A country in transition where teachers are hungry for English language support

1. “Building bridges to the world”
The power shift of language in
Kampuchea/Cambodge/Cambodia
Erina Brown © 2011
erina.brown@otago.ac.nz

2. Justification of topic
Cambodia is a country in transition
Challenges related to Cambodia‟s English language
education
Have been a presenter at CamTESOL 2006 and
2009 (vested interest)
Place of work is currently marketing in Cambodia
Changes in the status of foreign languages in
Cambodia vis-à-vis the country‟s checkered political
and economic history, and links to linguistic change
English as the global language
English is Checkered scarf
becoming “kharma”
integrated into = checkered
Cambodia life history

3. Out of the heart of
darkness
Au revoir, le Français
Hello English
Komphlech (don‟t forget your
past) in Khmer
Q: Why has English become
so widely used in a country
that was once governed by
France, subjected to
unimaginable genocide and is
still home to many
francophone intellectuals and
elite?
A: The arrival of foreign
culture through tourism,
international scholarships and
international aid agencies

4. English as a global language
- a need in Cambodia
Recent years - Cambodia has underdone
massive political and economic turmoil and
its people have suffered immeasurably
Re-arising – government and people of
Cambodia have chosen English as the
second language to communicate and do
business with people, organisations and
companies from abroad
Cambodia hopes to enter the World Trade
Organisation (common language = English)
ENGLISH IS THE
LANGUAGE OF CLEAR LANGUAGE POLICY = IMPACT
ADVANTAGE ON:
(Collins, 1990, p.211) LIFE
EDUCATION
FUTURE

5. Power and language in general
Language is an important tool for information and communication
in the age of globalisation
“The most important factor accelerating the development of a
single global lifestyle is the proliferation of the English language”
(Nasibett&Aburdene, 1990,p.140)
“English is the de facto global language” (Crystal, 1997; Gladdol,
1997)
English is not replacing [other languages] it is supplementing and
co-existing and allowing strangers to communicate across
linguistic boundaries” (Hasman, 2000, p.5)
ENGLISH ENJOYS A PRIVILEGED STATUS
The universal nature of second language learning is partly due to the
globalisation phenomena or „interconnectedness” between
politics, economy and culture, and the fact that English acts as a
pivotal part of the global infrastructure (Cochrane & Pain, 2000,
pp.15-17) for information and communication today.

6. A time line – power influences on
language „choice‟ in Cambodia
since 1953

7. Era 1 - Khmer
• Khmer – earliest recorded and written Mon-
Khmer language
• Used since before 600 CE
• Progressed through 4 linguistic periods
• Since 1993 Cambodia‟s official language –
spoken by 95% of population (CIA FACTBOOK:
Cambodia)

8. Era 2 – French
„Cambodge‟ under the rule of France. French as an L2 for over 100 years.
(French, the lingua franca of Indochina – Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam)
French only taught in schools 1953-1970. French alongside English 1970-1975
French banned during Pol Pot‟s Democratic Kampuchean regime 1976-1979
French and English prohibited 1979-1986
French still crucial for health and medical industry
Older Cambodian survivors still use French as an L2
Frequently still used in government and various schools and universities funded by French
government
“Although appreciative of France‟s aid, many Cambodians feel that the insistence on
French is a a little impractical in an age where the argot of economic recovery is English”
(Prusher, 2001)

9. Chinese language – once
banned
First enforced by the Khmer republic in 1970,
lifted in 1992 (more than 20 years later)
Now an astonishing growth in Chinese-language
schools and the 1% of ethnic Chinese
Cambodians have embraced their heritage
language (previously Khmer by default) (Clayton,
2006)
Now needed for economic demand and utility

10. Era 3 – Pol Pot regime (1975-1979)
Irrevocable trauma under Khmer Rouge communist regime
All schools closed = no education =
no teaching or learning of foreign languages including ENGLISH
• Lethal penalties for wearing glasses ( = intellectual)
• The educated and speakers of foreign languages including ENGLISH
tortured/massacred
Era 4 – Vietnamese occupation (1979-1989)
Vietnamese and Russian introduced as foreign languages
French and English PROHIBITED

11. Era 5 – Arrival of English
Cold war (end 1980s) French and English taught
Seed of English planted during UNTAC mission (1991-1993) –
cooperation of 60,000 Cambodians with 20,000 peacekeepers
from 34 nations (French and English spoken but French became
marginalised). Marked the start of English dominance among
foreign languages in Cambodia
ASEAN put „tremendous pressure” on Cambodia in 2000
“Cambodian representatives, delegates and conferees must know
English” (Clayton, 2007, p.101)

