strategy

Promoting use of English as common global language

Synonyms:
Promoting English as a second language
Popularizing English
Promulgating English language
Enhancing English language teaching
Implementation:

English has become the Earth's dominant language as a result of the far and wide reach of the former British Empire (today, the Commonwealth is represented by 52 nations and over 1.5 billion people). That does not include the United States, which because of her political, economic and cultural dominance has done much to further the spread of the English language. English is spoken to varying degrees in Africa's (Nigeria) and America's (USA) most populus nations, the world's and Asia's second most populus nation (India), throughout most of North America, the Pacific region, Southern and Eastern Africa, and it is widely spoken in Western Europe. Throughout the World, the study of English as a second language has remained popular, and/or is becoming more so (such as in South-East Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe). English is the language most often preferred and used by the world's business and scientific community, at international meetings, conferences and summits, or typically in conversation between two non-native English speakers whose first language differ from each other.

"English is no more a language – it is a technology to get things done," claims Iqbal Z. Quadir, Co-Founder of Grameenphone. Quadir, a Bangladeshi who created a community-owned telephone network in his native country, says that a lack of skills, especially English, is holding his people back. Just as the floodwaters which periodically engulf Bangladesh are undrinkable, so the information which surrounds Bangladeshis is often inaccessible. He proposes creating a campus where street children of all ages can play computer games in English and learn through a process of constant repetition. Adults could also use the computers in order to generate income and make the campus self-sustaining.

Counter Claim:

A great number of languages have fallen casualty to English. For example Hawaiian, Welsh, Scotch Gaelic, Irish, Native American languages, Australian aboriginal language, and Chamoro (of Guam). In most of the third world countries English has replaced the national or official language in education, trade and even politics. If this trend continues many languages will die with in three generations. This phenomenon has been termed as linguistic genocide by the linguists. If we want to make survive any language, the medium of instruction should be the same language.

Type Classification:
G: Very Specific strategies
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
GOAL 4: Quality EducationGOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions