FRQ – English as a Lingua Franca

You have 25 minutes to answer the following question. It is suggested that you take up to 5 minutes of this time to plan and outline each answer. While a formal essay is not required, it is not enough to answer a question by merely listing facts. Illustrate your answers with substantive geographic examples where appropriate.

The English language is spoken in many countries but at variable rates. For instance, India and China have similar total populations, each with more than 1.3 billion people. Although India has more English speakers than China, the number of English speakers is growing in both countries.

Describe ONE historical reason for India’s current number of English speakers.

Explain ONE contemporary reason why people in China and India are learning English.

Describe ONE barrier to the diffusion of English throughout China.

Using the table, explain ONE reason for the difference in the percentage of English speakers in the Netherlands compared with the percentage in China.

Explain ONE economic reason why a corporation based in an English-speaking country would locate a call center in a country where English is not the dominant language.

Explain ONE limitation of using the data in the table to understand a country’s level of economic development.

Explain ONE negative local impact of a global lingua franca on places where a different language is spoken.