12. Cambodia‟s renewal and
the new millennium
1999
Entry into ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian
Nations) – announced official return to the
international arena
THUS English language demands
Political stability
Economic growth and shift towards market economy
encouraged the study and use of English
Universities opened (many private) integrating
English as part of the curriculum

13. English and International Aid
International Aid agencies – 6 major donor countries to Cambodia
(Japan, US, France, Germany, Sweden, Australia). Excluding France,
these countries facilitate the use and study of English in the process
of implementing their development assistance
Influence on Cambodian people‟s language choice:
Aid enterprise hires significant numbers of Cambodians – use and
demand knowledge of English (Clayton, p.102)
Aid agencies work actively in schools and universities providing
foreign –language education and training foreign-language teachers
(p.103) [Mostly French in the 1990s and overwhelmingly English now]
RESULT: Cambodians currently prefer English instead of French.
Khmer is domestically active but of minor status internationally and
academically.

14. English and other languages in
Cambodia today
Still remains one of the poorest nations. Between 33% - 50% of 13 million
people live in abject poverty on less than US$1 a day (Tully, 2006)
Cambodia integrating into the global society with English widely used as
language for business, education and development
Represents hope for a better future and solves common issues in the
Kingdom
Opens doors - English serving as gatekeeper to high-paying jobs
Access to information not available in Khmer
Chinese – used mostly for business – many formal education private
schools teach Chinese
Korean – strong governmental relationship
- Investors
- Legal work opportunities in Korea providing high salaries

15. Cambodians speak…
“English is more than
just a bridge…without
this language [English] to
communicate, you won‟t
be on the stage to
compete” (2010)
TepLivina (24 years old) –
abandoned gang peers and
escaped from alcoholism.
English graduate , Institute of
Foreign languages, Phnom
Penh. Now, sales executive for
Japanese-run Sumitomo Corp.
Phnom Penh
Read his story
http://teplivina.com

16. “I can see
the world in a
Cambodians speak
bigger,
clearer “You learn English to
picture than I survive. It‟s a language you
could have if acquire for your stomach”
I hadn‟t
learned
English” Speaking at least basically or
intermediary [English] is
necessary to be in the
workforce, in the market
place and to thrive in higher
education in this modern
society”
KiengRotana (43) former interpreter for UNTAC. Studied
English for 2 years in Australia. Teacher of ESL. Vice
Chancellor of Pannasastra University (where English
competency is mandatory).

17. And others speak…
“You are doing more than just teaching a
foreign language. You are teaching a life skill
that will be crucial to the future prosperity of
this country. English, as I have often
stressed, is no longer a language. It is,
instead, a tool, a weapon, a vehicle. A tool to
build a stronger society, a weapon to combat
poverty and ignorance, and a vehicle for
those who possess it to travel anywhere they
choose throughout the world and be
understood and to understand”.
U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia
Joseph A. Mussomeli wearing a
„krama‟ traditional Khmer checkered
scarf. Opening address at
CamTESOL, July 2008

18. The importance of English today in
Cambodia
Developing country
Fast growing education system and business
Included in formal education in high school
Most tertiary study materials in Khmer have been
destroyed
Key to prosperity
Boom is intensifying

19. Challenges for Cambodian
teachers of English
Professional development needs scarcely addressed (Igawa, p.357)
English is treated as the first L2, French as the 2nd L2
Language resources shifting from French to English
(Clayton, 2002) courtesy of aid organisations
Buildings remain as post war and shortage of resources
Little electricity-used equipment – shortage of budget
Require simple resources (pictures etc.) all educational material destroyed in
the genocide
Low salary – lack of PD as have to work second jobs to supplement income
Only a small number of Cambodian teachers of English are ELT majors. Most
teach because they can speak English

20. Cambodians speak again…
I spent three years
learning Russian and
Vietnamese, but at the
fall of the communist
bloc, I was told to
learn English for a
year and become an
English teacher
Resource manager. Independent
Learning Centre. ACE, Phnom Penh.
ACE employs 60 expatriate teachers
and management staff and 50
Cambodian staff

21. Conclusion and how to
assist
It is essential if the Cambodian people wish to maintain their cultural
ties to retain the Khmer language
It is essential for any kind of advancement to learn how to speak
English
Cambodia, once isolated by civil wars, is gradually integrating into the
regional and global economy
Cambodia NEEDS English language teacher training support. To
assist:
CamTESOLwww.camtesol.org/
Teachers across boarders – an organisation committed to helping
teachers working in fragile educational environments -
www.teachersacrossborders.org/

22. References