The power shift of language inKampuchea/Cambodge/Cambodia

“Building bridges to the world”

Erina Brown © 2011erina.brown@otago.ac.nz

Justification of topicCambodia is a country in transition

Challenges related to Cambodia’s English language education

Have been a presenter at CamTESOL 2006 and 2009 (vested interest)

Place of work is currently marketing in Cambodia

Changes in the status of foreign languages in Cambodia vis-à-vis the country’s checkered political and economic history, and links to linguistic change

English as the global language

Checkered scarf “kharma” = checkered history

English is becoming integrated into Cambodia life

Out of the heart of darkness

Au revoir, le FrançaisHello English

Kom phlech (don’t forget your past) in Khmer

Q: Why has English become so widely used in a country that was once governed by France, subjected to unimaginable genocide and is still home to many francophone intellectuals and elite?

A: The arrival of foreign culture through tourism, international scholarships and international aid agencies

English as a global language- a need in Cambodia

Recent years - Cambodia has underdone massive political and economic turmoil and its people have suffered immeasurably

Re-arising – government and people of Cambodia have chosen English as the second language to communicate and do business with people, organisations and companies from abroad

Cambodia hopes to enter the World Trade Organisation (common language = English)

CLEAR LANGUAGE POLICY = IMPACT ON:

LIFEEDUCATION

FUTURE

ENGLISH IS THE LANGUAGE OF ADVANTAGE

(Collins, 1990, p.211)

Power and language in generalLanguage is an important tool for information and communication in the age of globalisation

“The most important factor accelerating the development of a single global lifestyle is the proliferation of the English language” (Nasibett & Aburdene, 1990,p.140)

“English is the de facto global language” (Crystal, 1997; Gladdol, 1997)

English is not replacing [other languages] it is supplementing and co-existing and allowing strangers to communicate across linguistic boundaries” (Hasman, 2000, p.5)

ENGLISH ENJOYS A PRIVILEGED STATUS

The universal nature of second language learning is partly due to the globalisation phenomena or ‘interconnectedness” between politics, economy and culture, and the fact that English acts as a pivotal part of the global infrastructure (Cochrane & Pain, 2000, pp.15-17) for information and communication today.

A time line – power influences on language ‘choice’ in Cambodia since 1953

Era 1 - Khmer

• Khmer – earliest recorded and written Mon-Khmer language

• Used since before 600 CE

• Progressed through 4 linguistic periods

• Since 1993 Cambodia’s official language – spoken by 95% of population (CIA FACTBOOK: Cambodia)

Era 2 – French ‘Cambodge’ under the rule of France. French as an L2 for over 100 years.

(French, the lingua franca of Indochina – Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam)

French only taught in schools 1953-1970. French alongside English 1970-1975

French banned during Pol Pot’s Democratic Kampuchean regime 1976-1979

French and English prohibited 1979-1986

French still crucial for health and medical industry

Older Cambodian survivors still use French as an L2

Frequently still used in government and various schools and universities funded by French government

“Although appreciative of France’s aid, many Cambodians feel that the insistence on French is a a little impractical in an age where the argot of economic recovery is English” (Prusher, 2001)

Chinese language – once banned

First enforced by the Khmer republic in 1970, lifted in 1992 (more than 20 years later)

Now an astonishing growth in Chinese-language schools and the 1% of ethnic Chinese Cambodians have embraced their heritage language (previously Khmer by default) (Clayton, 2006)

Now needed for economic demand and utility

Era 3 – Pol Pot regime (1975-1979)

Irrevocable trauma under Khmer Rouge communist regime

All schools closed = no education =

no teaching or learning of foreign languages including ENGLISH

• Lethal penalties for wearing glasses ( = intellectual)

• The educated and speakers of foreign languages including ENGLISH tortured/massacred

Era 4 – Vietnamese occupation (1979-1989)

Vietnamese and Russian introduced as foreign languages

French and English PROHIBITED

Era 5 – Arrival of EnglishCold war (end 1980s) French and English taught

Seed of English planted during UNTAC mission (1991-1993) – cooperation of 60,000 Cambodians with 20,000 peacekeepers from 34 nations (French and English spoken but French became marginalised). Marked the start of English dominance among foreign languages in Cambodia

ASEAN put ‘tremendous pressure” on Cambodia in 2000

“Cambodian representatives, delegates and conferees must know English” (Clayton, 2007, p.101)

