The British Council launches for the first time in Romania the results of a research programme about the future of the English language

The British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, conducts a research programme focused on understanding the future of English in Romania and across the world, in the light of the latest changes in society, education, mass-communications, technology and job markets. ‘The Future of English: Global Perspectives’ examines how English maintains its significance in an era dominated by technological innovation and increased AI influence and highlights the shift of English from a foreign language to a transnational and intercultural communication tool.

The report brings together the conclusions drawn from roundtable discussions involving 92 linguistic experts and education policymakers from 49 countries around the world. In a context where 67% of the global population was exposed to and/or spoke English in 2017, the British Council’s research aims to provide insights into the current landscape of English use and help education policymakers and linguistic experts plan and prepare for the needs of tomorrow’s learners.

Thus, ‘The Future of English: Global Perspectives’ has made its Romanian debut at an academic event held at the British Council headquarters in Bucharest, which has been attended by one of its authors, Mina Patel, head of this research programme and researcher with over 25 years of experience in the field of education, alongside Andrew Glass, British Council Romania Country Director, and Kate Ewart-Biggs, Deputy Chief Executive of the British Council Global. This has been within an official visit in the country to host the opening of two new teaching centres in Bucharest: Bucharest City Gate and Bucharest One Cotroceni Park. The three special guests, along with Bogdan Cristescu, State Secretary, Ministry of Education;  Constanța Bordea, English teacher at “Andrei Șaguna” National College Brașov, Cambridge examiner, assessor for the national Olympiad, teacher trainer, and member of the national committee, and Ciprian Fartușnic, PhD, Senior Researcher, Education Research Unit, CNPEE, as well as other representatives from Romanian educational institutions and policy makers, discussed the main research findings in the context of education in Romania.

‘As the world’s most spoken language and as a language widely used in Romania, we believe in the potential of sharing knowledge and holding discussions with local education stakeholders. These forums help us understand new trends in English teaching, learning and assessment, and to keep fostering public-private collaboration, making language education provision relevant to today’s learners’ needs’, states Andrew Glass.

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The report addresses ever-evolving needs, both within the professional community and the academic and educational sectors. It serves as a valuable resource to contextualise the challenges posed by changes in learning habits and the evolving landscape of consumption.

‘The Future of English’ unfolds critical questions, providing insights into its status as the world’s most sought-after language to its role in our multilingual reality, and the research programme explores the future of English in education, the evolving role of teachers, and the dynamic landscape of English language provision. It also explores the intersection of technology and equity in English language education, the evolving needs of stakeholders, and the influence of employment on the trajectory of English.

Tech, teaching, and English: the evolving linguistic landscape

Among the main findings drawn by this research, the reinforcement of the fact that the English language is a necessity and a basic skill in the workplace stands out. Approximately 92% of English language educators from around the world surveyed believe that knowing English is very important in securing a job in their country.

Because we cannot discuss professional development without addressing education and academic training, the report emphasises that the importance of teachers will not be diminished in the coming years with technological developments. Instead, it will be complemented and enhanced by tools such as AI, which can play an increasingly important role in processes like checking writing and reading accuracy, providing instant feedback, and making the learning process more accessible.

An important discussion that will likely shape the coming years is related to reducing the disparities in access to technology and, implicitly, the access to an inclusive education allowing each student to learn according to their abilities, needs and goals.

English’s shifting role from communication to key catalyst for prestige and economic success

The fact that English dominates the academic, cultural, and media landscape is no longer a mystery to anyone, with 60% of online content being in this language. What this report brings as a new aspect is related to the fact that, in the coming years, English will be increasingly associated with prestige and economic success. There is a definite shift away from English for communication to English for use in specific contexts as English is seen as a tool to access certain kinds of opportunities and perform specific tasks in society.

In a world defined by multilingualism and interculturality, the demand for the English language will persist as a unifying force across lifestyles, cultures, and generations. Common effort is needed to identify and respond to the main challenges arising from this new reality, as well as a continuous openness to understanding the dynamic nature of the English language, as a living and ever-evolving structure.