From Language Skills to Literacy: Broadening the Scope of English Language Education Through Media Literacy (Routledge Research in Language Education)

From Language Skills to Literacy: Broadening the Scope of English Language Education Through Media Literacy, part of the Routledge Research in Language Education series, redefines what it means to teach and learn English in the 21st century. It explores how traditional language instruction can expand into the realm of critical media literacy to prepare learners for communication in a multimodal, digitally connected world.

The book bridges the gap between linguistic competence and critical engagement, showing how reading, writing, listening, and speaking are now intertwined with visual and digital literacies. It argues that developing language skills today means empowering learners to analyze, interpret, and create messages across multiple forms of media.

Drawing on research in applied linguistics, literacy studies, and education technology, the authors provide educators with practical frameworks and classroom strategies. Case studies and real-world examples illustrate how teachers can integrate media texts—advertisements, news, film, and social platforms—into lessons that foster both linguistic ability and critical awareness.

The work emphasizes that literacy in the modern era extends beyond language proficiency; it encompasses the capacity to navigate information, evaluate credibility, and participate actively in mediated communication. This expanded understanding of English education equips students not only to consume content but to contribute thoughtfully to global discourse.

From Language Skills to Literacy offers a visionary and research-driven approach for educators, scholars, and policy makers. It presents English language teaching as a transformative practice—one that cultivates critical thinking, creativity, and responsible participation in the digital age.