Mother Tongue Language Bolsters a Global English Education

English is fast becoming the global language of education, but at what cost to mother tongue education? We take the position that the globalization of English as the language of education is a great tool for national school systems as long as it is supported by mother tongue language education. 

How are we defining the English language as global? First, it has become a second language in a majority of the world's countries. English now has a special status of one kind or another in 75 countries, while one third of the world's books are published in English. There are about 2 billion English speakers in the world, of which 1.6 million are non-native speakers. Second, it is also used as a common language in many important fields such as science, culture, technologies, business, international diplomacy and aviation. Two thirds of all scientists read English, and four fifths of all electronic communications are in English. 

The status of English as the world common language is primarily the result of British Empire expansion between the 17th and 19th centuries and America's rise as an economic power in the 20th century. At one point Imperial Britain ruled one fourth of the world's population. Additional factors in the rise of English include international commerce, the outcome of World War II, the fall of the USSR, information technology development and popular culture. 

The global influence of English, especially in the world of education is undeniable. So why continue to educate global citizens in their mother tongue? If English is on the rise and globalization is happening anyway, why not anticipate the future by going to English only? You might say people who have good English will normally immigrate. So why bother learning both English and mother tongue? Immigration is unavoidable, but it should not be the reason to stop integrating English to the mother tongue education system. Today there are many more bilinguals and multilinguals in the world than monolinguals. People who are educated in both English and mother tongue would have more opportunities for careers than people who are only educated in one. Governments and international corporations are always looking for national or minority language speakers who have working English. Additionally, non-native English speakers would be disadvantaged in the global market when competing against native Anglophiles. 

When you learn an international language you most likely will start identifying with the culture and values of the home culture of that language. Frantz Fanon said, "To speak a language is to take on a world, a culture." By learning a global language like English, there is a chance of losing your mother tongue as well. If you lose your mother tongue, you lose your identity and cultural values. DeSwaan emphasizes that "it is multilingualism that has kept humanity, separated by so many languages, together....It is this ingenious pattern of connections between language groups that constitutes the global language system" (RBLA, Belo Horizaonte, v. 12, n. 2, p. 351). There is so much that each country and ethnic group brings into the world and offers some precious experience worldwide. Yes, you need the international language to communicate to the world who you are and what you value and to understand the responses of your neighbors in the global village as well. It is, however, very important not to get under the negative influence of the international language carriers.

The result of not teaching mother tongue language and culture alongside English will also weaken students' ability to learn a secondary language. As UNESCO put it in their 1953 declaration: "Mother-tongue instruction should be the best way for children to learn as it bridges the gap between home language and language of instruction. Every language is sufficient enough to give high cognitive skills to its users and there are no major or minor languages. Therefore, mother-tongue instruction should be extended as long as possible" (UNESCO, 1953, p. 11).

English language learning is an important and necessary piece of the global curriculum. Let it not be taught, however, to the detriment of mother tongue education. Otherwise, we may disadvantage students in the global market, lose valuable international insight and generally weaken all educational efforts.