Narrative Language Ecology (NLE) Method: Reclaiming Voice and Meaning in English Language Teaching and Learning

English language teaching today is saturated with methods that promise fluency, precision, or communicative ease—yet beneath this crowded landscape lies a deeper crisis: learners are trained to perform, not to reckon; to comply, not to narrate. Narrative Language Ecology (NLE) responds by reimagining language learning as a lived, ethical, and ecological act, aligned with UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those advancing inclusive, equitable, and quality education. In NLE, each macroskill—listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and representing—is treated not as a technical outcome but as a diagnostic entry point into context, agency, and reform. Learners engage with soundscapes, silences, and stories that demand presence and provoke reflection. Technology and AI are not shortcuts—they are narrative-critical instruments that flag bias, scaffold ethical clarity, and amplify rhythm without erasing voice. Values are structurally embedded, not decoratively appended, ensuring that every output breathes with empathy, accountability, and social relevance. NLE does not teach language as a system; it teaches language as a purposeful way of life—one shaped by reflection, responsiveness, and meaningful engagement with the world.