Description

Expatriate English teachers have been implicated by scholars in the field of World Englishes as members of a system that may (intentionally or unintentionally) use English education to reproduce powerful global cultures at the expense of less powerful ones. It is now commonly accepted by scholars that Applied Linguists and teachers of English have an obligation to reflect on the political aspect of teaching English. I have undertaken this project to gain an understanding of the most prominent voices in World Englishes scholarship. This thesis seeks to synthesize existing wisdom about the political dimensions of English education and negotiate with it in my own voice. What I hope to provide you, as a reader, is a basic understanding of the main questions World Englishes scholars are asking about the political role of English teachers, responses that have been offered, and my personal response to these questions, that you may ponder them for yourself.