Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Advanced Research in Education
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Navigating the Landscape of E-Learning in Ugandan Universities Post-Pandemic: Lessons Learned, Challenges, and Future Directions
Atcero Milburga1, Eldred Kyomuhendo Manyindo
ABSTRACT:
For decades, Russian higher institutions have steadfastly favoured British English, particularly Received Pronunciation (RP), as the definitive academic standard, a tradition deeply rooted in history and imbued with a sense of prestige, shaping the landscape of language education. Within this established paradigm, some educators, influenced by traditional norms, tend to sideline the significance of exposing their students to accents other than RP, erroneously considering them as deviations from the academic norm. This includes a tendency among these educators to restrict the usage of alternative accents, like the American accent. This dynamic poses a considerable challenge, constraining students aspiring to grasp English comprehensively for global communication, as they frequently encounter an exclusive emphasis on a singular pronunciation model. In contrast to the RP-centric approach, the contemporary reality of English as a global lingua franca demands a more expansive and inclusive pedagogy. Acknowledging and adapting to this reality becomes integral to preparing learners for the intricacies of real-world communication, where successful interaction necessitates adaptability to a multitude of linguistic expressions. Focused on the survey conducted among the teachers and students at RANEPA in Moscow, the research explores the reasons behind teachers’ adherence to British pronunciation, analyses the emerging needs of students, and questions the effectiveness of the RP-centric approach in fostering global communication skills among students. Recognising the limitations of the RP-centric method, the research aims to offer recommendations for enhancing language education and promoting linguistic diversity, crucial for preparing learners for communication challenges in diverse contexts.
keywords: accents; globalisation; lingua franca; language proficiency; linguistic diversity