English as a global communication language

In this exercise students learn about and discuss the pros and cons of English as a global language and relate this dilemma to the sustainable development goals.

Udarbejdet i forbindelse med Mellemfolkeligt Samvirkes kampagne På sporet af fællesskabet.

Formål:

This lesson is about the usefulness of having a global language to communicate with, when it could and should be used, and when it could be more appropriate to use another language. An interview with an activist talking about her campaigns and the language(s) she conducts them in will be used as a starting point to reflect on who is included and who is excluded when using English.

Students will reflect on the idea that whilst English as a global language is creating the ability to communicate across regions and countries, it also has its limitations. Language is a part of one’s history and culture, and speaking in another tongue necessarily makes one lose a little bit of that. Additionally, choosing to communicate in one language above others creates a global divide and a global elite; those who can and those who cannot.

A class discussion will link this theme to Denmark. A long time ago, state business in Denmark was conducted in German and Latin. What sort of inequality did that create? Why do they conduct business in Danish these days? Why did they make that change? What does that mean for democracy in Denmark? Students will link this idea to the sustainable development goals – specifically, goal 10: Reducing inequality within and among countries, and discuss the need to remember that language both includes and excludes, creating inequalities.

Relation til FN's Verdensmål for bæredygtig udvikling:

Verdensmål 10: Mindre ulighed

Kernestof og centrale begreber:

Engelsk undervisning

• Standardsprog og variation, herunder elementer af det engelske sprogs udvikling og det engelske sprog som globalt kommunikationssprog
• Historiske og aktuelle forhold i andre dele af den engelsktalende verden.
• Forstå forholdsvis komplekst mundtligt og skriftligt engelsk om almene og faglige emner
• Beherske et varieret ordforråd, som gør det muligt ubesværet at deltage i en samtale og diskussion på engelsk
• Give en længere, velstruktureret mundtlig og skriftlig fremstilling på flydende, korrekt engelsk af komplekse sagsforhold med forståelse for kommunikationssituationen