Language Education Policy and Globalization Impact
Summary
The proliferation of cross-border mobility, digital communication and transnational trade has elevated the role of language education policy as a strategic tool in aligning national educational goals with global economic and cultural currents. In many contexts, English has assumed a central position as the lingua franca of academia, science and commerce, prompting a rise in policies advocating English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) alongside traditional national or regional languages. Such policies aim to enhance competitiveness and facilitate access to international knowledge networks, yet they also generate equity concerns, as differential proficiencies may exacerbate social stratification and marginalise minority tongues. Concurrently, multilingual pedagogies, including translanguaging and the integration of English for Specific Purposes (ESP), have emerged to reconcile global communication needs with local linguistic ecologies, emphasising functional proficiency within discipline-specific contexts. Policymakers are increasingly tasked with balancing the demands of globalisation against goals of cultural preservation, social cohesion and educational inclusivity. This overview examines the mechanisms through which language education policy responds to globalising pressures, highlights the tensions between instrumentalist and integrative approaches, and considers the practical implications for learners, educators and institutions worldwide.
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Language Education Policy and Globalization Impact publication trend
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Technical terms
Medium of Instruction (MoI): The language chosen to deliver subject matter in educational settings.
English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI): The policy by which English is used to teach academic content across disciplines.
English for Specific Purposes (ESP): A language teaching approach tailored to the lexical and functional needs of particular fields of study.
Translanguaging: A pedagogical practice that allows learners to draw on all linguistic resources to meaningfully engage with content.
Neoliberalism: An ideology emphasising market-driven policies, often framing language skills as individual economic assets.
Linguistic Imperialism: The dominance of one language over others, leading to unequal power relations and potential language erosion.
References
- Challenges and opportunities of English as the medium of instruction in diploma midwifery programs in Bangladesh: a mixed-methods study. BMC Medical Education (2024).
- Impact of English Language Proficiency on Local Language Use among Bangladeshi Graduates. Languages (2024).
- Construction of English language skills as human capital and ELT as development aid in Bangladesh. Globalizations (2023).
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