Article Details
  • Published Online:
    March  2026
  • Product Name:
    The IUP Journal of English Studies
  • Product Type:
    Article
  • Product Code:
    IJES100326
  • DOI:
    10.71329/IUPJES/2026.21.1.130-141
  • Author Name:
    Ragasree R and Jasti Appa Swami
  • Availability:
    YES
  • Subject/Domain:
    Arts and Humanities
  • Download Format:
    PDF
  • Pages:
    130-141
Volume 21, Issue 1, January-March 2026
Shifting Sands in English Language Teaching: An Indian Perspective
Abstract

The field of English language teaching (ELT) has evolved into a dynamic discipline, pivotal to fostering global communication. What sets ELT apart from other academic disciplines is its compelling functionality with bearings on every aspect of modern life. Drawing on the seminal works of both Indian scholars and others, this paper traces the significant ideological shifts in ELT in recent years. This is done by identifying three major perspectives that signify this transition: from monolingual pedagogy to translanguaging pedagogy, method-based pedagogy to post-method pedagogy, and teacher being a technician to teacher being a theorist. The paper uncovers the diverse perspectives on how the multicultural realities of society interact with English pedagogy. Along the way, it also repositions the dogmatic conception of language as a set of rules to a resource for meaning-making in context.

Introduction

In the recent past, English language teaching (ELT) has evolved into a multifaceted academic discipline that has far-reaching social implications. It is a dynamic enterprise that is shaped by the interplay of several global and local forces