Future of English teaching: is it still necessary?

The framework conditions for teaching English have changed significantly in the last 10 to 20 years. More and more young people are taking it for granted that they can watch films in the original English language. In addition, the range of media available in English, including YouTube videos and video games, has expanded enormously. Thanks to modern apps, it is now possible to translate spoken language simultaneously. In this context, the question arises as to why foreign language teaching is still necessary.

In a conversation with teacher and content creator Emily “Emitheteachter” Horbach, Bob Blume comments on these changes in English teaching. Horbach believes that speaking English enables a form of communication that cannot be achieved with translation AI. According to Horbach, interpersonal interactions and the cultural understanding fostered by language skills provide added value that no technology can replace.

Opportunities and challenges in English teaching

These developments raise both opportunities and challenges for English teaching. Teachers must adapt and design lessons to meet students' needs and expectations. Innovative approaches are required to continue to encourage students' interest in learning the language while taking advantage of the benefits of technological tools.

For further information and a deeper analysis of this topic, those interested can recommend the SWR article, which goes into detail about the current challenges in English teaching and also refers to additional research results. This information and analysis is in the Article from SWR as well as in the supplementary study, which is available here: Semanticscholar, to find.