A study on English as a lingua franca: learner perspectives and English learning behavior of Chinese English majors

【Abstract】The present study aims to investigate into how Chinese English majors perspectives of ELF （English as a lingua franca） are affecting their behavior in English learning. The data are drawn from in-depth interviews with a group of Chinese English majors and are analyzed using qualitative approaches. Tentative results of the analysis would lead to some further discussion about the influences of Chinese English majors perspectives on ELF on their English learning behavior. It is hoped that some constructive and practical suggestions could be made on the improvement and further development of English teaching and learning in China.

【Key words】English as a lingua franca; Chinese English majors; English learning behavior; English teaching

【作者簡介】张红阳（1991.02-），女，广州人，广州工商学院，硕士，研究方向：社会语言学。＼

1. Introduction

Modern English has become the dominant language or even the required international language in various fields. English as a lingua franca （ELF） has become the main linguistic approach in smooth and successful international and intercultural communication. Therefore， English is now the most important second or foreign language in non-English-speaking countries. It is now taught as a foreign language in over 100 countries， and has become an important subject in universities including Chinese ones.

The present study put emphasis on the influence of ELF on Chinese English majors. Through the interview and the analysis of the data， the present study aims： （i） to get a picture of Chinese English majors perspectives on ELF and the influence of such perspectives on their English learning behavior; and （ii） to try to make some constructive and practical suggestions on the improvement and further development of English teaching and learning in China based on the results and findings.

2. Research Questions

The purposes of the present research can be achieved only by providing answers to the following key research questions：

2.1 What are Chinese English majors perspectives on English as a lingua franca？

2.2 How do Chinese English majors perspectives on ELF influence their English learning behavior？

2.3 What constructive and practical suggestions can we make on the improvement and further development of English teaching and learning in China？

3. Literature Review

3.1 On the definition of ELF

According to Oxford Dictionary， the term “lingua franca” refers to a language used as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different. As for English as a lingua franca， the most agreed and most frequently cited version of definition is stated by Firth （1996）. Other versions such as Jenkins （2006） and Houses （1999） of definitions of ELF were also pushed forward. Some researchers also tried to make distinction between ELF and other notions that are often mixed in usage with it. Berns （2009） argued about the sameness and differences between ELF and English as an International Language （EIL）， while Cogo （2012） as well as Kirkpatrick （2011） distinguished ELF from the notion of World Englishes （WE）.