Decolonizing English: Reimagining English Language Learning and Teaching through Critical Pedagogies
Abstract
At the turn of the century, nearly a quarter of the world’s population (1.5 billion people) was estimated to speak English with some fluency. English has gained an official or special status in at least seventy-five countries and it is undoubtedly the most widely taught foreign language among all languages in the world. Being a lingua franca in science and technology, economy, politics, education, journalism, media and culture, and more, English seems to have solidified its status as “the” international language and its supremacy is seldom questioned. Critically examining the history of the spread of English worldwide, its hegemonic characteristics, and its impact on local languages and identities, I problematize the alleged necessity and promise of the English language from both macro and micro perspectives. In this thesis, I reflect on my own experience of English acquisition, analyze Bhutan’s effort to bring education through the medium of English, and explore possible applications of critical pedagogy in English language classrooms. By combining autobiographical, ethnographical, and theoretical writing, I invite readers to reflect on their own relationship to this global language and what actions to take.
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Vocabulary Knowledge and Its Effects on Reading Behavior and Vocabulary Acquisition in Native and Non-Native Speakers of English
Joseph, AlisonThe current study examined whether vocabulary depth and breadth knowledge affected online reading behavior and incidental vocabulary acquisition in native and non-native English speaking adults. Morphological knowledge was ... -
Tongue-Tied in America: The Decline of Foreign Language Education in an Age of Globalization
Bussiere, Katherine (2013-06-19)In the United States the ratio of modern foreign language enrollments to total course enrollments in higher education today is half of what it was in the sixties. The Modern Language Association (MLA) reported in 2009 that ... -
Poet and Politician Reconciled: How Gavin Douglas Navigates the Scots Language and Nationalism in the Prologues to the Eneados
Bushnell, Megan (2013-05-09)Gavin Douglas’ Eneados, a medieval Scottish translation of Virgil’s Aeneid, contains a political agenda that pertains particularly to language. Douglas interprets the Aeneid as the foundation of the literary tradition based ...