English in Postcolonial America and Africa.pdf

• English in Africa is not just a colonial leftover.
• It has become a useful tool for many Africans.
• The debate shows how language is tied deeply to power,
identity, and opportunity.

1. Postcolonial
America and Africa
Presented by: Yasmine Ait Dihim and Hanan Jarroudi
Supervised by: Professor Benmassoud Jihan

2. English in The USA

3. The English only
movement
+The icrease of immigration from
Southern and Eastern Europe
+Theodore Roosevelt’s rhetoric
+The melting pot ideal
+The movement gained momentum in
the 1960s

4. Historical context of
multilingualism
Census data (1990):Demographic shift
with 62 million ethnolinguistic minorities
Native American children in boarding
schools
The push for English only education in the
1920s: ban on native languages

5. Criticism of submersion
Forced immersion programs dont value a
child’s first language, and make them
struggle more in school.
Late 20th century trend
After the arrival of large waves of
immigrants, xenophobia grew among
monolingual english speakers
Proposition 1998
In C alifornia, non english speakers were
obliged to enroll in fully immersive english
programs
English only policy and xenophobia

6. Opposition to English only
policies
Bilingual education
research
Bilingual education
enhances cognitive
develpment,supports
academic achievement,
and improves language
proficiency.
Testimonials
Hinton collected
language
biographies from
Asian American
students who
experienced English
only policies.
No child left behind act
Aimed to improve
education for
disatvantaged students,
but named “No child left
bilingual” by critics.

7. English in Africa
Understanding its Complex Role in Postcolonial Societies
Presented by Hanan JARROUDI

8. English in Africa
Overview
English is widely spoken by indigenous people in sub-Saharan
Africa.
History of English in Africa is complex, creating varieties like:
1.West African English 2.East African English
3.South African English
Presented by Hanan JARROUDI

9. Ongoing debate:
English in Africa
Should Africans create their own local standards for English or
continue following colonial (British) standards??
Presented by Hanan JARROUDI

10. English in Africa
Does English truly benefit African communities?
Or does it mainly serve old colonial and
economic powers?
Presented by Hanan JARROUDI

11. English in Africa
Different Perspectives
1. Phillipson’s View (1992)
English dominance reinforces inequality between
Africans and Europeans.
Spread of English continues the colonial system.

12. English in Africa
Different Perspectives
2. Brutt-Griffler’s View
Africans were not just victims; they actively used English for their
own purposes, like:
National unity
Access to education
International communication

13. English in Africa
Different Perspectives
3. Bisong’s View (1995, Nigeria)
English plays a positive, practical role in Nigeria:
Helps operate in a multilingual society.
Not simply a sign of colonial brainwashing.
Nigerians are smart enough to use English for their benefit.

14. English in Africa
Practical Activity — Role Play
Scenario:
Imagine a meeting of African political leaders in a newly independent country.
Roles:
• Some argue that English should be kept as an official language (for unity and
global communication).
• Others argue that English should be replaced with indigenous languages (for
cultural identity).
Guiding Questions:
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of keeping English?
• How would you design a language policy?

15. English in Africa
Conclusion
• English in Africa is not just a colonial leftover.
• It has become a useful tool for many Africans.
• The debate shows how language is tied deeply to power,
identity, and opportunity.
Presented by Hanan JARROUDI

16. Thank you for your
outrageously priceless and
undoubtedly world-changing
attention
Presented by Hanan JARROUDI, Yasmine AIT DIHIM