Discover how English became a truly global language and what that means for societies around the world. In the lectures, we will examine the spread of the English language around the world. We will begin with regions in the world where English is spoken as a first language (England, the Celtic countries, the U.S., Australia, etc.). We will then move on to regions where English is spoken as a second language (Africa and Asia), and from there to regions where English is used as a foreign language or a lingua franca (e.g. The Netherlands, Europe, China, and so on).

We will explore different issues in the global spread of English. These include: linguistic issues (variation in English, World Englishes), social issues ( language and identity, language and power, language death, linguistic exclusion and discrimination), and literary concerns (the use of English in postcolonial literature). Some of the lectures are presented by guest lecturers from Scotland, Australia, Uganda and Japan. How to apply

Interested students can send an e-mail to shortmobility@vu.nl and request the application form.