THE ROLE OF ELT IN PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND COOPERATION

Аннотация

As globalization continues to intensify international contact, the English language has assumed a central role as a global medium for diplomacy, dialogue, and cross-border collaboration. This research critically explores how English Language Teaching (ELT) functions not merely as a linguistic tool, but as a catalyst for cultivating mutual understanding, tolerance, and peace among learners from diverse cultural, religious, and ideological backgrounds. Drawing on theories of intercultural communication, peace education, and critical pedagogy, the study examines how ELT classrooms—especially those involving international students or multicultural contexts—can foster values essential to global harmony: empathy, open-mindedness, conflict resolution, and respect for diversity. Ultimately, the study argues for a paradigm shift in ELT—from a skills-based approach to one deeply embedded in the ethics of global citizenship—thereby positioning English not only as a lingua franca of commerce or academia but as a transformative agent for peacebuilding and international cooperation.