Cambodia’s renewal and the new millennium1999

Entry into ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) – announced official return to the international arena

THUS English language demands

Political stability

Economic growth and shift towards market economy encouraged the study and use of English

Universities opened (many private) integrating English as part of the curriculum

English and International Aid

International Aid agencies – 6 major donor countries to Cambodia (Japan, US, France, Germany, Sweden, Australia). Excluding France, these countries facilitate the use and study of English in the process of implementing their development assistance

Influence on Cambodian people’s language choice:

Aid enterprise hires significant numbers of Cambodians – use and demand knowledge of English (Clayton, p.102)

Aid agencies work actively in schools and universities providing foreign –language education and training foreign-language teachers (p.103) [Mostly French in the 1990s and overwhelmingly English now]

RESULT: Cambodians currently prefer English instead of French. Khmer is domestically active but of minor status internationally and academically.

English and other languages in Cambodia today

Still remains one of the poorest nations. Between 33% - 50% of 13 million people live in abject poverty on less than US$1 a day (Tully, 2006)

Cambodia integrating into the global society with English widely used as language for business, education and development

Represents hope for a better future and solves common issues in the Kingdom

Opens doors - English serving as gatekeeper to high-paying jobs

Access to information not available in Khmer

Chinese – used mostly for business – many formal education private schools teach Chinese

Korean – strong governmental relationship

- Investors

- Legal work opportunities in Korea providing high salaries

Cambodians speak…“English is more than just a bridge…without

this language [English] to

communicate, you won’t be on the stage to compete” (2010)

Tep Livina (24 years old) – abandoned gang peers and escaped from alcoholism. English graduate , Institute of Foreign languages, Phnom Penh. Now, sales executive for Japanese-run Sumitomo Corp. Phnom PenhRead his story http://teplivina.com

Cambodians speak“You learn English to

survive. It’s a language you acquire for your

stomach”

Kieng Rotana (43) former interpreter for UNTAC. Studied English for 2 years in Australia. Teacher of ESL. Vice Chancellor of Pannasastra University (where English competency is mandatory).

Speaking at least basically or intermediary [English] is necessary to be in the workforce, in

the market place and to thrive in higher education

in this modern society”

“I can see the world in

a bigger, clearer picture

than I could have if I hadn’t learned English”

And others speak…

U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Joseph A. Mussomeli wearing a ‘krama’ traditional Khmer checkered scarf. Opening address at CamTESOL, July 2008

“You are doing more than just teaching a foreign language. You are teaching a life skill that will be crucial to the future prosperity of this country. English, as I

have often stressed, is no longer a language. It is, instead, a tool, a

weapon, a vehicle. A tool to build a stronger society, a weapon to combat poverty and ignorance, and a vehicle

for those who possess it to travel anywhere they choose throughout the

world and be understood and to understand”.

The importance of English today in Cambodia

Developing country

Fast growing education system and business

Included in formal education in high school

Most tertiary study materials in Khmer have been destroyed

Key to prosperity

Boom is intensifying

Challenges for Cambodian teachers of English

Professional development needs scarcely addressed (Igawa, p.357)

English is treated as the first L2, French as the 2nd L2

Language resources shifting from French to English

(Clayton, 2002) courtesy of aid organisations

Buildings remain as post war and shortage of resources

Little electricity-used equipment – shortage of budget

Require simple resources (pictures etc.) all educational material destroyed in the genocide

Low salary – lack of PD as have to work second jobs to supplement income

Only a small number of Cambodian teachers of English are ELT majors. Most teach because they can speak English

Cambodians speak again…

I spent three years learning Russian and Vietnamese,

but at the fall of the communist bloc, I was told to learn English for a year and become an English teacher

Resource manager. Independent Learning Centre. ACE, Phnom Penh.ACE employs 60 expatriate teachers and management staff and 50 Cambodian staff

Conclusion and how to assist

It is essential if the Cambodian people wish to maintain their cultural ties to retain the Khmer language

It is essential for any kind of advancement to learn how to speak English

Cambodia, once isolated by civil wars, is gradually integrating into the regional and global economy

Cambodia NEEDS English language teacher training support. To assist:

CamTESOL www.camtesol.org/

Teachers across boarders – an organisation committed to helping teachers working in fragile educational environments - www.teachersacrossborders.org/

References