English as a Lingua Franca in University Studies.

• Main Author: Arnbjörsdóttir, Birna
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Icelandic
• Published: Milli Mála 2015
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: https://ojs.hi.is/index.php/millimala/article/view/1423

This article includes a preliminary report of a three year study that has as its goal to map out the nature and amount of exposure to English in Iceland and the level of proficiency of Icelanders in education and at work. The article begins with a short discussion of recent developments in ways of thinking about the learning and use of English amongst those for whom English is not a native language. The use of English as a Lingua Franca in Iceland and other countries has implications for teaching and learning at all educational levels. It calls into question traditional emphases and the assumed target language in instruction if the native speaker is no longer the primary model. In Scandinavia, the focus of research has been on the use of English as a Lingua Franca in academia. The article concludes with a report and discussion of a study that found that 90 percent of required textbooks in university studies in Iceland are written in English. This article includes a preliminary report of a three year study that has as its goal to map out the nature and amount of exposure to English in Iceland and the level of proficiency of Icelanders in education and at work. The article begins with a short discussion of recent developments in ways of thinking about the learning and use of English amongst those for whom English is not a native language. The use of English as a Lingua Franca in Iceland and other countries has implications for teaching and learning at all educational levels. It calls into question traditional emphases and the assumed target language in instruction if the native speaker is no longer the primary model. In Scandinavia, the focus of research has been on the use of English as a Lingua Franca in academia. The article concludes with a report and discussion of a study that found that 90 percent of required textbooks in university studies in Iceland are written in English.