Which English Should You Learn?

English is a global language that is spoken by millions of people around the world. But did you know that there are different varieties of English? Depending on where you live, where you study, or where you travel, you might encounter different forms of written and spoken English. In this lesson, we will learn about some of the factors that influence the choice of English model and how they affect grammar teaching and learning.

School Models of English

In countries where English is predominantly the native language, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, the form of written English taught in the schools is normally the standard variety, the variety associated with the educated users of the language in that country. However, it is now less usual than in the past for teachers to attempt to make the local spoken variety conform with some educated spoken norm. For example, in the United States, you might hear different accents and dialects depending on which region you visit, but they all use the same standard written English.

In countries where English is a nonnative language, such as China, Japan, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, the major models for both writing and speech have generally been the standard varieties of British and American English. The choice between them has depended on various factors: whether the country was formerly a British or a US colony; its proximity to Britain or the United States; which of the two had most influenced its economic, cultural, or scientific development; and current commercial or political relations. In some countries both American and British standard varieties are taught, sometimes in different institutions, sometimes in the same institution. For example, in India, you might find some schools that follow British English and some that follow American English.

Emerging Varieties of English

The situation has been changing in those countries where English is a second language, used extensively for intranational purposes in the absence of a commonly accepted national language. In countries such as India and Nigeria, indigenous educated varieties are becoming institutionalised and are acquiring social acceptability. In the meantime, teachers in those countries are uncertain, or vary, about the norms to which their teaching should be geared: to those of the evolving local standard or to those of some external standard. Such uncertainties are analogous to the uncertainties among teachers in native-English countries over divided usages or prescriptive norms that differ from their own usage.

Where English is a foreign language, we may expect the American and British standard varieties to continue to be the major models, competing increasingly with the standard varieties of other countries such as Australia, in regions that are within the sphere of influence of those countries.

Note Countries where English is a foreign language may develop, to some extent, independent prescriptive norms that are enshrined in handbooks and textbooks and that are reflected in examination questions.

Why Does It Matter?

You might wonder why it is important to know about these different varieties of English. Well, there are several reasons:

• It can help you to communicate more effectively with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
• It can help you to avoid misunderstandings or confusion when reading or writing texts that use different conventions or vocabulary.
• It can help you to appreciate the diversity and richness of the English language.
• It can help you to develop your own voice and style as a writer and speaker of English.

What Can You Do?

Here are some tips for learning about and using different varieties of English:

• Be aware of your own variety of English and how it might differ from others.
• Be curious and open-minded about other varieties of English and try to learn from them.
• Be respectful and tolerant of other varieties of English and avoid making judgements or stereotypes.
• Be flexible and adaptable when communicating with people who use different varieties of English and try to accommodate their needs and preferences.
• Be critical and selective when choosing your sources of information and guidance on grammar rules and usage.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have learnt that there are different varieties of English that are influenced by various factors such as geography, history, culture, politics, and education. We have also learnt that these varieties have implications for grammar teaching and learning. We have seen that it is important to be aware of these differences and to be able to use them appropriately in different contexts. I hope that this lesson has helped you to understand more about the diversity and complexity of the English language and has inspired you to explore it further.