Thai language learners’ sense of English ownership

Abstract

As a result of the important role English has played as a lingua franca in various world regions, a question has been asked whether this Anglo-American property has already been shared by speakers in non-native countries. This concern voices calls for increased attention to ESL/EFL learners‘ sense of self and their positioning with respect to English. This study explored Thai postgraduates' feelings about their taking ownership of English as an International Lingua Franca in ASEAN and how they view themselves in relation to the language. A qualitative approach was applied, using open-ended interview questions asking 44 postgraduates who enrolled on existing courses of the two English-related programmes. No shared sense of ownership is found, but the idea that English is used as a language for communication is highlighted. Since their relation to English is mainly found to be socio-economic and English is widely recognised for the sake of their educational, economic and social growth and prospects, the assumption that 'the West is the world‘ is still prevalent. Although getting involved in various English-related activities, these students‘ identity through their national language remains firm, and English is not considered the main determinant of their identity. The study provides suggestions aiming for valuing gains in English proficiency, together with instilling a respect for ASEAN local languages and cultures.