Practice Activities – M&R

SUBJECT PRACTICE ACTIVITIES:

ENGLISH IN THE COMMUNITY

Name and surname(s):

Juan Miguel Suarez Gonzalez

Maria Alejandra Tovar Perdomo

Group: 2810-10
Date: October 6th, 2019

INDEX

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 Practice Activities – M&R

1. TASK 1…………………………………………………………………………. 3

2. TASK 2…………………………………………………………………………. 5

3. TASK 3…………………………………………………………………………. 5

REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………. 6

PRACTICE ACTIVITIES

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 Practice Activities – M&R

Graddol (2006, p.14) states as a key trend to be expected “the rise and fall of
learners”. That is, he claims that “a massive increase in the number of people
learning English has already begun, and is likely to reach a peak around 2 billion
in the next 10-15 years. Numbers of learners will then decline.” (ibid, p.14)
Bearing in mind this statement, complete the following tasks.

Task 1 - (1 page)
More than 10 years have gone by since the original statement. Find updated figures
supporting or refuting the hypothesis. If possible, find sources for the last five years.
- Justify the validity of your sources. To do so apply the CRAAP test proposed by
California State University, which can be found here.

Nowadays, English seems to be one of the most important languages in the

world. It is the official language of 53 countries and is spoken by around 400 million
people in the world. Besides, it is considered the official second language in many
countries such as Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Slovenia, Estonia,
Poland, Germany among others. Throughout the years, many countries continue
relying on this language in the fields of science, technology, business, economy, as well
as diplomacy and international relations. Globalization has considerably contributed to
this phenomenon where it is estimated that more and more people find necessary to
learn a second language and, English is apparently, the chosen one.
Kenneth Beare, English as a second language (ESL) instructor and ESL
course developer, as well as an English teacher since 1983, writes, as of October 08,
2018, that there are 1.5 billion English-language learners worldwide, as stated by
British Council member John Knagg. The number of English-language learners has led
to a great demand for those who can teach the language. He also adds that "The lack
of qualified English language instructors presents one of the largest challenges to
educators and citizens across the globe." (Article available at
https://www.thoughtco.com/how-many-people-learn-english-globally-1210367)
Another report by ICEF Monitor (April 2016), (available at
https://monitor.icef.com/2016/04/2-28-million-abroad-for-language-study-in-
2014/), states that:
 An estimated 2.28 million people travelled abroad to study languages in 2014
 This represents only a fraction (.25%) of all second language learners
worldwide
 Roughly 61% of this total, or 1.4 million students, were studying English
 Demand for language travel is projected to increase over the next three years
 Students are more motivated now by career or academic goals

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 People are also studying languages at an earlier age, with the junior market
(the under-18 cohort) playing a greater role in many markets
 According to a 2006 research conducted on behalf of the British Council by the,
applied linguist David Graddol: “A massive increase in the number of people
learning English has already begun, and is likely to reach a peak of around 2
billion in the next 10–15 years.”
We can easily conclude that in this globalized world, the number of English
learners will double in the next five years, due to the great demand that this second
language has on the market, the economy and the government as well. Graddol stated
that globalization fast-tracked English and English fast-tracked globalization (English
Next, p. 22), but he did not believe that learning English would skyrocket for such a
long time as it has been doing until now. In fact, he believed that after reaching a peak
of around 2 billion, the numbers of learners would decline. Instead, recent predictions
expect that the number of those learning English as a Second language will increase to
2 billion by the year 2020. (Kenneth, 2018). Contrary to what Graddol stated, in order to
be globally competitive in the economy and business world, companies have started to
mobilize people with knowledge of different languages to grow in the industrial market;
which means that it is unlikely that people stop learning English.
We applied C.R.A.A.P to all the data that we researched and extracted from the
websites named. The latest update of the information was done in October 2018, which
makes it current and relevant for the purpose of the activity at hand. Since the websites
used the British Council as their main reference source, we can be certain about the
validity of the resources.
Task 2 - (1 page)
Present the updated figures in table form comparing them to Graddol’s statements and
own figures. Analyze the evolution and state whether Graddol’s hypothesis has been
sustained or refuted. Bear in mind:
- How do you define English learners?
- How do your figures count English learners?
- Where do your sources come from? (remember Task 1).
- Whether the trend has stop growing or not yet

As we can see int the following chart, there is a comparison between the earlier years
and now, which shows the ever-changing growth of English learners.

Graddol’s statements Own figures

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*The rise of learners is clearly proved. According to the

*The rise and fall of learners”.
“A massive increase in the
number of people learning English
has already begun, and is likely to
reach a peak of around 2 billion in
the next 10–15 years.”
*After reaching this peak, the
numbers will decline.
report by ICEF monitor (April 2016):
1. An estimated 2.28 million people travelled abroad to
study languages in 2014.
2. People are also studying languages at an earlier age,
with the junior market (the under-18 cohort) playing a
greater role in many markets.
3. Demand for language travel is projected to increase
over the next three years
Besides,
* Kenneth Beare, English as a second language (ESL)
instructor and ESL course developer, as well as an
English teacher since 1983, writes, as of October 08,
2018, that there are 1.5 billion English-language learners
worldwide. (stated by British council John Knagg)
No source states a sort of falling of English learners.
In fact:
*Recent predictions expect that the number of those
learning English as a Second language will increase to 2
billion by the year 2020. (Kenneth, 2018).

Task 3 - (1 page)

Based on the figures you had, propose your own claim to the future development of
English as a Foreign Language. Take into account the figures you found, the materials
of the class, the readings available in the campus and other external sources that you
might deem relevant.

We took a look at Graddol’s hypothesis and we agree that there is an increase

in English learners around the world and it seems to be in continuous growth.
Nowadays, English has become an extremely important role in most of the professional
fields in the industrial and economic world, as well as in the world government. For this
reason, being proficient in the English language leads to better worldwide opportunities
in the professional and academic careers.
On the other hand, there is something that might be true within Graddol’s
statement about the fall of English learners. If English is now the most useful language
to learn in one’s homeland and occupation, once enough people learn it, the best
language to acquire may well become another. Would then be this the end for English
supremacy? Besides, how is English so popular worldwide if people everywhere,
including those with a second language or with at least some basics in it, prefer to
function in their own language in their private lives?

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if English is now the

most useful language
to
learn in one’s
homeland and
occupation, once
enough others learn it,
the best language to
acquire
may well become
another.
if English is now the
most useful language
to

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 Practice Activities – M&R

learn in one’s
homeland and
occupation, once
enough others learn it,
the best language to
acquire
may well become
another.
if English is now the
most useful language
to
learn in one’s
homeland and
occupation, once
enough others learn it,

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 Practice Activities – M&R

the best language to

acquire
may well become
another
REFERENCES

 Beare, Kenneth. 2018. "How Many People Learn English?" ThoughtCo, Jun. 27,
2018, thoughtco.com/how-many-people-learn-english-globally-1210367

 Graddol, D. (2006). English Next. Great Britain: British Council.

 Melitz, Jacques. (2016). English as a Global Language. Retrieved from:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/302923637_English_as_a_Globa
l_Language

 Monitor ICEF, (2016) 2.28 million abroad for language study in 2014, 12 Apr
2016. Retrieved from: http://monitor.icef.com/2016/04/2-28-million-abroad-
for-language-study-in-2014/

 Robson, M. The English Effect: The impact of English, what it’s worth to the UK
and why it matters to the world. Retrieved from:
https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/english-effect-report-
v2.pdf