Does Internationalization Promote Multilingualism? A Dutch University Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22364/BJELLC.06.2016.08Keywords:
internationalization, multilingualism, language policies in universities, global English, language in tertiary educationAbstract
Internationalization has been a central concept in university strategic policy for several decades. Internationalization is often a key factor in both university rankings and accreditation processes. Many universities have recruited extensively students and staff globally as well as offering an international dimension within programmes. The upshot is that many university campuses are both multilingual and multicultural. However, policies to promote internationalization may lead to a context where the instructional language is English only. It is instructive to investigate how key actors perceive internationalization and its effects. Do they think it promotes monolingualism or multilingualism? This paper reports on a study into the attitudes of key staff in two faculties at a Dutch university as well as members of the central administration towards internationalization and language use. The results show that while most see internationalization as an unavoidable necessity, they subtly distance themselves from institutional policy and practice, implying a discrepancy between private and public attitudes. The internationalization policy does not stimulate multilingualism, but strengthens monolingualism. The study concludes that the educational system is missing out on the rich heteroglossic and cultural context afforded by internationalization, and suggests that a looser language policy may yield more elaborated learning outcomes.
References
Altbach, P. G. and Teichler, U. (2001) Internationalization and exchanges in a globalized university. Journal of Studies in International Education, 5 (1): 5–25.
Aronin, L. (2006) Dominant language constellations: An approach to multilingualism studies. In M. Ó Laoire (ed.) Multilingualism in educational settings (pp. 140–159). Hohengehren: Schneider Publications.
Aronin, L. and Singleton, D. (2012) Multilingualism. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
Bartell, H. (2003) Internationalization of universities: A university culture-based framework. Higher Education, 45: 43–70.
Callan, H. (2000) Higher education internationalization strategies: Of marginal significance or all pervasive? The international vision in practice: A decade of evolution. Higher Education in Europe, 25 (1): 15–23.
Canagarajah, A. S. (2006) The place of World Englishes in composition: Pluralization continued. College Composition and Communication, 57 (4): 586–619.
Canagarajah, A. S. (2009) The plurilingual tradition and the English in language in South Asia. In L. Lim and E. L. Low (eds.) Multilingual, Globalizing Asia: Implications for Policy and Education (pp. 5–22). AILA Review 22.
Cornips, L. (2013a) Taalcultuur: Talen in beweging [Language culture: Languages in motion]. Taal en Tongval, 65 (2): 125–147.
Cornips, L. (2013b, 16 March) ‘English unless ...’ Column: Taalcultuur [Language culture]. De Limburger.
Council of Europe (2001) The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hennink, M., Hutter, I. and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods. Los Angeles: Sage.
Holdsworth, P. (2004) EU policy on language learning and linguistic diversity as it relates to content and language integrated learning and higher education. In R. Wilkinson (ed.) Integrating content and language: Meeting the challenge of a multilingual higher education (pp. 20–27), Maastricht: Universitair Pers Maastricht.
Hultgren, A. K., Gregersen, F. and Thørgersen, J. (eds.) (2014) English in Nordic Universities: Ideologies and Practices. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Knight, J. (2008) Higher Education in Turmoil: The Changing World of Internationalization. Rotterdam: Sense.
Krzyżanowski, M. and Wodak, R. (2011) Political strategies and language policies: The European Union Lisbon strategy and its implications for the EU’s language and multilingualism policy. Language Policy, 10 (2): 115–136.
Kuteeva, M. and Airey, J. (2014) Disciplinary differences in the use of English in higher education: reflections on recent language policy developments. Higher Education, 67: 533–549.
Lasagabaster, D. (2015a) Multilingual language policy: Is it becoming a misnomer at university? In S. Dimová, A. K. Hultgren and C. Jensen, (eds.) English-Medium Instruction in European Higher Education (pp. 115–134). Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.
Lasagabaster, D. (2015b) Language policy and language choice at European universities: Is there really a choice? European Journal of Applied Linguistics, DOI 10.1515/eujal‑2014‑0024.
