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Practice Activities – EIC

Name and surname(s): Samson Alexander Nkhalamba


Group: 2017/02
Date:04-02-2018

Practice Activities

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Practice Activities – EIC

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.
Though there is competition between languages as international language, the figures
of English students continue to rise. According to HM Government, the article published
in 2013 says that “In 2011 there were over 1.5 million students worldwide who studied
English outside of their home country” and the British council confirmed that “In a 2012
survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit5, 70 per cent of executives said their
workforce will need to master English to realise corporate expansion plans, and a
quarter said more than 50 per cent of their total workforce would need English ability”.
The data published by Monitor ICEF says 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”. According to the annual Open Doors report quoted
by Rudden E, America alone in its annual report finds that “international enrolments
climb at undergraduate and graduate level and decline at intensive English level. In
2015-2016, the number of international students at American colleges and universities
grew by 7.1 percent, to top one million in the 2015-16 academic years”. In Ireland, the
data released by MEI, the association that represents 60 regulated language schools
and colleges nationwide, “Ireland has experienced a massive 10% increase in English
language students studying in Ireland in 2015”. http://mei.ie/10-rise-in-international-
english-language-students-studying. And also “There has been an 11% rise in the
number of international English language students studying in Ireland in 2016. The
figures from Marketing English in Ireland (MEI), the association that represents 65
regulated English language schools and colleges nationwide, illustrate the continued
growth of the English Language Training (ELT) sector. http://mei.ie/11-rise-in-

international-english-language-students.
Although this information is partial however, this information is new and the links are
still in function. Furthermore, this information relates and is appropriate for the topic
though elementary but according to the sources searched; this information is the most

appropriate, the URL reveal something about the author or source, the information is
supported by evidence, the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion, there
are no spelling, grammar or typographical errors, it informs and the authors/sponsors
make their intentions or purpose clear.

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Practice Activities – EIC

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:

International English students Mobility growth


country year English Students Graddol’s figures and statements
mobility
UK 2011 1.5 million According to Graddol, D. (2006),
“there is no complete data of
2012 - 70 per cent of
comparable data on international
executives student mobility [...], between 2-3
- 50 per cent of their million students each year travel
total workforce to another country to study. The
USA and the Uk account for over
USA 2014 1.4 million
a third of all international students

2015 Grew by 7.1 percent in the world”. The same Graddol

to top 1 million continued to say that, “English-


speaking countries have the most
entrepreneurial universities [...]
Ireland 2015 10% increase and English itself is seen as a key
educational investment”. And on p.
78 Graddol affirms that,” those
2016 11% rise
seeking an international education
want a prestigious source which
will serve well in the job market”.

Taking into consideration that English learners are both that learn English in formal
instruction and those that learn English in an informal situation. Therefore, the figures
in the table account for only those seeking to learn English in formal instruction. The
figures come from the webs which are still functioning and the source links are
presented on each quote. These figures sustains the Graddol’s hypothesis and
analysing the data in the table, though partial, but the English student international
mobility is still growing and we can say that there is still time for the graph to go down.

Task 3 - (1 page)

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Practice Activities – EIC

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.

Based on the figures in task one, the graph on the development in number of English
learners is still raising and this means an end to English as a foreign language. This is
so, because there is great demand of English as a language for economic development
in many countries and many societies are using English as their first language.
“English seems to have joined this list of basic skills. Quite simply, its function and
place in the curriculum is no longer that of ‘foreign language’ and this is bringing about
profound changes in who is learning English, their motives for learning it and their
needs as learners.” (Graddol, D, 2006). The international mobile students graph is also
rising due to the same reason- economy. According to Mark Robson, “English is
spoken at a useful level by some 1.75 billion people worldwide – that’s one in every
four. By 2020, we forecast that two billion people will be using it – or learning to use it.
And it is the economically active, the thought leaders, the business decision-makers,
the young, the movers and shakers present and future who are learning and speaking
English. They are talking to each other more and more and English is the ‘operating
system’ of that global conversation”. As estimated by Graddol (2006), 2-3 million
students travel abroad for English studies, this is only accounted for the USA and the
UK alone. Research done by Julie Dearden, the data collected in 2013-2014 on
English as a medium of instruction concluded that, -The general trend is towards a
rapid expansion of EMI provision. - There is official governmental backing for EMI but
with some interesting exceptions. - Although public opinion is not wholeheartedly in
support of EMI, especially in the secondary phase, the attitudes can be described as
‘equivocal’ or ‘controversial’ rather than being ‘against’ its introduction and/or continued
use”. This means that, as the general trend of English as medium of instruction in
schools rise, the number of English learners also increase though there is some
reluctance in some societies.
In light of all this data and statements I may estimated that by 2020 the graph on the
rise of people learning and using English may go beyond the 2 billion students
worldwide.

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Practice Activities – EIC

Reference

Dearden, J. English as a medium of instruction – a growing global


phenomenon.www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/e484_emi_-
_cover_option_3_final_web.pdf
Graddol, D. (2006). English next. December 12, 2006,
from:www.britishcouncil.org/files/documents/learning-research-english-next.pdf
HM Government, International student mobility. https//:www.onsgov.uk/file?uri/
MEI, 10% rise in international English language students studying in Ireland with
numbers now at 107,000, April 12, 2016.http://mei.ie/10-rise-in-international-
english-language-students-studying.

MEI, 11% rise in international English language students studying in Ireland


with numbers now at 119,000, March 30, 2017.http://mei.ie/11-rise-in-international-
english-language-students.
Monitor ICEF, 2.28 million abroad for language study in 2014, 12 Apr
2016.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.
https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/english-effect-report-v2.pdf

Rudden, E. International Student Numbers Top 1 Million, November 14,


2016.https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/11/14/annual-open-doors-
report-documents-continued-growth-international-students,

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