intricacies of the language. Ultimately it was the acceptability and appropriacy theory that helped and finally that text was dropped. Therefore, I personally feel that maximum of authentic material of its place should be used with maximum of variety-tolerance, so that the students are familiarised with the actual use of the varity of the given time and place. So far the concept of International variety is concerned, it is merely a myth. I personally have been in various international situation of interaction with people of various countries, and beside a delayed comprehension at the initial stage (due to accent, etc.), I didn't find any problem. Thanks.

Meena, India
In my opinion, teaching English the way it's accepted in one's place is better. However, since our globe is just a village now it becomes equally important to teach the student to recogonise and appreciate the expressions of other varieties as well. And of course, at the end of the day, the real focus should always be on effective communication.

Adam Gyenes, Japan
I am british, and voted international... At the end of the day you have to teach what your students are interested in learning/ have difficulty understanding, regardless of your own 'pure language' principles, and prejudices. Just the other day a student asked me how to correctly pronounce "can't"... so I showed her both ways (uk & US). However, Im not sure if some of my U.S. "co-workers" (american english for 'colleagues') would have illustrated the British english in the same situation. I have a Japanese student who speaks english with a spanish accent, as the friends she stays with in the US are mexican. Is this wrong? I don't think so... even if it causes confusion for the other students.... I think 1 area where this issue is most important is in the choice of textbook you use. Im forced to use an American textbook by my school ('american streamline', which I dislike!). I would rather use a book like 'Cutting edge' which has a variety of english in it, and an international cast of characters. A travel english textbook which I bought recently, has a CD with Thai, French, and Chinese accents- no native speaker characters! With regard to spelling- consider the impact of email and 'txt' messaging. Most native 'spkrs' abrviate '4' convenience & speed. If our students immitate this, is it wrong? If they are writing a formal letter then it is, so maybe we should be illustrating the different contexts within which different things are acceptable or not...

Eva, Czech Republic
I think that one day some sort of international English will be spoken by most of non native speakers who don't have a chance to learn the language in an English speaking country. It will develop naturally and independently of our wishes. And it's only fair. No one will be offended and educated native speakers will respect that and use the international English rather than their dialects. I agree with Ahmed, Pakistan.

JD, teaching in the Netherlands
Language is a living organism and should therefore be treated as such. It changes and evolves with time. The English spoken in England today is considerably different than in Shakespeare's time or even that of 100 years ago. So what exactly is "undiluted and original English idiom, vocabulary and grammar " then(HES, UK)? There is no such thing as an undiluted language form. Language is adapted to the needs of its users and will (or should I say an undiluted 'shall'), as a result, continue to change based on the sheer number of users it has. Additionally, language and culture are virtually inseparable, so every user of the English language will have his or her own way of understanding, utilising and interpreting the learned language. Native speakers of British, American, South African or any other form of the English language have their own subcultures and are influenced by those. Which form an individual chooses depends on which culture one identifies oneself with. Look at any teenager, educated to speak the Queen's English or not, and you'll witness that. Is it possible to teach only one form of the language? Not really, other than the mechanics of it. Words contain feeling and have personal meaning for the user. We as English teachers can only guide our students in how to 'own' their words and assign some meaning to them. The rest is up to them. Personally, I don't care which form a student uses if they use the language with cultural sensitivity, which a number of users (native included) seem to be lacking in nowadays. Because of the ever-changing nature of language, there is no 'right way' or 'original way', only different ways and preferences, and I think we would be well-served to avoid attempts to homogenise such a varied and expressive language.

Valeria, from Argentina
I'm a teacher of English from Argentina and even though the backbone of the courses I teach is American English, I always try to provide my students with different kinds of accents. I've found that it is very difficult for them to understand different accents when they are only used to to one. I don't think it is too important to teach differences in spelling, vocabulary or grammar. The problem in Argentina is that as most schools teach British English, then I have no choice but to explain these differences.

