Teacher Talking Time The End of Traditional ELT: Why Teachers Must Unlearn Everything - Evan Frendo
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Mar 15, 2026 
Evan Frendo, a veteran corporate ESP and Business English trainer and author, argues for teaching English as a business lingua franca. He discusses why sticking to syllabuses makes teachers irrelevant, how AI reshapes needs analysis, the value of workplace‑based materials, and why finding a niche often comes down to being in the right room at the right time.
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Business English Is A Lingua Franca
- English in business functions as a lingua franca where users aim to get the job done, not to match native-speaker norms.
- Evan observed workplace English follows functional rules (e.g., maritime radio exchanges) that wouldn't pass standard ELT tests but achieve their communicative goals.
Get Known Where Clients Gather
- Network beyond ELT and present at industry events where clients (HR, L&D) gather to be noticed by decision makers.
- Evan recommends giving talks repeatedly on a topic and benchmarking peers to build reputation and attract corporate contracts.
AI Is Redesigning Needs Analysis
- Traditional needs analysis is changing because employees now generate their own, on-demand content via AI and built-in company tools.
- Evan notes learners increasingly get just-in-time support from ChatGPT-style tutors and in-house assistants, reducing teacher-led analysis.
