The British Council will be driving data collection globally to inform future research. As part of our long-term commitment, we have initiated a major new Future of English research grant scheme.
This is the first publication in a major programme of research and global engagement started by the British Council in 2020.
The Future of English research programme will show the trends driving the use of English as a global language and provide data to inform policy-makers, educators, researchers, and others interested in this important topic.
Key findings:
English is the most widely spoken language in the world. It is the global language of communication and English is likely to retain this position for the next decade and beyond.
English will continue to play an important role, increasingly doing so alongside other languages to provide rich linguistic opportunities for learners all over the world.
There is a strong connection between the desire to learn English and the need for teachers, even when new technologies are considered.
The private sector can fill the gaps in public sector language education provision and can increase opportunities for young people. However, the quality of some private provision is variable and the report recommends greater collaboration between public and private providers.
Policy makers should continuously review the approach to assessing English proficiency to make sure assessment practices stay relevant for today’s study, work and social interactions.
Technology has the potential to help greater numbers of students access language learning. But the publication found that it also risks widening the divide between people who have access to technology and those who do not.
Change is happening. The report notes that there has been a gradual, industry-led, shift away from the ideal of mother tongue fluency towards a more applied and contextualised approach to language proficiency.
Read additional details at the BC site:
https://www.britishcouncil.org/about/press/british-council-looks-future-english
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