English as an International Language in Asia: Implications for Language Education: 1 2012th Edition

From the book reviews:

“This well-considered book navigates the linguistic and educational terrains of English as an international Language in the Asian continent … . the volume offers considerable insights into the situation of English in Asia by providing detailed descriptions of the role, functions, and impact of English in various contexts across the continent. … this collection provides relevant sources for Applied Linguistics researchers, MA students, and/or anyone who may be interested in English in Asian contexts.” (Sonia Morán Panero and Melissa H. Yu, ELT Journal, Vol. 68 (4), October, 2014)

Even as Anglophone power wanes in Asia, and China and India rise, the role of the English language in the region continues to develop. How are students in Asian nations such as Vietnam, Malaysia and China itself being taught English? This much-needed overview analyzes the differing language education policies of selected countries that also include Indonesia, Japan and Sri Lanka. Noting ASEAN’s adoption of English as its sole working language, it traces the influence of globalization on English language education in Asia: in many systems, it pushes local languages off the curriculum and is taught as a second language after the national one.

Informed by a comprehensive review of current research and practice in English teaching in Asia, this volume considers the many different roles English is playing across the region, as well as offering an informed assessment of the prospects of English―and Chinese―being a universal language of communication.