English as a World Language Is Cultural Baggage: Confessions of Four Korean EFL Teachers

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper explores four Korean EFL teachers' perceptions of English as a world language. It also investigates how their perceptions of English as a world language affect their teaching the target culture. Four teachers in a university language program participated in this study. Data were collected through interviews, personal conversations, and classroom observations. The participants viewed a world language as a tool that serves for international communication, and hence English as a world language should be the language that transcends nations, cultures, and regions. However, they recognized that the power of English was so gigantic that it would be destructive to Korean culture; they believed that Korean culture should be protected from American culture imposed through English Language Teaching (ELT). Each participant showed a different idea about teaching the target culture: Dongsu wanted to act as ‘a filter’ for the target culture. Bora described herself as ‘a critical transmitter.’ Haewon focused more on local culture and less on the target culture. Sujin considered herself to be ‘a conveyer’ of the target culture. The ideal of English as an international language (EIL) was suggested as one way to protect local culture.

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