MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING (ELT) IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

The teaching of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and as a Second Language (ESL) in the twenty-first century demands approaches that transcend traditional methodological boundaries. This article examines the multidisciplinary foundations of modern English Language Teaching (ELT), drawing on research in applied linguistics, educational psychology, sociolinguistics, literary studies, computational linguistics, and assessment theory. Synthesizing a broad body of contemporary scholarship, the article argues that effective ELT in the current era requires an integrated understanding of learner diversity, grammatical and lexical knowledge, assessment literacy, technological innovation, and cross-cultural competence. Evidence from Central Asian and international research contexts illustrates both universal pedagogical principles and region-specific challenges. The article concludes that sustainable improvement in ELT outcomes is achievable only through deliberate, theoretically informed, and institutionally supported multidisciplinary frameworks