Theme: The Ubiquity of English Prepared by: Checked by

Theme:The Ubiquity of English

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“Due to the ubiquity of English as a global means of communication, [English mother-tongue speakers]may, in an anglophone country, never hear the sounds of the language they are learning outside the walls of the classroom. Compare this to the average second-language learner of English in almost any country in the world. As well as their own native language, they are hearing English, from an early age, through the media, through films, through music, but in an unstressed way. They are not being forced to understand it, but it exists all around them; they are immersed in English almost without realising it.”

It was on reading this quote above that a natural comparison came to mind of the current attitude toward and teaching practices of the English language, and that of Mandarin Chinese. With economic reform and the opening up of China at the beginning of the 1980’s, it’s fair to say that teaching and learning Chinese to foreigners is relatively new. Its own uniqueness, in terms of tones and characters, has also led many to believe that it is ‘difficult’ to learn. Having recently begun to delve deeper into the theory that underpins language learning, and using my own personal examples, I will explore the notion that the difficulty of the Chinese language is less to do with the language itself, and as much to do with the socio-cultural and physchological factors that contribute to a percieved complexity, for native and non-native speakers alike.

• English, it seems, is all around us. The international cultural environment is peppered with fluent English speakers, all giving interviews, or selling their products, in English. In terms of who or what is cool, trendy, or popular, the chances are, are that they are from the US or UK. Being naturally interested in a certain pop star who speaks another language, means that instrinsic motivation propels you towards wanting to understand more.
• English, it seems, is all around us. The international cultural environment is peppered with fluent English speakers, all giving interviews, or selling their products, in English. In terms of who or what is cool, trendy, or popular, the chances are, are that they are from the US or UK. Being naturally interested in a certain pop star who speaks another language, means that instrinsic motivation propels you towards wanting to understand more.

• Continuous developments in learning theory has led to fundamental shifts in teaching. Language teaching seems to be at the forefront of these changes, and a move from Teacher-Centred Learning to Student-Centred Learning is well in progress. It is commonly accepted that an awareness of different learning styles, identifying and responding to indiviual needs, facilitates learning. From my own viewpoint, as a language student in China, classes are very much based on the Confucius style of Teacher-Centred learning, where the textbook remains king. That said, there are some strong arguments that suggest Western educators are mistaken in their perception of the process of learning in the Chinese classroom.

• In a world that is striving for perfection, establishing a foothold in any field of interest is a landmark to be fulfilled. Perfectionism has become part and parcel of the high standard and goal-driven world due to the tendency to globalism. If one does not possess the quality of a high-flyer person, failure is right around the corner. The phenomenon of internationalization has eliminated economic, political and educational constrains between continents, and as a consequence the nations are now united.

Apart from this, Globalization has standardized the globe to a point that common set of ideas, interest, facts, language and regulations have prevailed. When Globalization appeared, English globalization emanated from it. As a result, English has become a lingua franca[1] and the by far most spoken language worldwide. The ubiquity of the aforementioned is spread in all domains and not mastering this language is considered to be a persistent concern whether for individuals or Business communities. Undermining the importance of English is like wiping all links for international harmony and cross cultural cooperation.

• Apart from this, Globalization has standardized the globe to a point that common set of ideas, interest, facts, language and regulations have prevailed. When Globalization appeared, English globalization emanated from it. As a result, English has become a lingua franca[1] and the by far most spoken language worldwide. The ubiquity of the aforementioned is spread in all domains and not mastering this language is considered to be a persistent concern whether for individuals or Business communities. Undermining the importance of English is like wiping all links for international harmony and cross cultural cooperation.