World English Flashcards
1
Q
How many people globally speak English
A
Over 1.5 billion
2
Q
How did/ does English spread?
A
- Colonisation and colonial links
- countries like UK and USA are economic superpowers
- political power in EU and NATO
- social media
- IT e.g. universal word for “laptop”
- early TV and Radio broadcasts in English
3
Q
Advantages of having English a world language
A
- easier to communicate at a global scale so forums use a common language
- indicator of education (better employment)
- easier to access ideas
- international lingua franca (businesses, news)
- adaptable to different needs and cultures
4
Q
Disadvantages of having English as a world language
A
- loss of language diversity, identity and culture
- language killer
- language imperialism
- people forced to learn English and forced upon people in history (form of oppression)
- negative towards native languages which can lead to them dying out
- those who don’t have access to/ speak English feel excluded and don’t receive same opportunities
- Native English speakers don’t bother learning other languages (superiority complex)
5
Q
Jay walker - English mania
A
- English is an opportunity for a better life and job
- English is the worlds 2nd language
- 2 billion people are trying to learn English worldwide
- English is the language of problem solving
6
Q
Jay Walker - English Mania - China
A
- China will soon be the biggest
English speaking country - 80 million Chinese high school students take the Gaokao(intense English learning test)
- by law, English learning starts in 3rd grade
- 25% of final grade comes from English speaking ability
