Internationally operating professionals in China study business English to develop their language proficiency and transcultural communicative competence. While a variety of business English textbooks are on the market and are used in China, their conceptualizations of culture tend to be nation-based, static, and predictable -- views of culture…

Due to the success of the Indonesian Government's language policy, Bahasa has been spoken by a growing population. Due to increased globalization and business diversification, Bahasa has become an important language to teach in many countries--the present research aimed to investigate the global teaching practices of Bahasa Indonesia. BIPA is a…

This volume provides an overview of current issues in English as an International Language (EIL) education and critical intercultural literacy pedagogy. The different chapters are inspired by 'critical interculturality' as a decolonial project that seeks to interrogate the structures, conditions, and mechanisms of colonial power relations that…

Although it has existed for many decades in the national curriculum of U.S. higher education, the study of languages for business purposes has lacked a more serviceable and academically communal name--a more rigorous toponymic identity--by which to identify itself as a theory-based field of scholarship. The intention here is to propose for…

Global English is under contestation. Although some consider lingua franca English (LFE) as a neutral medium or code that does not belong to any specific culture or nationality, others see the deceptive nature of this linguistic globalization. Along with Spring (2007/this issue), they see global English as embodying partisan interests and values.…

It is proposed that business language training be based on results of a "language audit," designed to identify the skill levels required to carry out specific tasks, propose training solutions, and monitor progress. A British organization has established a framework for assessing five levels of language skill in this context. These standards…

A discussion of the role of the French language in Senegal first chronicles language and education policy from the colonial period until 1980, then cites research indicating that French is infrequently used for personal purposes. Recent initiatives to strengthen its status and usage, and obstacles to their success, are outlined. (MSE)

A discussion of Arab-American business communication problems criticizes current Arabic instruction and argues that, if Western commercial interests are to participate in the Arab market, they must understand Arab interest in educating their own citizens to decrease dependency on foreigners and depend less on Arabs' knowledge of English. (MSE)

It is suggested that print advertising is particularly well suited to classroom second language teaching because it is attractive, entertaining, contains powerful emotional or factual messages, and is concise. Research indicates that multilingual or code-mixed advertising is common and reveals interesting linguistic phenomena, including semantic,…

Economic cooperation and technology transfer have been most effective in developing countries with colonial roots. Developing countries also feel most comfortable with countries that share a common language and some cultural understanding. However, other cultural elements are often ignored in technology transfer, leading to failure of the…

In January 1989 a survey of 300 U.S.-based multinational corporations was conducted, with two earlier studies forming a basis for comparison, to re-examine the foreign and second language and cross-cultural training needs of the companies. Existing policies pertaining to this training were also surveyed and the amount, types, and purposes of the…

The principal stimulus for language policy in Australia since 1990 has been economic development, particularly for promotion of international trade. Surveys show that Australian industry tends to be hesitant to enter new markets, and to focus on markets in the English-speaking world despite low growth potential. However, business and industry are…

In the area of business-related language training, the United States lags behind Europe, where graduate business schools require at least one foreign language with business proficiency for graduation. In most United States institutions, the long-standing policy of departmentalization and a perceived dichotomy between the humanities and traditional…

It is argued that while college courses in French business communication aim to introduce business concepts, syllabuses and textbooks for this purpose do not integrate business skill training with business language training. Texts may contain extensive business-related vocabulary, readings, correspondence exercises, and definition of new concepts,…

This set of materials is designed to help incorporate business and technical French into the secondary school second language curriculum. It consists of a list of goals for introduction of such content, vocabulary lists and related exercises, and a variety of instructional materials and visual aids. Topics addressed include: postal services;…