The Global Spread of English: Ethical and Pedagogic Concerns for ESL/EFL Teachers

Abstract

This paper deals with the phenomenon of the global spread of the English language and the moral and ethical concerns associated with it. The paper shows that as English has become a language widely used in international contexts, it can be a potential cause to inequality among people and among nations, and a threat to any other language and culture. However, like globalization, English cannot be avoided or ignored, which places ESL/EFL teachers in a dilemma, as they need to resolve conflicts between internationalism and national cultural identity − that is, working to help students to communicate effectively with the world while maintaining their national and cultural values. Implications are given to classroom teachers in the process of managing this dilemma. One sign of globalization in the world today is the rapid spread of the English language. English has been used by more and more countries and people as a vehicle of communication in business, science, technology, education and entertainment. Phrases such as “international language,” “global language,” or “lingua franca” are very often used both in daily conversations and writings to refer to the role of the English language in the world. Has English really become an international language or a lingua franca that people from different countries can equally use and benefit as a tool to communicate with each other, or to gain access to international business,

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