One of the certainties in life is that in an election year, whatever the country, a common refrain will be, “We are the party of change” or “I am the candidate of change”. This might be an accurate assertion, but it might also be a distraction, a cynical marketing ploy, where the end-product is nowhere near as good as the promise.
The assumption, of course, is that change will lead to improved outcomes and result in significant benefits for both participants and their clients. The unpalatable truth is that change initiatives frequently fail, particularly if they are not planned and executed with care. A great deal of energy and good-will can be expended in changing practices, roles and titles, without actually changing attitudes and outcomes.
So, is a change as good as a rest, or is it simply a distraction? In language teaching and teacher training contexts the issues are the same as in everyday life. Change is not a single event but a process and the important measure of success is essentially the outcome. A change from one teaching approach to another can be successfully implemented but if the learning outcomes are the same or worse, then a lot of time, energy and good-will have been wasted.
Another feature of change initiatives is that they often occur when the environment is so hostile that there is no viable alternative. The need for change in recent years, especially in the light of COVID 19, has been compelling and a variety of initiatives have been introduced in the field of language teaching, often out of brutal necessity rather than considered choice. Organizations and teachers have found it necessary to swiftly embrace new approaches and practices, often linked to digital literacy skills, on-line-learning and distance-learning. A number of trends are in evidence, including those associated with social media learning, task-based learning, and hybrid or blended learning.
It is hoped that these new approaches and trends will be introduced in such a way that they are effectively embedded in TEFL teaching contexts and that the learning outcomes will be equally rewarding. It is clear that no single approach can solve the challenges that have emerged in recent years. There is no magic bullet. Clearly, what is needed is a measured approach that retains and enhances what has been traditionally successful, addresses the challenges of the current environment, and anticipates future trends.
In addition to accepting some elements of the change is as good as a rest proverb, we clearly need to also consider the fact that “variety is the spice of life” and that blending spices requires a sensitive and experienced hand. Perhaps, we should also bear in mind the maxims, “If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it.” and “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
