English as an international language

- IF ENGLISH IS APPROACHED AS AN INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE, WHOSE CULTURE OF LEARNING SHOULD BE USED?

Cultural topics

Currently, many ELT materials use cultural topics related to native English-speaking countires on the grounds that learning English should entail knowledge of native English-speaking cultures.

Is such an approach appropriate in the teaching of an international language?

What do you think?

1. ENGLISH AS AN INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE

DEFINING AN INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE

For some, an international language is equated with a language that has a large number of native speakers.

In this sense

Mandarin,

English,

Spanish,

Hindi, and

Arabic,

the 5 most widely spoken mother tongues in the world today, might be considered international languages.

However, only if spoken by a large number of native speakers of other languages, the language can serve as a language of wider communication.