Research

Title of Thesis

Using a Conceptual Framework to Analyze a Business English Curriculum: A Mixed Method Intervention Design Study

Description of thesis research

My research aims to bridge the gap between current theories about modern linguacultural communication and tangible curricular implementation.  My thesis serves two main purposes:  The first purpose of this study is to design a new conceptual framework for evaluating existing Business English curricula to a) determine what competencies are already being addressed, and b) design a teaching intervention that includes adjustments, additions, and supplementations that will better prepare learners for modern, transcultural communication.  The second purpose is to test the theoretical utility of the framework in cultivating desirable linguacultural competence by executing a pedagogical intervention to enhance such competence. A mixed methods intervention design, anchored in a true experiment, will be adopted to collect qualitative and quantitative data from two groups: a control group receiving instruction on the existing curriculum and an experimental group that is exposed to the linguacultural teaching intervention in addition to the existing curriculum.  I will determine the impact and perception of the intervention and then extract principles that can be applied to other curricula.  The results of this inquiry will provide insight into how to develop Business English curricula to best prepare learners for modern, professional, transcultural communication. 

Professional Affiliations

• Member of the TESOL International Association www.tesol.org
• Member of IATEFL and the Business English Special Interest Group (SIG)
• Member of Asia TEFL
• Member of the LSPPC: the Asia-Pacific LSP & Professional Communication Association
• Organizing member of "Conversations about BELF"

Conference Presentations

• Peltonen, L. (2023). Plenary Speech: Linguaculture in Business English as a Lingua Franca: Textbook Adaptation and Classroom Implementation. 2023 Forum on English, Bilingual and EMI Education. The National Dong Hwa University of Taiwan. June 16, 2023. Virtual.

• Peltonen, L. (2023). Plenary Speech: The Place of Linguacultural Competence in a chatGPT-created curriculum. V APIBA Business English Conference. Asociacion de Profesores de Ingles de Buenos Aires, y Universidad de Belgrano. June 3, 2023. Virtual.

• Peltonen, L. (2023). Linguaculture in Business English as a Lingua Franca: Levels and Orientations – Analysis and Evaluation of Business English Textbooks. Joint Conference: Talking Across the World & Business and professional communication in a changing world. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and City University of Hong Kong. May 17, 2023. Hong Kong.

• Peltonen, L. (2023). The Place of Linguacultural Competence in a Business English Textbook. The 1^st Annual Education, Languages and Internationalisation Network (ELINET) Conference. The University of Glasgow. April 15, 2023. Virtual.

• Peltonen, L. (2023). Building Linguacultural Competence into a Business English Textbook. TESOL 2023 Convention. April 3, 2023. Virtual.

• Peltonen, L. (2023). Building Linguacultural Competence into a Business English Textbook. Conversations about BELF. January 28, 2023. Virtual.

• Peltonen, L. (2022).  Business English as a Lingua Franca (BELF) Pedagogy in Asia: Taking a Deep Dive into a Business English Textbook Unit. 18^th Annual CamTESOL Conference on English Language Teaching. February 18, 2022. Virtual.

Teaching

• Guangdong Experimental High School, Guangzhou, China (Aug 2021 to 2022)

  Business Foundations, SSAP Department

  • Combine improving English language competency along with building subject knowledge, analytical ability, and academic skills.

• Wall Street English, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (July 2017 to July 2021)

  Senior Teacher & Project Consultant, VVIP Department

  • Develop course curricula and offer Business English training to Guangzhou’s largest firms: HSBC, Maersk Shipping, China Southern Power Grid, L’Oreal, GAC, Capgemini, eFund Asset Management, etc.

• Neusoft Institute Guangdong, Foshan, Guangdong, China (Aug 2016 to July 2017)

  Business English and Culture Teacher, English Department

  • Introduce concepts of Business English as well as western culture to Sophomore English majors and non-majors.

Service

• The English-Speaking Union

  Volunteer English Tutor, New York, NY, Oct 2013 to March 2014

• The International Center

  Volunteer English Tutor, New York, NY, June 2011 to June 2012

• WorldTeach

  Volunteer Teacher, Hunan Province, China, June 2010 to Aug 2010

• English in Action

  Volunteer English Tutor, El Jebel, CO, June 2008 to June 2010

Awards

• Excellence Prize (Nov 2019)                                                                                                                 

  National: The Fifth Foreign Language Mini-Class Competition of the National University Teaching Creativity and Innovation Competition of China: Our Lesson: “Political Correctness with Peppa Pig.” Collaborated with Ning ZiDan of Neusoft Institute Guangdong.

• First Prize (Oct 2019)                                                                                                                               

  Guangdong Province: The Fifth Foreign Language Mini-Class Competition of the National University Teaching Creativity and Innovation Competition of China: Our Lesson: “Political Correctness with Peppa Pig.”  Collaborated with Ning ZiDan of Neusoft Institute Guangdong.