Abstract

The aim of this paper is to report on a research project that regards the pedagogical implications of using English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) at high school. It demonstrates how web-mediated activities such as cooperative writing and fanfiction can bridge the gap between the scholastic dimension of English Language Teaching (ELT) and the reality of authentic communication situated in multilingual and multicultural contexts. This study, which is essentially informed by Vygotsky's (1978) sociocultural theory (SCT), examines the controversial nature of ELF from a social constructionist theoretical perspective on second language learning (Lantolf 2000). The results of this research indicate that the use of ELF is not a hindrance to language learning and could well be incorporated into ELT as a valuable resource for a more effective communicative approach to English.