E. Arscott, USA
I was born in Poland, have roots in England (acquired English in both), and live in the USA. I am taking TESL/TEFL courses at the University of California, Berkeley. If I ever teach English to immigrants to my country of residence, I will probably emphacise American usage, spelling, etc. (e.g., emphacize). But what if I teach in China, or Poland, or in any non-English language country?

George Steed Poland
My students (Polish and Slovak) are confronted with conflicting information about English details. I tell them that there are many versions of the general subject. For instance; articles, determinants or adjectives? Tenses, continuous or progressive? "AT THE WEEKEND", or "ON THE WEEKEND"? Students simply need to know that there are many ways to say the same thing in English.

Beatrice P., Germany
A language can't stand on its own. It is always related to the people of a nation, to its history, etc. Therefore, I think, which English you choose it always tells you something about the people. Of course, for communicational purposes it would be enough to teach English without any cultural background. But don't you think this would be boring for teachers as well as for students. Teaching and learning a language should be fun.

Peter Simon, Hungary, presently teaching in China
What do you call international English? The voting possiblity should include a point you bring up in the question, vis. we should teach the varieties. To that my answer would be yes, but also based on the variety you use and also keeping in mind who your students are and what they will most probably encounter. In Hungary, they may rarely need to use English with a native speaker, E. would be much more useful for communicating with people from the neighbouring countries. In China, they'd most probably need Australian or American English if they ever make it. The aim is understanding and understability on a wider scale so they'd need some exposure to several dialects in a way that might help them understand that there are variations in the first place and that helps them adapt to some new dialects too.

Good Ole Flopp, USA
:) country specific, I think countries should teach their own English. The student is going to be living in the country while taking the course, why not give them the ability to freely converse with most of the inhabitants? Besides, the various flavors of English aren't so different that mass confusion will ensue. They'll be able to go to other English speaking countries and carry on just fine.

M. A. Shaikh, India
International English should be taught to avoid confusion when it comes to using English at international fora.

Susan Carroll
It's best to teach the English you are familiar with. Basically, people studying business English want international English. If they need English to work in a different country then it makes sense to teach them the English they will need for that. There's not much point in teaching them vocabulary other learners will not understand. I do think, though, that this is a pity for 'real' English.

S.K. Japan
In Japan most English textbook tapes and English language programs on TV and radio are American English.Although the influence of American English is great, a lot of people prefer British English, which is easier for them to pronounce. I myself believe that grammar is the most important. Whether they speak British English or American English does not matter.

Edward Philpott
As a teacher in China I have to raise a question mark about Gordon Hunter's comments about Chinese preferences. American English may well be the preferred medium at his college, but in my experience in China, many students are more interested in learning to speak with a British English accent - from the horse's mouth as it were!

Tang l.p., Hong Kong
basic grammar knowledge is essential for English learners. I firmly believe teaching grammar, spelling and pronunciation is important at any stage of learning, especially on interantional concern,yet the usage can be done somewhat as an exploration or individual interest or preference learning.

Ahmed, Pakistan
english today has become the language of global village. there is need for more encouragement rather than putting it into some strait-jacket where it does not fit.

Mark Thompson, Brazil
I think the advent of an international form of English is inevitable. Those learners who go and spend time in a specific English-speaking country will obviously assimilate idioms, accents and peculiarities particular to that region, but those who learn in their mother country for travel or work purposes should be aware that the objective will be to communicate effectively with other international speakers of English - in my view there will soon be a culture of dropping the 3rd person 'S', uncountable nouns becoming countable etc - it's inevitable. For me, the important point is usefulness - why should I spend time on UK idioms/pronunciation with students have no intention of going there? Perhaps it's sad but at the end of the day the objective is communication.

Jorge Murillo, Ecuador
"I have got something to say", is an expression that may be understood in a general form, when trying to say I have something to say, but a non-traveling teacher may correct someone spelling "practise", or "travelled", and be terribly unfair. I do believe there is a non-registered consensus in the use of international English considering most people already use it as a second or third language. It should be taught so, and note the regional differences as general culture.

