From Western English to Global English: Issues in Cultural and Pragmatic Instruction

Abstract

This paper examines the impact globalization has had on the English language. As English has arisen to become the de facto official language of over 90 nations, the question is asked: Whose culture should be taught in language classrooms? It is suggested that cultural instruction should not be limited to that of Western nations, but must be globally inclusive taking into account diverse perspectives. In doing so, language learners develop the communicative competence needed to effectively interact in cross-cultural exchanges.