Is it possible to learn English without reference to British or North American culture?
It may be argued that a certain degree of British or North American culture is necessary to facilitate communication between native speakers of English and Muslim users of ESL. However, it may also be argued that given that only a minimal number of Muslim learners actually have a need to interact with native speakers of English, it is difficult to justify at least in educational terms the teaching of an ‘Anglo-Western’ variety of English in Muslim ESL classrooms.TESOL Islamia is of the view that meanings, structures, constructs, and cultural content that adhere to mainstream English language discourses need to be critically examined and negotiated in the interest of best serving the communicative and educational needs of local Muslim cultures. Unfortunately, in the many Muslim contexts today, a great many ESL programmes are simply replete with culturally inappropriate and or culturally offensive learning materials.Follow the link here to participate in a poll on the appropriacy of ESL