Andrea Assenti del Río, Argentina
While it is interesting that people should know about different varieties (as many features about as many varieties as possible), I believe it is not realistic to teach them International English, a variety that is changing all the time and mainly serves instrumental purposes. It is perhaps better to teach them a standard variety within a subvariety (for instance, standard British English or American English)and make them aware of the differences with other varieties. It is especially important to make students understand that varieties happen because people are culturally different and it's important for people to show this when they speak.

Héron Alain, France
Since there are probably more foreigners speaking english than British or Americans, I believe that international English should be taught. However differences should be stressed when possible...

Kiran Bhatia van de Ven Indian - Teaching in the Netherlands
English is well and truly an international language today. The emphasis is on communicating well and correctly without misunderstandings. I find there is too much of emphasis laid in the so called "correct" forms of English which are not really important. British English sounds great to the ears but one cannot expect the world to speak with contrived English accents and correctness. I teach young adults in the Netherlands - they have their own brand of English which is often a literal translation from their language. In teacher training we learn the correct British or American pronunciation. Great to know but must it really be thrust down and made so important? I don't think so - there are so many other ways of exposing kids to English. Such rich contributions in the fields of fiction and literature from commonwealth and non British or American nations. Students should be taught to appreciate it instead of imitating a manner of speaking and expressing which is not natural to them.

Vicky, France
I teach certain vocabulary as being country-specific but the key is having the student be understood. On the other hand it is nice to have a certain "quality" to the English, i.e. being reasonably correct.

Wm. Beetstra, US/CAN
It produces less confusion, less disruption, to work initially on the basis of one well-established variant than to deal constantly with trivial differences between, say, American and British. Whatever variant they learn, if they learn it well, it will be little problem for them later to gain an enriched knowledge of other important varieties of English. If they are burdened with that variety at the start, it will lead them to take seriously what, after all, is simply not that important when early effective communication is at stake.

Albert Pais, Portugal
I think this is a good idea asking teaching professionals and language researchers whish variety should be taught, especially in view of the fact that, as a result of so much globalised English language teaching, there is so much confusion about the validity of " varieties " outside the U.K.

Nayyer Ali, Pakistan
I believe English should be taught and used as it is: Queen's English. If we cater for and give space to tiny bits of "variations" these will ultimately creat a new language:MINGLISH You may call me a conservative but I think some things should be enjoyed as they are like nature.

Julian Murray-Carryl, Amazonas - Brazil
I am an ESL Teacher in Brazil. I am from British Guyana. It is simple, we must teach standard/international English. Why? Where ever we go, we must be understood. Also this will help to reduce the current problems we face since the world does not revolve around any particular accent. Come on people! It's a global village, we are definitely going to meet people from all over the world for different purposes and know learning of english in my opinion can achieve full native-like pronunciation in the specific language accent that he/she has received from his/her language tutor. Got my point?

Cinara, Brazil
I believe we should focus on students' needs, that is, if the student may go to a country or another, teach him the English language he is going to need. I always point out the differences between the different English languages because I believe it is important for the students. It would be lovely to have an International English, but I really don't believe it exists. Each country has its particularities and so does the language. It's time to stop fighting of which one is the best and - agreeing with Alex - communication achievement is the most important.

Francisco, Brazil
The point is, do they learn a language AS or FOR communication?

A. K. De, USA
Today English is the universal language. We all should use this language using only one grammar. If we do not take steps now then we will utter a jumble of words that will not make sense.

Mahander Pal, India
In this era of globlisation language like English can play an important role, if it is taught in a non country specific way.

David Synnott, Australia
I teach one-to-one, at present to 2 Chinese nationals. I use the Lanaguage to Go coursebooks as a resource. The English in those books is English English. I discuss with my learners differences between examples in the book, and how English is used in Australia and/or the USA. However I encourage the learners to follow Australian usage. This gives good opportunities to talk about Australian culture and cultural differences which exist between the three countries.

