English is the official language in most sub-Saharan countries

English is the official language in most sub-Saharan countries

English is the official language in most sub-Saharan countries. It is the first choice among foreign language in many countries in the world. The high position that it has been given most countries has granted it the global position of lingua franca. Statistics show that approximately a third of the world population prefer to use English as their formal language. The reunification of Hong Kong and the Republic of China led to the Hong Kong government initiating guidelines that advocate for the transition from the English language to Chinese in junior secondary schools. This paper aims to analyses the reason why Hong Kong society objected against the government’s decision. This is because English is an important language in modern studies.

According to Elaine Chan (2002), the reunification of Hong Kong and the Republic of China occurred in 1997. After two months the Hong Kong government initiated guidelines, which required all public schools to accept the Chinese medium for secondary schools. Exemption to schools was to granted based on student’s ability to learn, the capability of the teachers to teach English, and the school supporting strategies and programmers (Elaine Chan 2002). The Hong Kong society objected towards the government’s decision. Students broke into tears and felt degraded not to study in English. Parents, on the other hand, felt that their children’s predictions had been threatened and thus, they hunted ways to put their children in schools that teach English.

Elaine Chan argues that the government’s decision to persuade Hong Kong society to accept the use of mother-tongue language on education on pedagogical grounds was to no advantage (Elaine Chan 2002). She argues that the English language has become habitus to society and also serves as the main distinction of Hong Kong people from the Chinese. Thus, the government failed to act inappropriate manner because it acted insensitively to the nature and social functions of the language. In my opinion, I support Elaine Chan’s argument that English is an important language in modern society studies because it makes it easier for individuals to travel around the globe. It is considered as the main common international language, and being familiar with it helps individuals to get assistance from other parts of the world.

Works Cited

Chan, Elaine. “Beyond pedagogy: Language and identity in post-colonial Hong Kong.” British Journal of Sociology of Education 23.2 (2002): 271-285.