Short‐term Migration and the Acquisition of a World Language

Abstract

ABSTRACT English is spreading as a world language. Yet, the means — and the immediate consequences — through which English is spreading as a second language into largely monolingual populations are not fully understood. In this paper, we focus on a specific case: the learning of English as a second language among Koreans. We briefly discuss the background of the English language in Korea and the strong incentives for Koreans to learn English. We then provide some empirical analyses that suggest that Koreans are using a transnational strategy in the acquisition of a world language: short‐term migration to English‐language dominated countries. Our paper ends with a discussion of some of the potential implications of these movements and of some of the numerous avenues open for research.