A Native Speaker Norm Approach vs. an Intercultural Approach in the English K-3 classroom in Sweden

Abstract: In a world that is becoming more cosmopolitan, pedagogical approaches, particularly those that focus on diversity of cultures, have become paramount. As a result, this study attempts to gain insight into what pedagogical approaches K-3 teachers in Sweden use during their English lessons, and whether these approaches are more native speaker or interculturally focused and why that is. Initially, this degree project presents an overview of previous research made on the Native Speaker norm approach and the Intercultural approach. The findings show that the Native Speaker norm approach is more commonly used than the Intercultural approach. However, as English is a language used worldwide, the teaching of it should include content relatable to non-native speakers as well. Nevertheless, the Intercultural approach is relatively new and teachers still need the training and the tools to implement it. This paper builds on the content from interviews of three K-3 teachers and one assisting principal in different parts of Sweden. The main conclusions of this study are that (I) the teachers predominantly use a Native Speaker norm approach due to tradition; (II) the teachers lack training and knowledge of how to implement an Intercultural approach and, consequently, they do not know how to use it; (III) the teaching materials provided by the schools have an impact on what approach the teachers use; (IV) the teachers’ English teaching leaves their pupils struggling in coming to terms with their own identity in a global context, as well as appreciating norms and English varieties other than that of Standard English.