English is a gateway to the world and no one should be deprived of the opportunities that
arise for those with a strong command of the English language. This does not mean that
local languages are dispensable, however. They have an important role to play in
supporting education, including English language education.
People who insist on prioritising local languages are often those who can speak fluent
English themselves. Advocates of minority languages need to be fluent in English in
order to research their field and support the cause at international conferences. In doing
so, however, they are also demonstrating why English is so important. Learning English
allows people to gain knowledge, communicate with society, further themselves as
individuals and have a global impact. It is unfair to willingly dispossess people of this
ability in order to preserve tradition.
But this does not mean local languages can be forgotten or downplayed. People are more
likely to succeed – not just at learning English, but in employment and education
generally – if they are immersed in a community rich in history and tradition. Local
dialects are a part of this tradition. Efforts to regenerate and celebrate indigenous cultures
in recent decades have demonstrated that the preservation of local languages and the
teaching of English are mutually-reinforcing developments. In this way, the local
language serves as the bedrock for learning English, rather than being an obstacle in need
of removal.
I think it is important for everyone to learn English but I feel it is unnecessary to frame
learning English and keeping local languages alive as conflicting possibilities. Each goal
supports the other. We should focus on how best to develop both English and local
languages in particular local contexts.