Social Responsibility and Language Teaching: The Triple Bottom Line in EAP

Abstract

Sustainability is a key aim of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly in areas such as environmental management, livelihood options, and socio-economic development; however, many Southeast Asian students lack a clear understanding of the meaning of sustainability. Even students who do understand sustainability may be unable to discuss this topic in English, the working language of ASEAN. The immanent integration of the ASEAN Economic Community, scheduled for 2015, lends urgency to the task of resolving these issues. This presentation will outline a upper-intermediate level language course designed to teach Southeast Asian ELLs about sustainability. This course, created in an EAP program at a Thai university, is structured around Elkington’s Triple Bottom Line framework, which evaluates sustainability in terms of people, planet, and profit. Over the course of a semester, each student evaluates a particular multinational corporation by referring to the three aspects of the Triple Bottom Line. Under the guidance of a faculty advisor, the students write a term paper and prepare a short presentation. The goals of the course are to prepare students to become more responsible members of the global community and to provide students with the language that they need to engage in meaningful dialogue about sustainability. This presentation will be of interest to language educators who are interested in introducing elements of sustainability and social responsibility into their courses.

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Author Information
Alexander Nanni, Mahidol University International College, Thailand
Joseph Serrani, Mahidol University International College, Thailand
Adriano Quieti, Mahidol University International College, Thailand

• Category: Language education

Posted by James Alexander Gordon

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