Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The worldwide circulation of Anglo-American commercial media products has brought English into homes all over the world, and has contributed to an image of English as symbolizing general values such as modernity, globalization, progress, cosmopolitanism and youth. However, globalization entails more than the spread of mainstream American culture: globalization also takes place at the level of the underground, of the subcultural. In this paper we will attempt to provide some clarification on the relationship between subcultural ‘niche’ media and Englishization by reporting on a particular case study. We will investigate how the use of English in music programs on Flemish youth radio and television relates to the subcultural affiliations of the programs. More specifically, we will study the varieties of English used by the presenters of programs that focus on diasporic African music (e.g., hip hop, r&b, reggae). On the basis of in-depth interviews with these presenters we will show that their particular language use forms part of their aim to communicate a subcultural authenticity. We conclude that accounts that explain the global spread of English as a mere process of homogenization are therefore rather off the mark.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Until recently, Britain seemed impervious to the trend in many West European countries of growing electoral support for extreme right parties. However, the British National Party (BNP) has emerged as an increasingly viable force in local elections in many parts of England in the past few years, even winning seats on a few local councils. This paper investigates the contextual determinants of support for the BNP in the 2002 and 2003 local elections in England. Aggregate electoral data at the ward level for each district council that held elections in these years are matched to Census statistics and other contextual data. These data are used to estimate multivariate models for two dependent variables: whether or not the BNP contested an election and the BNP’s percentage of the white vote in a ward. The findings of this paper suggest that support for the BNP is greatest in districts with large populations of ethnic minorities, especially Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. However, within these districts, it is not necessarily those whites who live in the most ethnically diverse wards who are most supportive of the extreme right. The socio-economic composition of a ward appears to be more important for the BNP’s electoral prospects than its ethnic composition. It is in the most economically deprived urban areas that the BNP seems to have its strongest foothold. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for the future electoral viability of the extreme right in England.

Publication Type: Session Paper
Abstract: no abstract provided

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper will describe the issues that arise when teaching English to a multicultural group where both learners and teachers are non-native speakers of English. The study looks at two batches of fellows. First, it will discuss the issues that usually come up for teachers who are non-native speakers of English, some of which may or may not be applicable to the current situation. From these, the relevant ones will be discussed in more detail, punctuated with examples from the faculty's experiences. Then it will go into the areas of concern regarding teaching a multicultural group which is composed of at least three countries. Among the topics are: the burden on the teacher to adjust to a variety of cultures and English levels, the teaching methodology which may be quite different from the one that each nationality is used to, and the complexities of the socio-cultural relationships of the students within the classroom setting. Finally, it will focus on the particular points pertaining to the advantages and disadvantages of being a Non-Native English Speaking student in a multicultural setting.
The objective of this paper is to show that there are more advantages to learning English in a multicultural setting than in a setting where all the learners are from the same culture and share the same language.

Publication Type: Session Presentation
Abstract: English has a much documented legacy of imperialism in Mexico which allows for the possibility that the traditions, customs and beliefs of the US could supplant those of Mexico. Therefore, Mexican EFL learners are forced to make accommodations to protect their cultural identities as they acquire linguistic/cultural capital.