Grassroots Attitudes to English as a Language for International Development in Bangladesh

• Published in: English and Development Vol. 17
• Main Authors: Elizabeth J. Erling, M. Obaidul Hamid, Philip Seargeant
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United Kingdom Multilingual Matters 2013
• Subjects: Attitude measures; BBC Janala; Career development; Community attitudes; Developing countries; Development studies; Economic development; Education; Employment potential; English (Second language); English in Action (EIA) project (Bangladesh); English teaching; Language policy; Language proficiency; Language skills; Literacy education; Prestige; Primary secondary education; Program descriptions; Questionnaires; Second language learning; Social capital; Socioeconomic background; Surveys; Teaching language; Teaching of students with English as a second language (TESOL); Bangladesh
• ISBN: 9781847699459; 1847699456

In this chapter the authors consider the extent to which the assumptions about English that are articulated in official language policies (i.e. those produced by governmental organisations, funding bodies and academic institutions) relate to the grassroots discourse on English that is constructed by the people at whom such development initiatives are aimed. Drawing on data collected in part from a large-scale international development project in Bangladesh, the chapter explores local language ideologies and discourses about the use of English and English language teaching, in order to better understand issues around the need and desire for English as a language for international development as these exist within local communities. The chapter also looks at whether, and how, these local attitudes echo the discourse of English constructed in official policies and how they can be used to inform debate about the content of international development projects. The authors also discuss the perceived role that language plays in the lives of those who have invested in its learning. [Author abstract, ed]