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Although thousands of volunteers from the United States go abroad each year to teach English, many are unprepared for their experiences. Undergraduate students teaching in a foreign country seem to lack training in educational methodology or foreign relations that would prepare them for teaching and living abroad. This project was designed to combine personal experience of teaching in Mexico with the literature on bilingual education and English hegemony to highlight the political nature of speaking English around the world. This project explores the globalization of English and its impact on nations abroad and the United States. Disinterest in bilingualism within the United States, based on government policies, educational methodology, and public opinion, perpetuates attitudes that English is a dominant, unifying, and important language in the world. Although English has been the prevailing language of international relations, many countries are making official policies stating the importance of other languages. However, hegemonic attitudes within the United States undervalue the use of multiple languages. In conclusion, this project is intended to make native English speakers aware of the hegemony of English and the pervasive attitudes that may impair the United States as it builds relationships across countries and interacts globally. |
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