Reactions to English Language Learning in Chile as a Means for Personal and National Development

Abstract

In our globalized world today, English has developed into the worldwide language. Chilean leaders, in connection to their development goals to reach a developed country status by 2020, have highlighted the need for Chilean citizens to become bilingual in order to attract foreign investment and further integrate into the world market. Leaders also highlight how English education will serve as an equalizing measure to combat the socioeconomic inequality that has plagued this country since Spanish colonization. While the economic benefits are clear, questions remain as to what the social and cultural costs will be. This research project presents how a group of Chilean students feels in regards to their leader’s goal of creating a bilingual citizenry: do they see English proficiency as advantageous or a threat to Chilean cultural individuality. This thesis answers the questions: (a) do Chilean students agree with the government that becoming bilingual will raise Chile to a developed country? (b) do they think that they will personally benefit from learning English and (c) what changes do they deem necessary if English education programs are to continue in Chile?

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