Alex, Basque Country
To be honest, I think it would be better if we taught a language like Esperanto. The important thing is not the variety of language taught (everybody's is different), but that communication is achieved.

Marcita, USA
I think that we should exposed to all the different forms and dialects but focus on the English of the specific country. I was exposed to both Jamaican and American English growing up.

Mike Randall, New Zealand
The aim, I think, should be towards clarity and phrasing whatever the accent - an English that anybody anywhere can understand - if that idea is not too obvious.

Christine, Singapore
In Singapore, ours is called Singlish and it has many coined words or expressions that are unique to our experiences. While this is crucial to developing an identity among oursleves, our education system insists on standard British English as the core medium. Whichever the variety of English it is, mutual tolerance and respect is important for English to evolve as the primary international language of communication.

Ben BT, Japan
I voted for country specific English because I think English is the expression of a specific country's culture before anything else. However I also think it's important to teach a variety of expressions, not just those used in MY country. Furthermore, I would not expect my students to end up speaking British English necessarily, but rather a form of international English, as most of their communication in English is likely to be with other foreigners, not native speakers.

Steve, Japan
Many people here say they prefer British English because it's easier to hear and thus comprehend. However most homestay students go to The States to study! Go figure.

Gordon Hunter, China
Interesting if you are in China. The accent of choice here is American and you are judged by it. All other accents are second class or worse. Your colleagues will understand Americans easily but nobody else, so support is selective. Some students complain about teachers who have another accent. It is very frustrating. Chinglish, on the other hand is fascinating and is based on British English and not American.

Abdel-Rahman Emara, egypt
British English is the original source of language, so you must know the original before knowing another accent.

HES, UK
1. The British English uniformly spoken by the communities of The UK, Australia and New Zealand is the English used by the three communities least populated (in terms of percentages) by speakers whose parents or grandparents had another mother-tongue. 2. It follows that those three countries (who speak almost identical British English) alone will maintain the most consistently undiluted and original English idiom, vocabulary and grammar (even allowing for the unfortunate influence world wide of "Hollywood" and the US TV it spawns. 3. All sources of the English language must suffer appreciably and rapidly from the unavoidable intrusion and enormous influence of newly-immigrant or long-indigenous alternative tongues; but the three named places will be the slowest to be degraded thus. 4. This degrading cannot be other than to the detriment of the true fundamental English idiom. 5. Indeed, one of the most remarkable indicators (or value-judgements) of what is tendered as praiseworthy (even heroic) has been laid down the world over from the advent in the USA of speech in the cinema. 6. This indicator or marker has been the implied notion fostered interminably by "Hollywood" that rejection of the value of speaking, singing or writing English grammatically is automatically concomitant with virtue. 7. The remark published ("I believe we should learn American because the spoken form is much easier: Jameel, Oman") is I think, difficult to agree with because it suggests that English has (a) one written form common to all Englishes but(b) a range of spoken English forms, of which "American" is one; and that (c)the American spoken version is "easier" to learn than "the others". 8. Is this misguided fantasy why we now see "Going to" and "Want to" being WRITTEN as "Gonna" and "Wanna"?

Ann, Malta
I think that the tendency in Malta is to teach British English.(maybe because of our colonial heritage) Yet, during my lessons I do point out different spelling, phrases or slang used in other types of English such as American English.

Nicholas Garbacz, Germany
I'm a native speaker who grew up in Chicago, I received my certification for teaching English in Oxford, and now I live and teach in Germany. I try to expose my students to a broad range of English forms. I use lots of different sources of printed and audio materials, and when I can, I point out alternatives -- not just U.S. and U.K. but also what might be used in other parts of the world. And in the end, English really is just English.

Jameel, Oman
I believe we should learn American, because the spoken form is much easier, and as we know we are using the spoken language 90% of the time.