Impact of Politics and Policy on University Students’ Attitudes towards the Use of English in Pakistani Universities
Abstract
The study has explored the language politics and policy in relation to university students’ negative and positive attitudes towards the use of English in Pakistani universities. The researcher has collected the qualitative and quantitative data from two large scale public universities located in Lahore, Pakistan. 451 university students and 35 faculty members participated in the research. The evidence demonstrates that worth mentioning outcome of Pakistan’s language policy is university students’ inadequate proficiency in English. It is evidently found out that university students’ language problems result into negative attitudes to use English confidently in universities. However, the university students are eager to improve their English language skills. English is a prerequisite for higher education and instrumental for technological and socio-economic development of the country.
Authors
Dr. Humaira Irfan
Assistant Professor, Department of English, University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Keywords
Higher Education, Language Attitudes, Language Policy, Language Problems