Maastricht University (2013) Language proficiency at Maastricht University. Policy note on the contribution of languages to functioning in an international environment. [Final report, internal report, 6 September]. Maastricht University, Language Policy Working Party.
Marginson, S. (2009) The external dimension: Positioning the European higher education area in the global higher education world. In B. M. Kehm, J. Huisman and B. Stensaker (eds.) The European Higher Education Area: Perspectives on a Moving Target (pp. 297–321). Rotterdam: Sense.
Marginson, S. and Van der Wende, M. (2007) Globalisation and Higher Education. OECD Education Working Papers No. 8. Paris: OECD.
Mufwene, S. S. (2005) Globalization and the myth of killer languages: What’s really going on? Perspectives on Endangerment 2.
Phillipson, R. (2003) English-Only Europe? Challenging Language Policy. London: Routledge.
Phillipson, R. (2015) English as a threat or opportunity in European higher education. In S. Dimová, A. K. Hultgren and C. Jensen (eds.) English-Medium Instruction in European Higher Education (pp. 19–42). Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.
Qiang, Z. (2003) Internationalization of higher education: Towards a conceptual framework. Policy Futures in Higher Education, 1 (2): 248–270.
Ritzen, J. (2004) Across the bridge: Towards an international university. In R. Wilkinson (ed.) Integrating Content and Language: Meeting the Challenge of a Multilingual Higher Education (pp. 28–40). Maastricht: Universitair Pers Maastricht.
Stark, O., Helmenstein, C. and Prskawetz, A. (1997) A brain gain with a brain drain. Economics Letters, 55: 227–234.
Stromquist, N. P. (2007) Internationalization as a response to globalization: Radical shifts in university environments. Higher Education, 53: 81–105.
Studer, P., Kreiselmaier, F. and Flubacher, M.-C. (2010) Language planning in the European Union: A micro-level perspective. European Journal of Language Policy, 2 (2): 251–270.
Swaan, W. (2014) International classroom development: Implementation of an integral programme in Maastricht’s School of Business and Economics. Maastricht University: School of Business & Economics. [Dutch version published in A. van Gaalen, H. J. Hobbes, S. Roodenburg and R. Gielesen (2014) Studenten Internationalisering in Eigen Land [Students Internationalizing in their own Country] (pp. 35–39). The Hague: Nuffic. Available from https://www.nuffic.nl/bibliotheek/studenten-internationaliseren-in-eigen-land.pdf].
Teixeira, P. (2009) Economic imperialism and the ivory tower: Some reflections upon the funding of higher education in the EHEA (2010–2020). In B. M. Kehm, J. Huisman and B. Stensaker (eds.) The European Higher Education Area: Perspectives on a Moving Target (pp. 43–60). Rotterdam: Sense.
Van Hoorde, J. (2014) Competing, complementary or both? English as a lingua franca, and the position of Dutch. Sociolinguistica, 28 (1): 9–24.
Van Hoorde, J. (2015) Dutch or English? English and Dutch! The language shift in tertiary education and science in the Dutch language area. In G. Stickel and C. Robustelli (eds.) Language Use in University Teaching and Research (pp. 245–259). Frankfurt-am-Main: Peter Lang.
Van Parijs, Ph. (2002) Linguistic justice. Politics, Philosophy and Economics, 1 (1): 59–74.
Van Parijs, Ph. (2004) Europe’s linguistic challenge. European Journal of Sociology, 45 (01): 113–154.
Wang, X., Spotti, M., Juffermans, K. C. P., Kroon, J. W. M., Cornips, L. and Blommaert, J. M. E. (2014) Globalization in the margins: Toward a re-evaluation of language and mobility. Applied Linguistics Review, 5 (1): 23–44.
Wilkinson, R. (2013) English-medium instruction at a Dutch university: Challenges and pitfalls. In A. Doiz, D. Lasagabaster, and J. M. Sierra (eds.) English-Medium Instruction at Universities: Global Challenges (pp. 3–24). Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
Wilkinson, R. (2014) Contrasting attitudes towards a bilingual language policy under internationalization. Fachsprache, 36 (1–2): 11–30.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
