‘The sun never sets on the English language’-This adage rings truer than ever in today’s increasingly globalized world. English stands as the unrivalled lingua franca of today’s communication and we have heard enough about the Americans and the British. How much do we know about how agrarian societies in Southeast Asia introduce English language in their curriculum in order to open up their markets at the international level?

‘Seismosaurus am I’ says English

British sociolinguist David Crystal noted that the English language today has gained its lingua franca status primarily because of two historical events- The expansion of Britain as a colonial power, reaching its zenith at the end of the 19th century and the evolution of the U.S. as the world’s premier economic power in the 20th century. In the contemporary global community, English is the necessary tool for business and communication among nations and people all around the world have become willing to learn English. Recognizing the hegemonic control that English has over international transactions, it is not surprise that even third world countries are rushing and elbowing to learn English.

So Anna comes to Siam: What’s Thailand up to?

Who can forget the story of Anna, a dutiful English school teacher and Mongkut, a Siamese king in the movie Anna and the King?
In the story, Thailand is portrayed as an exotic country ruled by a despotic monarch and populated by barbaric people. Anna comes to this primitive land to teach English to the royal family and to induct them into the sophisticated English culture. Indeed a classic allegory of the hegemonic control of English over third world countries like Thailand. The teaching of English language in Thailand shows an attempt to spread neo-colonial ideologies and Anglo-centric attitudes among the Thais.

A look into the history of Thailand would reveal that it was never politically colonised by Britain or the United States. Yet, the teaching of English in Thailand patterned on British and American models has been influenced by the colonial provision of English education. English has been adopted as a foreign language for international communication. English has been introduced in the curriculum in primary, secondary and tertiary levels. English seems to be regarded` as the language that would guarantee the privileges in the international front.